A Victorian Interpretation of Rubâiyât of Omar Khayyâm by Edward FitzGerald

Year 2020, Volume: 4 Issue: 4, 804 - 815, 30.12.2020

Emrah Atasoy

https://doi.org/10.34083/akaded.812041

Abstract

Edward FitzGerald’s translation of Omar Khayyam’s ruba’i in his work, Rubâiyât of Omar Khayyâm (1859) demonstrates stark differences from the actual work of Omar Khayyam. FitzGerald’s translation or re-writing includes numerous themes and characteristics such as pessimism, skepticism, loss of faith, brevity, transience, ephemerality of life, hedonism, Epicureanism, materialism, and cynicism peculiar to the Victorian era. In this respect, FitzGerald’s literary work does not communicate the underlying features of Khayyam’s poetry, but illustrates the concerns, anxieties, doubts, and the mainstream mood of the Victorian era, an age of duality. This study will, therefore, discuss to what extent FitzGerald’s Rubaiyat is a Victorian invention. Prior to the discussion, brief information about the poet, Omar Khayyam will be given. Then, through specific references from the work and the explication of domestication and foreignization strategies in translation, it will be ultimately argued that FitzGerald’s translation does not communicate the Persian poet Omar Khayyam’s rich literary legacy, but is adapted or re-formulated in order to reflect upon the Victorian period.

Keywords

Edward FitzGerald, Victoria erea, Rubaiyat, translaition, Omar Khayyam

Edward FitzGerald’ın Rubâiyât of Omar Khayyâm Eserinde Victoria Dönemi Yansımaları

Abstract

Edward FitzGerald’ın çevirmiş olduğu Rubâiyât of Omar Khayyâm (1859) başlıklı eser, Ömer Hayyam’ın orijinal eserinden çok büyük farklılıklar göstermektedir. FitzGerald’ın çevirisi, karamsarlık, şüphecilik, inanç kaybı, fanilik, hayatın kısalığı, hedonizm, Epikürcülük, maddecilik ve sinizm gibi Victoria dönemini yansıtan özellikler ve temalar taşımaktadır. Fitzgerald, eseri sadece tercüme etmekle kalmamış onu adeta yeniden yazmıştır. Bu bağlamda, FitzGerald’ın edebî eseri, Hayyam’ın şiirinin temel özelliklerini yansıtmamakta; aksine, zıtlıkların çağı olan Victoria döneminin kaygılarını, endişelerini, insanların genel ruhsal durumunu ve toplumdaki atmosferi ortaya koymaktadır. Bu çalışma, bu anlamda FitzGerald’ın Rubâiyât eserinin Victoria dönemini ne kadar yansıttığını tartışacaktır. Tartışma öncesinde, Ömer Hayyam hakkında kısa biyografik bilgi verilecektir. Daha sonra, eserden spesifik örnekler ile “yerlileştirme” (domestication) ve “yabancılaştırma” (foreignization) çeviri stratejileri tartışması üzerinden, FitzGerald’ın çevirisinin Ömer Hayyam’ın edebî mirasından ve şiirinden ziyade Victoria dönemini yansıtmak üzere yeniden uyarlandığı ve o doğrultuda ortaya konduğu tartışılıp kanıtlanacaktır.

Keywords

Ömer Hayyâm, Victoria devri, Rubâiyât, çeviri, Edward FitzGerald

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