English and American Literature Redusa

7/24/2019 English and American Literature Redusa

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William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (baptised26 April1564 23 April1616)[a]was anEnlishp!etandpla"wriht# widel" rearded as the reatest writer in the Enlish lan$aeand the w!rld%s pre&eminent

dramatist' e is !ten *alled Enland%snati!nal p!etand the +,ard! A-!n+ (!r simpl" +.he ,ard+)'

is s$r-i-in w!rks *!nsist ! 3/pla"s154 s!nnets# tw! l!n narrati-e p!ems# and se-eral !therp!ems' is pla"s ha-e been translated int! e-er" ma0!r li-in lan$ae# and are per!rmed m!re !tenthan th!se ! an" !ther pla"wriht'

Shakespeare pr!d$*ed m!st ! his kn!wn w!rk between 15 and 1613' is earl" pla"s were

mainl" *!mediesand hist!ries# enres he raised t! the peak ! s!phisti*ati!n and artistr" b" the end !the siteenth *ent$r"' et he wr!te mainl" traedies$ntil ab!$t 16/# in*l$dinHamlet#King Lear#

andMacbeth# *!nsidered s!me ! the inest eamples in the Enlish lan$ae' n his last phase# he

wr!te trai*!medies# als! kn!wn as r!man*es# and *!llab!rated with !ther pla"wrihts'S*h!lars ha-e !ten n!ted !$r peri!ds in Shakespeare%s writin *areer' ntil the mid-1590s# he

wr!te mainl" *!medies inl$en*ed b" 7!man and talian m!dels and hist!r" pla"s in the p!p$lar

*hr!ni*le traditi!n. His second periodbean in ab!$t 155 with the traed"Romeo and Julietand

ended with the traed" !Julius Caesarin 15' 8$rin this time# he wr!te what are *!nsidered hisreatest *!medies and hist!ries' 9r!m ab!$t 1600 to about 1608# his +tragic period+# Shakespeare

wr!te m!stl" traedies# and r!m ab!$t 1608 to 1613# mainl" trai*!medies# als! *alled r!man*es'

Shakespeare%s earl" *lassi*al and talianate *!medies# *!ntainin tiht d!$ble pl!ts and pre*ise*!mi* se:$en*es# i-e wa" in the mid&15s t! the r!manti* atm!sphere ! his reatest *!medies'A

Midsummer Night's Dreamis a witt" mit$re ! r!man*e# air" mai*# and *!mi* l!w&lie s*enes'' is

*hara*ters be*!me m!re *!mple and tender as he swit*hes detl" between *!mi* and seri!$s s*enes#pr!se and p!etr"# and a*hie-es the narrati-e -ariet" ! his mat$re w!rk' .his peri!d beins and ends

with tw! traedies;Romeo and Juliet# the am!$s r!manti* traed" ! se$all" *hared ad!les*en*e#

l!-e# and death< andJulius Caesar.Shakespeare%s s!&*alled +trai* peri!d+ lasted r!m ab!$t 16 t! 16/# th!$h he als! wr!te

the s!&*alled +pr!blem pla"s+Measure for Measure# Troilus and Cressida# andAll's ell That !ndselld$rin this time and had written traediesbe!re' =an" *riti*s belie-e that Shakespeare%s reatest

traedies represent the peak ! his art' .he her! ! the irst# amlet# has pr!babl" been m!re dis*$ssedthan an" !ther Shakespearean *hara*ter# espe*iall" !r his am!$s s!lil!:$"+.! be !r n!t t! be< that is

the :$esti!n'+ nlike the intr!-erted amlet# wh!se atal law is hesitati!n# the her!es ! the traedies

that !ll!wed# >thell! and ?in @ear# are $nd!ne b" hast" err!rs ! 0$dement' .he pl!ts !Shakespeare%s traedies !ten hine !n s$*h atal err!rs !r laws# whi*h !-ert$rn !rder and destr!" the

her! and th!se he l!-es' nMacbeth# the sh!rtest and m!st *!mpressed ! Shakespeare%s traedies

$n*!ntr!llable ambiti!n in*ites =a*beth and his wie#@ad" =a*beth#t! m$rder the riht$l kin and$s$rp the thr!ne# $ntil their !wn $ilt destr!"s them in t$rn'

Shakespeare%s s!nnets# !r simpl" he Sonnets# is a *!lle*ti!n !p!emsins!nnet!rm written

b" William Shakespearethat deal with s$*h themes as l!-e#bea$t"#p!liti*s# and m!rtalit"'.he" werepr!babl" written !-er a peri!d ! se-eral "ears' All 154 p!ems appeared in a 16 *!lle*ti!n# entitled"HAK!#"$!AR!" "%NN!T"# *!mprisin 152 pre-i!$sl" $np$blished s!nnets and tw! (n$mbers 13/

and 144) that had pre-i!$sl" been p$blished in a 15mis*ellan"entitled The $assionate $ilgrim'

.he irst 1 s!nnets are written t! a "!$n man# $rin him t! marr" and ha-e *hildren thereb"passin d!wn his bea$t" t! the net enerati!n' .hese are *alled thepr!*reati!n s!nnets' =!st ! them#

h!we-er#1/&126# are addressed t! a "!$n man epressin the p!et%s l!-e !r him' S!nnets12&152are

written t! the p!et%s mistressepressin his l!-e !r her' .he inal tw! s!nnets#153&154# arealle!ri*al' .he inal thirt" !r s! s!nnets are written ab!$t a n$mber ! iss$es# s$*h as the "!$n man%s

