Rustam and Sohrab

Rustam and Sohrab is perhaps the most famous poem from the Shahnameh. The poems in the Shahnameh are based around the life of Rustam, an invincible, epic Persian hero. Having lived for almost five hundred years and slain men and beasts, he sounds like the Persian version of Hercules or Beowulf, but unlike the story of Beowulf or Hercules Rustam’s tale has a more emotion to it. When the poem begins you can feel Sohrab’s torment in waiting for the day he finally gets to meet his father. Finally has a man in his life who calls him son. Sohrab, although grown to be a rugged warrior, still yearns for paternal love and idealizes his father as a child would. It is quite touching how he instantly recognizes Rustam on the battle field, yet Rustam denies it and hence their bloody battle ensues. It is quite ironic how Rustam only is able to slay Sohrab by rendering him defenseless by shouting his own name, and then finding out that he just took the life of his only son himself. Tragically, Sohrab was victimized by the only people he loved the most in the world. First, his own mother hid the fact that she had bore a son from Rustam just so Rustam wouldn’t take him away from her. Whereas that’s all Sohrab desired: to be with his heroic father. Though it is interesting how Rustam never bothered to go see his “daughter” and instead find a warrior-like son that he desired. And then in the end, when finally Sohrab gets his one wish fulfilled he is lying on the dust dying from a fatal wound blown to him by the one person he adored and fantasized the most about in his young life.