PhD Degree Awarded to Ms. Alimah Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Selwi
Ms. Alimah Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Selwi was awarded a PhD degree for her dissertation titled: The Impact of Greek and Roman Myths on Shakespeare’s Selected Tragedies, which was submitted to the Department of English, Faculty of Arts and Humanities – Sana’a University. The dissertation defense was held on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
The PhD Viva-Voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:
# |
Committee Members |
Designation |
Position |
1 |
Prof. Muneer Ahmed Dahan Ghaleb Al-Aghbari |
External Examiner |
Chair |
2 |
Prof. Iman Abdullah Yahya Al-Mahdi |
Main Supervisor |
Member |
3 |
Associate Prof. Mohammed Ahmed Hussein Sharaf Al-Deen |
Internal Examiner |
Member |
The dissertation aimed to:
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Identify the myths used by William Shakespeare in his plays Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear.
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Analyze and examine how these myths were employed.
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Compare the use and function of mythological concepts in the Greek and Roman eras, Shakespeare’s era, and the modern era.
The study yielded several key findings summarized as follows:
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Shakespeare used ancient myths as a tool to explore enduring human questions across different ages.
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In Hamlet: the search for truth in a confusing world mirrors the proliferation of fake news and rumors that leave individuals uncertain.
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In Macbeth: the cost of ambition when it turns into greed reflects many modern economic and political scandals driven by avarice.
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In King Lear: the themes of family conflict and social justice resonate with contemporary issues in family relationships—especially those concerning the elderly—as well as economic injustice in modern times.
The dissertation defense was attended by a number of academics, researchers, and specialists, students, colleagues, and the researcher’s family.
A video from the Viva-Voce