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1564http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1564http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1616http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare#endnote_anonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playwrighthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Englandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_poethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_poethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Avon%2C_Warwickshirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_playshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_Sonnetshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrative_poemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_comedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_tragedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Learhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbethhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_late_romanceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar_(play)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragicomedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_late_romanceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Midsummer_Night's_Dreamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Midsummer_Night's_Dreamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar_(play)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_plays_(Shakespeare)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measure_for_Measurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troilus_and_Cressidahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All's_Well_That_Ends_Wellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All's_Well_That_Ends_Wellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_tragedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Hamlethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soliloquyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_be%2C_or_not_to_behttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_be%2C_or_not_to_behttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbethhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Macbeth_(Shakespeare)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Macbeth_(Shakespeare)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Macbeth_(Shakespeare)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1599http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscellanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Passionate_Pilgrimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Passionate_Pilgrimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procreation_sonnetshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_126http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_127http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_127http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_152http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_sonnets#The_Dark_Ladyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_153http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_153http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_154http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1564http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1616http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare#endnote_anonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playwrighthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Englandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_poethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Avon%2C_Warwickshirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_playshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_Sonnetshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrative_poemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_comedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_tragedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Learhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbethhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_late_romanceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar_(play)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragicomedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_late_romanceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Midsummer_Night's_Dreamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Midsummer_Night's_Dreamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar_(play)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_plays_(Shakespeare)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measure_for_Measurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troilus_and_Cressidahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All's_Well_That_Ends_Wellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All's_Well_That_Ends_Wellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_tragedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Hamlethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soliloquyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_be%2C_or_not_to_behttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_be%2C_or_not_to_behttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbethhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Macbeth_(Shakespeare)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1599http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscellanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Passionate_Pilgrimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procreation_sonnetshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_126http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_127http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_152http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_sonnets#The_Dark_Ladyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_153http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_154http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory


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inidelit" with the p!et%s mistress# sel&res!l$ti!n t! *!ntr!l his !wn l$st# belea$ered *riti*ism ! the

w!rld# et*'

Romeo and Julietis an earl" traed"b"William Shakespeareab!$t tw! teenae +star&*r!ss%d

l!-ers+ wh!se +$ntimel" deaths+ $ltimatel" $nite their e$dinh!$seh!lds' .he pla" has been hihl"

praised b" literar" *riti*s !r its lan$ae and dramati* ee*t' t was am!n Shakespeare%s m!stp!p$lar pla"s d$rin his lietime and# al!n withHamlet# is !ne ! his m!st re:$entl" per!rmedpla"s' ts inl$en*e is still seen t!da"# with the tw! main *hara*ters bein widel" represented as

ar*het"pal"!$n l!-ers'

Shakespeare%s $se !dramati* str$*t$re# espe*iall" his epansi!n ! min!r *hara*ters#$se !s$bpl!ts t! embellish the st!r"# has been praised as an earl" sin ! his dramati* skill' .he pla" as*ribes

dierent p!eti* !rms t! dierent *hara*ters# s!metimes *hanin the !rm as the *hara*ter de-el!ps'

7!me!# !r eample# r!ws m!re adept at the s!nnet!rm !-er time' Bhara*ters re:$entl" *!mparel!-e and death and all$de t! the r!le ! ate'

.he pla" beins with a street brawl between tw! amilies; the =!nta$esand the Bap$lets'.he

Crin*e ! Der!na# Es*al$s# inter-enes with his men and de*lares that the heads ! the tw! amilies will

be held pers!nall" a**!$ntable !r an" $rther brea*h ! the pea*e' @ater# B!$nt Caris# a "!$nn!bleman# talks t! @!rd Bap$let ab!$t marr"in his thirteen&"ear&!ld da$hter $liet' Bap$let is war"

! this !er# *itin the irl%s "!$n ae# b$t still in-ites him t! tr" t! attra*t $liet%s attenti!n d$rin a

ball that the amil" is t! h!ld that niht' $liet%s m!ther tries t! pers$ade her da$hter t! a**ept Caris%*!$rtship d$rin this ball# leadin $liet t! sa" that alth!$h she will make an e!rt t! l!-e him# she

will n!t epress l!-e i it is n!t there' n this s*ene $liet%s n$rseis intr!d$*ed as a talkati-e and

h$m!r!$s *hara*ter# wh! raised $liet r!m inan*"'n the meantime# a "!$n man named ,en-!li!talks with his *!$sin 7!me!# @!rd =!nta$e%s

s!n# !-er 7!me!%s re*ent depressi!n' ,en-!li! dis*!-ers that it stems r!m $nre:$ited l!-e !r a irl

named 7!saline# !ne ! @!rd Bap$let%s nie*es wh! has sw!rn hersel t! *hastit"' p!n the insisten*e !,en-!li! and an!ther riend# =er*$ti!# 7!me! de*ides t! attend the mas:$erade ball at the Bap$let

h!$se in h!pes ! meetin 7!saline' Al!nside his masked riends 7!me! attends the ball as planned#b$t alls in l!-e with $liet (!rettin ab!$t 7!saline) and she with him' 8espite the daner br!$ht !n

b" their e$din amilies# 7!me! sneaks int! the Bap$let *!$rt"ard and !-erhears $liet !n her bal*!n"-!win her l!-e t! him in spite ! her amil"%s hatred ! the =!nta$es' 7!me! s!!n makes himsel

kn!wn t! her# and the tw! de*lare their l!-e !r ea*h !ther and aree t! be married' With the help ! the

9ran*is*an 9riar @awren*e# wh! h!pes t! re*!n*ile the tw! amilies thr!$h their *hildren%s $ni!n# the"are married se*retl" the net da"'

All seems well $ntil ."balt# $liet%s h!t&bl!!ded *!$sin# *hallenes 7!me! t! a d$el !r

appearin at the Bap$lets% ball in dis$ise' .h!$h n! !ne is aware ! the marriae "et# 7!me! re$sest! iht ."balt sin*e the" are n!w part ! the same amil"' =er*$ti! is in*ensed b" ."balt%s ins!len*e#

and a**epts the d$el !n 7!me!%s behal' n the ens$in s*$le# =er*$ti! is atall" w!$nded when

7!me! tries t! separate them' 7!me!# anered b" his riend%s death# p$rs$es and sla"s ."balt# thenlees'

8espite his pr!mise t! *all !r the head ! the wr!nd!ers# the Crin*e merel" eiles 7!me!

r!m Der!na# reas!nin that ."balt irst killed =er*$ti!# and that 7!me! merel" *arried !$t a 0$st

p$nishment ! death t! ."balt# alth!$h with!$t leal a$th!rit"' $liet rie-es at the news# and @!rdBap$let# misinterpretin her rie# arees t! enae her t! marr" Caris with the weddin t! be held in

