Mythology and the Interpretation of Reality in some Selected Novels of Edward Bellamy and Tawfiq Al-Hakim

Abstract

For mythology is the handmaid of literature; and literature is one of the allies of virtue and promoters of happiness. Without a knowledge of mythology much of the elegant literature of our own language cannot be understood and appreciated. (Bulfinch, iv) With the rediscovery of classical era during the renaissance, the poetry of poets like Ovid (43 BC – 17/18 AD) in addition to Greek mythology became a major influence on the imagination of poets and artists. Thus we see from the early years of the renaissance artists portraying subjects from Greek mythology together with more conventional Christian themes. Among the best medieval and renaissance poets who were influenced by the works of Ovid and Greek myth are Petrarch (1304- 1374), Boccaccio (1313- 1375) and Dante (1265- 1321) in Italy. For example, the myth of Ulysses (Odysseus) is traceable in Dante's Comedy (1320). In northern Europe, Greek mythology was very obvious in literature. Latin and Greek classical texts were translated, so the stories of mythology became available. Many poets were influenced by Greek mythology such as Milton (1608- 1674) and Shakespeare (1564- 1616) in England, Goethe (1749- 1832) in Germany, and Jean Racine (1639- 1699) in France who reworked the ancient myths to new purposes.