Omar Khayyam The Enigma Essay Example For Students

Omar Khayyam The Enigma Essay PROLOGUEOmar Kahyyam was primarily a mathematician and an astronomer. He was an extremely intelligent individual who wrote many theories in physics and metaphysics. He is also attributed with the reformation of the Persian calender with seven other great intellects to create a calender more accurate than the Gregorian calender. Ironically he is known to the world today for his translated collection of lyrical quatrains called the Rubaiyat. His life and works are somewhat of a mystery because he was rather unpopular until after his death. Yet the work he is most known and beloved for is considered to have been a gross mistranslation of both character and content. This paper will be divided into six sections. The first is the prologue. The prologue was used to introduce Omar to the reader. Next there will be a brief biography of his life and major influences of his work. Following this will be a section on his magnum opus and only work, The Rubaiyat. This will include literary criticism of his famous work. After this there will be a brief conclusion to sum up the overall paper followed by an epilogue with my opinion on Khayyam. Finally in my bibliography the reader will see my sources for research and my opinion on those books. I. OMAR KHAYYAM, THE ENIGMAIn the history of world literature Omar Khayyam is an enigma. No poet of any time period has received greater recognition and fame through such a enormous misreading of his work. Known today world wide, Khayyams works would undoubtable be unheard of in modern day literature in they were not translated by English writer Edward FitzGerald. The paradox is that FitzGerald misinterpreted both Kha yyam and his works in his translation to start an unending conflict1. FitzGerald added to his editions of the Rubaiyat a biographical sketch entitled Omar Khayyam: The Astronomer Poet of Persia. In this he wrote his opinion that Khayyam was an anti-religious materialist who believed lifes only meaning was to be found in wine, song, and worldly pleasures: Having failed (however mistakenly) of finding any Providence but Destiny, and any world but this, he set about making the most of it; preferring rather to soothe the soul through the senses into acquiescence with things as he saw them, than to perplex it with vain disquietude after what they might be. He takes a humorous or perverse pleasure in exalting the gratification of sense above that of intellect, in which he must have taken great delight, although it failed to answer the questions in which he, in common with all men, was most vitally interested2. This was how Fitzgerald interpreted the minimal facts of Khayyams life. Many later studies of Khayyam reveal a more accurate description of his life and his writings. Omars full name was Ghiyath ud Din Abul Fatah Omar bin Ibrahim al Khayyam. From his name and the customs of the time it can be interpreted that his father was a tent maker, which is the meaning of Khayyam. It can also be seen that his father was named Ibrahim. Omar used the name Khayyam as his pen name. He was born at Naishapur in the province of Khorastan (located in the northeastern part of present day Iran) on May 18, 10483. Omars great influence and teacher was Imam Mowaffak whom he and many others studied under. It was through Imam that Omar met two other of his pupils and befriended them. One was Nizam ul Mulk, and the other was Ben Sabbah. These three studied under Imam for about four years, in these four years they became great friends and influences on each other. Towards the end of their studies with Imam they made a pact. Based on the superior education all three of them had obtained the judged that at least one of them would become rich and important. They made a pact that when one of them did become of some importance they would split their fortunes three ways. After years of traveling Nizam became a chief advisor to the Sultan. The first to come claim his share was Ben Sabbah. He demanded a place in government and was given a position of high regard. He soon made a fool of himself and was removed from his position because of all his greed. Omar also came to claim his share; but not to ask for a title or a position. All Khayyam wanted to do was live in one corner of the shadow of his greatness, when Nizam realized the Omar was being truthful he granted him a pension from the gold treasury of Naishapur4. Not much is Known of his life as a child, but that at the age of seventeen he was already adept in the academic subjects of his day. In response of the early death of his father Omar began to look for means to support himself. He therefore embarked on an illustrious public career at the age of eighteen. Hopeful Encounter EssayEdward FitzGeralds version of the Rubaiyat is a beautiful flowing poem that is very symbolic and meaningful. His version is also loved by many people and shared throughout the world. To call it a translation however seems somewhat unfair to the original author. The translation was admittedly change on purpose to make it more appealing to people in Europe, however the character and meaning of Khayyam were accidentally misunderstood. The true Rubaiyat is a non flowing collection of poems called quatrains. These poems speak of the beauty of nature, a nature given to s by god. They also speak of the limitations of science where faith is needed. They are inspiring and well written by the most popular Persian poet ever to Quill a poem. EPILOGUEOMAR KHAYYAM, THE ENIGMA NO LONGER. As stated in my report above the most popular translation of the Rubaiyat is Edward FitzGeralds. I read his translation because it is the only one written in English. I felt it was a very flowing and lyrical poem that stood better as a complete work than separate poems. Yet every little quatrain had more than one meaning depending on the reader. To express my opinion on Omar Khayyam I feel I will also express my opinion on Edward Fitzgerald. I feel FitzGerald just read the Rubaiyat and decided to publish what it meant to him. The only problem with this is that he published it as a translation and not an interpretation. The main problem with what he did is that he thought he was interpreting it as Khayyam thought it to be interpreted. What he really did was completely miss the content of Khayyams great work, and therefore this led to FitzGeralds misinterpretation of Khayyams character. As for Omar Khayyam himself, based on my research, he was a very interesting and respectable person. He was obviously intellectually superior to most people of his time. His work and his life truly reflect all that FitzGerald claimed in his very brief biography to be false. The true Omar Khayyam was devoutly religious and even though he was a scientist and a rational thinker he had no problem writing about the limits of science and the importance of religious faith. I found Omar Khayyam to be the most interesting author I have ever researched because it almost seemed like doing detective work. When I located the Rubaiyat by FitzGerald I felt as though I found an excellent biographical source. That is until I looked further into it and slowly unwrapped the mystery around this great world intellect. FOOTNOTES1Khayyam, Omar. Grolier Multi-Media Encyclopedia (Grolier Incorporated, 1995) 2Paramahansa Yogananda, Wine of the Mystic(Los Angeles: Self-Realization Fellowship,1994)xiii. 3Literature World Masterpieces(New York:Prentice Hall, 1991)98. 4Edward FitzGerald, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam(New York:Illustrated Editions Company)forward. 5Yogananda xiv. 6FitzGerald forward. 7Yogananda xviii. 8Poetry Criticism: Khayyam(London: Cassell and Company)142-145. 9Yogananda xxi-xxiii. 10Poetry Criticism 147-15211Yogananda xvii-xxi. BIBLIOGRAPHYFitzGerald, Edward. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam(NewYork:Illustrated Editions Company)forward. This book consisted of a brief biographical sketch of Khayyam that proved to be very useful. It also contained FitzGeralds translation of the Rubaiyat. Grolier Multi-Media Encyclopedia Khayyam, Omar. (Grolier Incorporated, 1995) This very brief encyclopedia article gave me some specific dates I needed and informed me of the controversy over translations. Literature World Masterpieces(New York:Prentice Hall, 1991)98. This is our literature book in school. It helped me about as much as the encyclopedia article. Poetry Criticism: Khayyam(London: Cassell and Company)142-145. This is where I obtained my literary criticisms and discovered of the other translations of the Rubaiyat. Yogananda Paramahansa. Wine of the Mystic(Los Angeles: Self-Realization Fellowship,1994)xiii. The book sited above is a interpretation of the Rubaiyat by the author. It helped me to more easily understand the greater meaning of Khayyam. This book also contained a long biography. This was easily the most helpful book I was able to locate.