0$st three da"s' e threatens t! dis!wn her i she re$ses' .he n$rse# !n*e $liet%s *!nidante# n!w tells

her she sh!$ld dis*ard the eiled 7!me! and *!mpl"' $liet desperatel" -isits 9riar @awren*e !r help'e !ers her a dr$# whi*h will p$t her int! a death&like *!ma !r !rt"&tw! h!$rs' She is t! take it and#

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star-crossedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star-crossedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archetypehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dramatic_structurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dramatic_structurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_in_Romeo_and_Juliet#Montagueshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_in_Romeo_and_Juliet#Montagueshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_in_Romeo_and_Juliet#Capuletshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_in_Romeo_and_Juliet#Capuletshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Escalushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_Parishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juliet_Capulethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurse_(Romeo_and_Juliet_character)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benvoliohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_Montaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercutiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friar_Lawrencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tybalthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confidantehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star-crossedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star-crossedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feudhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archetypehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dramatic_structurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_in_Romeo_and_Juliet#Montagueshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_in_Romeo_and_Juliet#Capuletshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Escalushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_Parishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juliet_Capulethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurse_(Romeo_and_Juliet_character)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benvoliohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_Montaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercutiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friar_Lawrencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tybalthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confidante


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when dis*!-ered apparentl" dead# she will be laid in the amil" *r"pt' While she is sleepin the 9riar

will send a messener t! in!rm 7!me!# s! that he *an re0!in her when she awakens'

.he messener# h!we-er# d!es n!t rea*h 7!me!' 7!me! then learns ! $liet%s +death+ r!m hisser-ant ,althasar' Frie&stri*ken# he b$"s p!is!n r!m an ap!the*ar"# ret$rns t! Der!na in se*ret# and

-isits the Bap$let *r"pt' e en*!$nters Caris wh! has *!me t! m!$rn $liet pri-atel"' Caris *!nr!nts

7!me! belie-in him t! be a -andal# and in the ens$in battle 7!me! kills Caris' e then sa"s his inalw!rds t! the *!mat!se $liet and drinks the p!is!n t! *!mmit s$i*ide' $liet then awakens' 9riar@awren*e arri-es and# realiGin the *a$se ! the traed"# bes $liet t! lea-e' She re$ses# and at the

side ! 7!me!%s dead b!d"# she stabs hersel with her l!-er%s daer'

.he e$din amilies and the Crin*e meet at the t!mb t! ind all three dead' n eplanati!n 9riar@awren*e re*!$nts the st!r" ! the tw! l!-ers' =!nta$e re-eals that his wie has died ! rie ater

hearin ! her s!n%s eile' .he amilies are re*!n*iled b" their *hildren%s deaths and aree t! end their

-i!lent e$d' .he pla" ends with the Crin*e%s brie ele" !r the l!-ers; +9!r ne-er was a st!r" ! m!rew!e H .han this ! $liet and her 7!me!'+

Anal"sis and *riti*ism

.h!$h *riti*s ha-e pi*ked apart man" weak p!ints inRomeo and Julietsin*e the pla"%s irst

writin# it is still rearded b" m!st as !ne ! Shakespeare%s better pla"s' Am!n the m!st pre-alentdebates in the *riti*al ! the pla" reards Shakespeare%s intent' Was the pla" intended t! be a st!r" !

tw! "!$n l!-ers% str$le aainst ate and !rt$ne# !r was it a *!mmentar" !n the !!lishness !

$nbridled passi!n and the $ltimate traed" t! whi*h it will ine-itabl" leadI Cerhaps it was intended t!sh!w h!w tw! "!$n l!-ers be*!me instr$ments in the hands ! ate !r pr!-iden*e in $nitin tw!

warrin amilies'

Shakespeare sh!ws his dramati* skill reel" inRomeo and Juliet# pr!-idin intense m!ments !shit between *!med" and traed"' ,e!re =er*$ti!%s death in A*t three# the pla" is larel" a *!med"'

Ater his a**idental demise# the pla" s$ddenl" be*!mes -er" seri!$s and takes !n m!re ! a trai* t!ne'

Still# the a*t that 7!me! is banished# rather than ee*$ted# !ers a h!pe that thins will w!rk !$t'When 9riar @awren*e !ers $liet a plan t! re$nite her with 7!me! the a$dien*e still has a reas!n t!

belie-e that all will end well' .he" are in a +breathless state ! s$spense+ b" the !penin ! the lasts*ene in the t!mb; 7!me! is dela"ed l!n en!$h !r the 9riar t! arri-e# he and $liet ma" "et be

sa-ed' .his !nl" makes it all the m!re trai* when e-er"thin alls apart in the end'@an$ae

Shakespeare $ses a lare -ariet" ! p!eti* !rms thr!$h!$t the pla"' e beins with a 14&line

pr!l!$ein the !rm ! a Shakespearean s!nnet# sp!ken b" a Bh!r$s' =!st !Romeo and Julietis#h!we-er# written inblank -erse# and m$*h ! it in stri*t iambi* pentameter# with less rh"thmi* -ariati!n

than in m!st ! Shakespeare%s later pla"s' n *h!!sin !rms# Shakespeare mat*hes the p!etr" t! the

*hara*ter wh! $ses it' 9riar @awren*e# !r eample# $sesserm!nand sententiae!rms# and the $rse$ses a $ni:$eblank -erse!rm that *l!sel" mat*hes *!ll!:$ial spee*h' Ea*h ! these !rms is als!

m!$lded and mat*hed t! the em!ti!n ! the s*ene the *hara*ter !**$pies' 9!r eample# when 7!me!

talks ab!$t 7!saline earlier in the pla"# he $ses the Cetrar*han s!nnet!rm' Cetrar*han s!nnets were!ten $sed b" men at the time t! eaerate the bea$t" ! w!men wh! were imp!ssible !r them t!attain# as in 7!me!%s sit$ati!n with 7!saline'

