Georgas Sauerweinas: "Ar būt, ar nebūt?"

ENGeorg Sauerwein-Girenas was the first to introduce William Shakespeare to the Lithuanian reader. The translation of the famous Hamlet’s soliloquy “To be, or not to be...” was published in 1884. It should be noted that Shakespeare was introduced nearly simultaneously to Great Lithuania (published in “Aušra” in Latin letters) and to Lithuania Minor (publication in “Lietuviszka Ceitunga” in Gothic letters). The translations were accompanied by comments. Sauerwein could be called the first interpreter of Shakespeare in Lithuania. These comments were one-sided; Sauerwein stressed only the problem of religious beliefs and the Last Trial. The translation of Shakespeare into Lithuanian was a brave cultural deed. In Lithuania in 1884 nobody had an idea about national theatre, translations of world classics were rare.