.hemes and m!tis

@!-eRomeo and Julietis s!metimes *!nsidered t! ha-e n! $ni"in theme# sa-e that ! "!$n l!-e'

n a*t# the *hara*ters in it ha-e be*!me emblems ! all wh! die "!$n !r their l!-ers' Sin*e it is s$*h

an !b-i!$s s$b0e*t ! the pla"# se-eral s*h!lars ha-e epl!red the lan$ae and hist!ri*al *!ntetbehind the r!man*e ! the pla"' >n their irst meetin# 7!me! and $liet $se a !rm ! *!mm$ni*ati!n

3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_in_Romeo_and_Juliet#Apothecaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prologuehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_sonnethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blank_versehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iambic_pentameterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sermonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sermonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sententiaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sententiaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blank_versehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloquial_speechhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrarchan_sonnethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_in_Romeo_and_Juliet#Apothecaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prologuehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_sonnethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blank_versehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iambic_pentameterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sermonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sententiaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blank_versehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloquial_speechhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrarchan_sonnet


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re*!mmended b" man" eti:$ette a$th!rs in Shakespeare%s da"; metaph!r' ," $sin metaph!rs ! saints

and sins# 7!me! was able t! test $liet%s eelins !r him in a n!n&threatenin wa"' .his meth!d was

re*!mmended b" ,aldassare Bastili!ne(wh!se w!rks had been translated int! Enlish b" this time)'e p!inted !$t that i a man $sed a metaph!r as an in-itati!n# the w!man *!$ld pretend she did n!t

$nderstand the man# and the man *!$ld take the hint and ba*k awa" with!$t l!sin his h!n!$r' $liet#

h!we-er# makes it *lear that she is interested in 7!me! b" pla"in al!n with his metaph!r' @ater# inthe bal*!n" s*ene# Shakespeare has 7!me! !-erhear $liet%s de*larati!n ! l!-e !r him' n the inals$i*ide s*ene# there is a *!ntradi*ti!n in the messae in the Bath!li* relii!n# s$i*ides were !ten

th!$ht t! be *!ndemned t! hell# whereas pe!ple wh! die t! be with their l!-es $nder the +7elii!n !

@!-e+ are 0!ined with their l!-es in paradise'@iht and dark

7!me! des*ribes $liet as bein like the s$n# brihter than a t!r*h# a 0ewel sparklin in the

niht# and a briht anel am!n dark *l!$ds' E-en when she lies apparentl" dead in the t!mb# he sa"sher +bea$t" makes H .his -a$lt a eastin presen*e $ll ! liht'+ $liet des*ribes 7!me! as +da" in

niht+ and +Whiter than sn!w $p!n a ra-en%s ba*k'+ .his *!ntrast ! liht and dark *an be epanded as

s"mb!lsJ*!ntrastin l!-e and hate# "!$th and ae in a metaph!ri* wa"'.he +liht+ theme in the pla"

is als! hea-il" *!nne*ted t! the theme ! time# sin*e liht was a *!n-enient wa" !r Shakespeare t!epress the passae ! time thr!$h des*ripti!ns ! the s$n# m!!n# and stars'

.ime

.ime pla"s an imp!rtant r!le in the lan$ae and pl!t ! the pla"' ,!th 7!me! and $lietstr$le t! maintain an imainar" w!rld -!id ! time in the a*e ! the harsh realities that s$rr!$nd

them''

HamletHamletis a traed"b" William Shakespeare#belie-ed t! ha-e been written between 15 and

161' .he pla"# set in 8enmark#re*!$nts h!wCrin*e amletea*ts re-ene !n his $n*leBla$di$s#

wh! has m$rdered amlet%s ather# the ?in# and then taken the thr!ne and married amlet%s m!ther'Hamletis Shakespeare%s l!nest pla"# and am!n the m!st p!wer$l and inl$ential traedies in

the Enlish lan$ae' t pr!-ides a st!r"line *apable ! +seeminl" endless retellin and adaptati!n b"!thers'

.he pr!ta!nist !Hamletis Crin*e amlet! 8enmark# s!n ! the re*entl" de*eased?inamletand the nephew ! ?in Bla$di$s# his ather%s br!ther and s$**ess!r' Ater the death ! ?in

amlet# Bla$di$s hastil" marries ?in amlet%s wid!w# Fertr$de# amlet%s m!ther' n the ba*kr!$nd

is 8enmark%s l!n&standin e$d with neihb!$rin!rwa"# and an in-asi!n led b" the !rweianprin*e# 9!rtinbras# is epe*ted'

.he pla" !pens !n a *!ld niht at Elsin!re#the 8anish r!"al *astle' .he sentinelstr" t! pers$ade

amlet%s riend!rati!that the" ha-e seen ?in amlet%s h!st# when it appears aain' Ater hearinr!m !rati! ! the Fh!st%s appearan*e# amlet res!l-es t! see the Fh!st himsel' .hat niht# the

Fh!st appears t! amlet' e tells amlet that he is the spirit ! his ather# and dis*l!ses that Bla$di$s

m$rdered ?in amlet b" p!$rin p!is!n in his ears' .he Fh!st demands that amlet a-ene himphelia has dr!wned'

.w! ra-ediersdis*$ss >phelia%s apparent s$i*ide# while diin her ra-e' amlet arri-eswith !rati! and banters with a ra-edier# wh! $nearths the sk$ll ! a0esterr!m amlet%s

*hildh!!d# K!ri*k' >phelia%s $neral pr!*essi!n appr!a*hes# led b" @aertes' e and amlet rapple# b$tthe brawl is br!ken $p'

,a*k at Elsin!re# amlet tells !rati! h!w he es*aped and that 7!sen*rantG and F$ildenstern

ha-e been sent t! their deaths' A *!$rtier#>sri*# interr$pts t! in-ite amlet t! en*e with @aertes' With9!rtinbras% arm" *l!sin !n Elsin!re# the mat*h beins' @aertes pier*es amlet with a p!is!ned blade

b$t is atall" w!$nded b" it himsel' Fertr$de drinks the p!is!ned wine and dies' n his d"in m!ments#

@aertes is re*!n*iled with amlet and re-eals Bla$di$s% m$rder!$s pl!t' n his !wn last m!ments#amlet manaes t! kill Bla$di$s and names 9!rtinbras as his heir' When 9!rtinbras arri-es# !rati!

re*!$nts the tale and 9!rtinbras !rders amlet%s b!d" b!rne ! in h!n!$r'

A Midsummer Night's Dreamis a r!manti**!med"b" William Shakespeare# written s!metimein the 15s' t p!rtra"s the ad-ent$res ! !$r "!$n Athenianl!-ers and a r!$p ! amate$r a*t!rs#their intera*ti!ns with the 8$ke and 8$*hess ! Athens# .hese$sandipp!l"ta# and with the airies

wh! inhabit a m!!nlit !rest' .he pla" is !ne ! Shakespeare%s m!st p!p$lar w!rks !r the stae and is

widel" per!rmed a*r!ss the w!rld'.he pla" eat$res three interl!*kin pl!ts# *!nne*ted b" a *elebrati!n ! the weddin! 8$ke

.hese$s! Athensand the AmaG!nian:$een ipp!l"ta# and set sim$ltane!$sl" in the w!!dland# and

in the realm ! 9air"land# $nder the liht ! the m!!n' n the !penin s*ene# ermia re$ses t! *!mpl"with her ather Ee$s%s wish !r her t! marr" his *h!sen man# 8emetri$s' n resp!nse# Ee$s :$!tes

5
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poloniushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laertes_(Hamlet)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophelia_(character)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophelia_(character)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbeyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribaldryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gravediggershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorickhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_in_Hamlet#Osrichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_in_Hamlet#Osrichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_lovehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_comedieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1590shttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theseushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theseushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippolytahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippolytahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weddinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theseushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippolytahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairylandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poloniushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laertes_(Hamlet)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophelia_(character)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbeyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribaldryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gravediggershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorickhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_in_Hamlet#Osrichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_lovehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_comedieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1590shttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theseushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippolytahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weddinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theseushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippolytahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairyland


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be!re .hese$s an an*ient Athenian law whereb" a da$hter m$st marr" the s$it!r *h!sen b" her ather#

!r else a*e death' .hese$s d!es n!t want this "!$n irl t! die# and !ers her an!ther *h!i*e# liel!n

*hastit" w!rshippin 8ianaas a n$n' (.he w!rd %n$n% in this sense is anana*hr!nism')ermia and her l!-er @"sander de*ide t!el!peb" es*apin thr!$h the !rest at niht' ermia

in!rms her best riend elena# b$t elena has re*entl" been re0e*ted b" 8emetri$s and de*ides t! win

ba*k his a-!$r b" re-ealin the plan t! him' 8emetri$s# !ll!wed d!edl" b" elena# *hases ermia'ermia and @"sander# belie-in themsel-es sael" !$t ! rea*h# sleep in the w!!ds'

=eanwhile# >ber!n# kin ! the airies# and his :$een# .itania#arri-e in the !rest !$tside

Athens' .itania tells >ber!n that she plans t! sta" there $ntil ater she has attended .hese$s and

ipp!l"ta%s weddin' >ber!n and .itania are estraned be*a$se .itania re$ses t! i-e her ndian*hanelint! >ber!n !r $se as his +kniht+ !r +hen*hman#+ sin*e the *hild%s m!ther was !ne !

.itania%s w!rshippers' >ber!n seeks t! p$nish .itania%s dis!bedien*e and re*r$its the mis*hie-!$s C$*k

(als! *alled !b!blinand 7!bin F!!dell!w) t! help him appl" a mai*al 0$i*e r!m al!wer*alled+l!-e&in&idleness+ (a'k'a' pans")# whi*h makes the -i*tim all in l!-e with the irst li-in thin seen

$p!n awakenin' e instr$*ts C$*k t! retrie-e the l!wer s! that he *an make .itania all in l!-e with

s!me -ile *reat$re ! the !rest' >ber!n applies the 0$i*e t! .itania in !rder t! distra*t her and !r*e her

t! i-e $p the pae&b!"'a-in seen 8emetri$s a*t *r$ell" t!ward elena# >ber!n !rders C$*k t! spread s!me ! the

eliir !n the e"elids ! the "!$n Athenian man' nstead# C$*k a**identall" p$ts the 0$i*e !n the e"es !

@"sander# wh! then alls in l!-e with elena' >ber!n sees 8emetri$s still !ll!win ermia and isenraed' When 8emetri$s de*ides t! ! t! sleep# >ber!n sends C$*k t! et elena while he *harms

8emetri$s% e"es' 8$e t! C$*k%s err!rs# b!th l!-ers n!w iht !-er elena instead ! ermia' elena#

h!we-er# is *!n-in*ed that her tw! s$it!rs are m!*kin her# as neither l!-ed her !riinall"' .he !$rp$rs$e and :$arrel with ea*h !ther m!st ! the niht# $ntil the" be*!me s! enraed that the" seek a

pla*e t! d$el ea*h !ther t! the death t! settle the :$arrel' >ber!n !rders C$*k t! keep the l!-ers r!m

*at*hin $p with !ne an!ther in the !rest and t! re&*harm @"sander !r ermia# t! pre-ent them allr!m killin ea*h !ther'

=eanwhile# a band ! l!wer&*lass lab!$rers (+r$de me*hani*als+# as the" are am!$sl"des*ribed b" C$*k) ha-e arraned t! per!rm a *r$de pla" ab!$tC"ram$s and .hisbe!r .hese$s%

weddin# and -ent$re int! the !rest# near .itania%sb!wer# !r their rehearsal'i*k ,!tt!m# a stae&str$*k wea-er# is sp!tted b" C$*k# wh! trans!rms his head int! that ! an ass (d!nke")' .itania is

awakened b" ,!tt!m%s sinin and immediatel" alls in l!-e with him' She treats him like a n!bleman

and la-ishes him with attenti!n' While in this state ! de-!ti!n# she en*!$nters >ber!n and *as$all"i-es him the ndian b!"' a-in a*hie-ed his !als# >ber!n releases .itania and !rders C$*k t!

rem!-e the ass%s head r!m ,!tt!m' .he mai*al en*hantment is rem!-ed r!m @"sander b$t is all!wed

t! remain !n 8emetri$s# s! that he ma" re*ipr!*ate elena%s l!-e'.he airies then disappear# and .hese$s and ipp!l"ta arri-e !n the s*ene# d$rin an earl"

m!rnin h$nt' .he" wake the l!-ers and# sin*e 8emetri$s d!esn%t l!-e ermia an"m!re# .hese$s !-er&

r$les Ee$s%s demands and arranes a r!$p weddin' .he l!-ers de*ide that the niht%s e-ents m$stha-e been a dream' Ater the" all eit# ,!tt!m awakes# and he t!! de*ides that he m$st ha-eeperien*ed a dream +past the wit ! man'+ n Athens# .hese$s# ipp!l"ta and the l!-ers wat*h the

me*hani*als per!rm +C"ram$s and .hisbe'+ t is ridi*$l!$s and badl" per!rmed b$t i-es e-er"!ne

pleas$re reardless# and aterward e-er"!ne retires t! bed' 9inall"# as niht alls# >ber!n and .itaniabless the h!$se# its !**$pants# and the $t$re *hildren ! the newl"weds# and C$*k deli-ers a s!lil!:$"

t! the a$dien*e'

.hemes@!-e

6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_(mythology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anachronismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anachronismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elopementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elopementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberon_(Fairy_King)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titania_(Fairy_Queen)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titania_(Fairy_Queen)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changelinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puck_(Shakespeare)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobgoblinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Goodfellowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramus_and_Thisbehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramus_and_Thisbehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwellinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Bottomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkeyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soliloquyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_(mythology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anachronismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elopementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberon_(Fairy_King)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titania_(Fairy_Queen)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changelinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puck_(Shakespeare)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobgoblinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Goodfellowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramus_and_Thisbehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwellinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Bottomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkeyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soliloquy


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Writer 8a-id ,e-int!n inds in the pla" what he reers t! as the dark side ! l!-e' e writes

that the airies make liht ! l!-e b" mistakin the l!-ers and b" appl"in a l!-e p!ti!n t! .itaniaLs

e"es# !r*in her t! all in l!-e with ,!tt!m as an ass' .here are man" dark sides ! l!-e that !**$r inA =ids$mmer ihtLs 8ream' ipp!l"ta is Mw!!LdN b" a sw!rd instead ! bein i-en Ml!-e&t!kensN

in the same wa" @"sander has w!n ermiaLs l!-e (1'1'1&3)' What is e-en m!re dist$rbin is the

p!ssible !$t*!me that *!$ld ha-e taken pla*e at the !rest' Shakespeare b!rr!ws the m"th ! C"ram$sand .hisbe r!m >-idLs =etam!rph!ses# trans!rmin it int! a pla" that is per!rmed at the end and$sin ideas ! the m"th !r the entire pla"' @ike C"ram$s and .hisbe# ermia and @"sander es*ape t!

the !rest t! a-!id the t"rann" ! ermiaLs ather' n the !rest# b!th *!$ples are met b" pr!blems and

ass$me that a partner is dead at s!me p!int' ermia and @"sander are b!th met b" C$*k# wh! pr!-idess!me *!medi* relie in the pla" b" *!n$sin the !$r l!-ers in the !rest' 8espite the darkness and

dii*$lt" that !bstr$*ts the l!-e in A =ids$mmer ihtLs 8ream# it is still a *!med" as ,enedett!

Br!*eindi*ates' e writes# Ml!-e is sin*ere# "et de*ei-es and is de*ei-ed< it imaines itsel t! be irmand *!nstant# and t$rns !$t t! be raile and leetinN ['.his passae# like the pla" 0$tap!ses !ne idea

net t! an!ther' .he pla" is a *!med"# "et it harb!rs seri!$s ideas' At the end ! the pla"# ermia and

@"sander# happil" married# wat*h the pla" ab!$t the $n!rt$nate l!-ers# C"ram$s and .hisbe# and are

able t! en0!" and la$h ab!$t the pla"# n!t realiGin the similarities between them' Alth!$h their st!r"is -er" similar t! that ! C"ram$s and .hisbe# it d!es n!t end in trai* death ' ermia and @"sander are

b!th !bli-i!$s t! the dark side ! their l!-e' .he" are n!t aware ! the p!ssible !$t*!me that *!$ld

ha-e taken pla*e at the !rest'@!ss ! ndi-id$al dentit"

=a$ri*e $nt# Bhair ! the Enlish 8epartment at ,a"l!r ni-ersit"writes ! the bl$rrin !

the identities ! antas" and realit" in the pla" that make p!ssible Mthat pleasin# nar*!ti* dreaminessass!*iated with the airies ! the pla"N' ," emphasiGin this theme e-en in the settin ! the pla"#

Shakespeare prepares the readerLs mind t! a**ept the antasti* realit" ! the air" w!rld and its mai*al

happenins' .his als! seems t! be the ais ar!$nd whi*h the pl!t *!nli*ts in the pla" !**$r' $nts$ests that it is the breakin d!wn ! indi-id$al identities leads t! the *entral *!nli*t in the st!r"' t

is the brawl between >ber!n and .itania# based !n a la*k ! re*!niti!n !r the !ther in therelati!nship# that dri-es the rest ! the drama in the st!r" and makes it daner!$s !r an" ! the !ther

l!-ers t! *!me t!ether d$e t! the dist$rban*e ! at$re *a$sed b" a air" disp$te' Similarl"# thisail$re t! identi" and make distin*ti!n is what leads C$*k t! mistake !ne set ! l!-ers !r an!ther in

the !rest and pla*e the 0$i*e ! the l!wer !n @"sanderLs e"es instead ! 8emetri$sL' Di*t!r ?iernan# a

=arist s*h!lar and hist!rian# writes that it is !r the reater sake ! l!-e that this l!ss ! identit" takespla*e and that indi-id$al *hara*ters are made t! s$er a**!rdinl"; Mt was the m!re etra-aant *$lt !

l!-e that str$*k sensible pe!ple as irrati!nal# and likel" t! ha-e d$bi!$s ee*ts !n its a*!l"tesN' e

belie-es that identities in the pla" are n!t s! m$*h l!st as the" are blended t!ether t! *reate a t"pe !haGe thr!$h whi*h distin*ti!n be*!mes nearl" imp!ssible' t is dri-en b" a desire !r new and m!re

pra*ti*al ties between *hara*ters as a means ! *!pin with the strane w!rld within the !rest# e-en in

relati!nships as di-erse and seeminl" $nrealisti* as the brie l!-e between .itania and ,!tt!m the Ass;Mt was the tidal !r*e ! this s!*ial need that lent ener" t! relati!nshipsN' 8a-id =arshall# anaestheti*s s*h!lar and Enlish Cr!ess!r at the ni-ersit" ! Bali!rnia & Santa ,arbara# takes this

theme t! an e-en $rther *!n*l$si!n# p!intin !$t that the l!ss ! identit" is espe*iall" pla"ed !$t in the

des*ripti!n ! the me*hani*als their ass$mpti!n ! !ther identities' n des*ribin the !**$pati!ns ! thea*tin tr!$pe# he writes M.w! *!nstr$*t !r p$t t!ether# tw! mend and repair# !ne wea-es and !ne sews'

All 0!in t!ether what is apart !r mend what has been rent# br!ken# !r s$nderedN' n =arshallLs !pini!n#

this l!ss ! indi-id$al identit" n!t !nl" bl$rs spe*ii*ities# it *reates new identities !$nd in *!mm$nit"#whi*h =arshall p!ints !$t ma" lead t! s!me $nderstandin ! ShakespeareLs !pini!ns !n l!-e and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedetto_Crocehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedetto_Crocehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Midsummer_Night's_Dream#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Midsummer_Night's_Dream#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baylor_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baylor_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedetto_Crocehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedetto_Crocehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Midsummer_Night's_Dream#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baylor_University


8/79

marriae' 9$rther# the me*hani*als $nderstand this theme as the" take !n their indi-id$al parts !r a

*!rp!rate per!rman*e ! C"ram$s and .hisbe' =arshall remarks that M.! be an a*t!r is t! d!$ble and

di-ide !nesel# t! dis*!-er !nesel in tw! parts; b!th !nesel and n!t !nesel# b!th the part and n!t thepartN' e *laims that the me*hani*als $nderstand this and that ea*h *hara*ter# parti*$larl" am!n the

l!-ers# has a sense ! la"in d!wn indi-id$al identit" !r the reater beneit ! the r!$p !r pairin' t

seems that a desire t! l!se !neLs indi-id$alit" and ind identit" in the l!-e ! an!ther is what :$ietl"m!-es the e-ents ! A =ids$mmer ihtLs 8ream' t is the primar" sense ! m!ti-ati!n and is e-enrele*ted in the s*ener" and m!!d ! the st!r"'

!acbeth

The Tragedy of Macbeth(*!mm!nl" *alledMacbeth) is a pla" b" William Shakespeareab!$ta rei*ideand its atermath' t is Shakespeare%s sh!rtest traed"and is belie-ed t! ha-e been written

s!metime between 163 and 16

.he irst a*t ! the pla" !pens amidst th$nder and lihtnin with the .hree Wit*hes de*idinthat their net meetin shall be with =a*beth' n the !ll!win s*ene# a w!$nded *aptain rep!rts t!

?in 8$n*an! S*!tlandthat his enerals =a*beth# wh! is the .hane! Flamis# and ,an:$! ha-e

0$st deeated the allied !r*es !!rwa"and reland#wh! were led b" the trait!r =a*d!nwald'

=a*beth# the ?in%s kinsman# is praised !r his bra-er" and ihtin pr!wess'.he s*ene *hanes' =a*beth and ,an:$! enter# dis*$ssin the weather and their -i*t!r" (+S!

!$l and air a da" ha-e n!t seen+)' As the" wander !nt! a heath# the .hree Wit*hes enter# wh! ha-e

waited t! reet them with pr!phe*ies' E-en th!$h ,an:$! *hallenes them irst# the" address=a*beth' .he irst wit*h hails =a*beth as +.hane ! Flamis+# the se*!nd as +.hane ! Bawd!r+# and

the third pr!*laims that he shall +be ?in hereater+' =a*beth appears t! be st$nned t! silen*e# s! aain

,an:$! *hallenes them' .he wit*hes in!rm ,an:$! that he will ather a line ! kins# th!$h hehimsel will n!t be !ne' While the tw! men w!nder at these pr!n!$n*ements# the wit*hes -anish# and

an!ther thane# 7!ss# a messener r!m the ?in# arri-es and in!rms =a*beth ! his newl" best!wed

title; .hane ! Bawd!r' .he irst pr!phe*" is th$s $lilled' mmediatel"# =a*beth beins t! harb!$rambiti!ns ! be*!min kin'

=a*beth writes t! his wie ab!$t the wit*hes% pr!phe*ies' When 8$n*an de*ides t! sta" at the=a*beths% *astle atn-erness#@ad" =a*bethhat*hes a plan t! m$rder him and se*$re the thr!ne !r

her h$sband' Alth!$h =a*beth raises *!n*erns ab!$t the rei*ide# @ad" =a*beth e-ent$all" pers$adeshim# b" *hallenin his manh!!d# t! !ll!w her plan'

>n the niht ! the kin%s -isit# =a*beth kills 8$n*an' .he deed is n!t seen b" the a$dien*e# b$t

it lea-es =a*beth s! shaken that @ad" =a*beth has t! take *hare' n a**!rdan*e with her plan# sherames 8$n*an%s sleepin ser-ants !r the m$rder b" plantin bl!!d" daers !n them' Earl" the net

m!rnin# @enn!# a S*!ttish n!bleman# and =a*d$# the l!"al .hane ! 9ie# arri-e' A p!rter !pens the

ate and =a*beth leads them t! the kin%s *hamber# where =a*d$ dis*!-ers 8$n*an%s *!rpse' n aeined it ! aner# =a*beth m$rders the $ards be!re the" *an pr!test their inn!*en*e' =a*d$ is

immediatel" s$spi*i!$s ! =a*beth# b$t d!es n!t re-eal his s$spi*i!ns p$bli*l"' 9earin !r their li-es#

8$n*an%s s!ns lee# =al*!lmt! Enlandand 8!nalbaint! reland' .he riht$l heirs% liht makes thems$spe*ts and =a*beth ass$mes the thr!ne as the new ?in ! S*!tlandas a kinsman ! the dead kin'

8espite his s$**ess# =a*beth remains $neas" ab!$t the pr!phe*" ab!$t ,an:$!' S! =a*beth

in-ites him t! a r!"alban:$etand dis*!-ers that ,an:$! and his "!$n s!n# 9lean*e# will be ridin !$t

that niht' e hires tw! men t! kill them' A third m$rderer appears m"steri!$sl" in the park be!re them$rder' While the assassins kill ,an:$!# 9lean*e es*apes' At the ban:$et# ,an:$!%s h!stenters and

sits in =a*beth%s pla*e' >nl" =a*beth *an see the spe*tre< the rest pani* at the siht ! =a*beth rain

at an empt" *hair# $ntil a desperate @ad" =a*beth !rders them t! lea-e'

/
http://wiki/William_Shakespearehttp://wiki/Regicidehttp://wiki/Shakespearean_tragedyhttp://wiki/King_Duncanhttp://wiki/Scotlandhttp://wiki/Thegnhttp://wiki/Thegnhttp://wiki/Glamishttp://wiki/Banquohttp://wiki/Norwayhttp://wiki/Irelandhttp://wiki/Irelandhttp://wiki/Ross_(area)http://wiki/Invernesshttp://wiki/Invernesshttp://wiki/Lady_Macbeth_(Shakespeare)http://wiki/Lady_Macbeth_(Shakespeare)http://wiki/Macduff_(thane)http://wiki/Fifehttp://wiki/Malcolm_III_of_Scotlandhttp://wiki/Englandhttp://wiki/Donald_III_of_Scotlandhttp://wiki/Donald_III_of_Scotlandhttp://wiki/King_of_Scotlandhttp://wiki/Banquethttp://wiki/Fleancehttp://wiki/Ghosts_in_European_culturehttp://wiki/Ghosts_in_European_culturehttp://wiki/William_Shakespearehttp://wiki/Regicidehttp://wiki/Shakespearean_tragedyhttp://wiki/King_Duncanhttp://wiki/Scotlandhttp://wiki/Thegnhttp://wiki/Glamishttp://wiki/Banquohttp://wiki/Norwayhttp://wiki/Irelandhttp://wiki/Ross_(area)http://wiki/Invernesshttp://wiki/Lady_Macbeth_(Shakespeare)http://wiki/Macduff_(thane)http://wiki/Fifehttp://wiki/Malcolm_III_of_Scotlandhttp://wiki/Englandhttp://wiki/Donald_III_of_Scotlandhttp://wiki/King_of_Scotlandhttp://wiki/Banquethttp://wiki/Fleancehttp://wiki/Ghosts_in_European_culture


9/79

=a*beth# dist$rbed# -isits the .hree Wit*hes !n*e m!re' .he" *!n0$re $p three spirits with three

$rther warnins and pr!phe*ies# whi*h tell him t! +beware =a*d$#+[4]b$t als! that +n!ne ! w!man

b!rn shall harm =a*beth+ and he will +ne-er -an:$ish%d be $ntilFreat ,irnam W!!dt! hih8$nsinane illshall *!me aainst him+' Sin*e =a*d$ is in eile in Enland# =a*beth ass$mes that

he is sae< s! he p$ts t! death e-er"!ne in =a*d$%s *astle# in*l$din =a*d$%s wieand their "!$n

*hildren'@ad" =a*beth be*!mes wra*ked with $ilt r!m the *rimes she and her h$sband ha-e

*!mmitted' She sleepwalks and tries t! wash imainar" bl!!dstains r!m her hands# all the while

speakin ! the terrible thins she kn!ws'

n Enland# =a*d$ is in!rmed b" 7!ss that +K!$r *astle is s$rprised< "!$r wie and babes HSa-ael" sla$hter%d'+ =a*beth# n!w -iewed as a t"rant# sees man" ! his thanes dee*tin' =al*!lm

leads an arm"# al!n with =a*d$ and Enlishmen Siward(the Elder)# theEarl ! !rth$mberland#

aainst 8$nsinane Bastle' While en*amped in ,irnam W!!d# the s!ldiers are !rdered t! *$t d!wn and*arr" tree limbs t! *am!$lae their n$mbers# th$s $lillin the wit*hes% third pr!phe*"' =eanwhile#

=a*beth deli-ers a s!lil!:$"(+.!m!rr!w# and t!m!rr!w# and t!m!rr!w+[6]) $p!n his learnin ! @ad"

=a*beth%s death (the *a$se is $ndis*l!sed# and s!me ass$me that she *!mmitted s$i*ide# as =al*!lm%s

last reeren*e t! her re-eals +%tis th!$ht# b" sel and -i!lent hands H .!!k ! her lie+[])'A battle *$lminates in the sla"in ! the "!$n Siward and =a*d$%s *!nr!ntati!n with

=a*beth' =a*beth b!asts that he has n! reas!n t! ear =a*d$# !r he *ann!t be killed b" an" man

b!rn ! w!man' =a*d$ de*lares that he was +r!m his m!ther%s w!mb H ntimel" ripp%d+[/](i'e'# b!rnb" Baesarean se*ti!n) and was n!t +! w!man b!rn+ (this is an eample ! a literar" :$ibble)' =a*beth

realiGes# t!! late# that he has misinterpreted the wit*hes% w!rds' =a*d$ beheads =a*beth ! stae and

thereb" $lills the last ! the pr!phe*ies'Alth!$h =al*!lm is pla*ed !n the thr!ne and n!t 9lean*e# the wit*hes% pr!phe*" *!n*ernin

,an:$!# +.h!$ shalt [be]et kins+# was kn!wn t! the a$dien*e ! Shakespeare%s time t! be tr$e# !r

ames D ! S*!tland (later als! ames ! Enland) was s$pp!sedl" a des*endant ! ,an:$!

"aniel "e#oe $1660-1%31& and 'onathan S(i#t $ 166%-1%)5& and *aurence Sterne $ 1%13-

1%68 &

.he 1/th*e' n!-el was # t! a lare deree # an e-!l$ti!n ! the n!n& i*ti!nal pr!se& writin !

the peri!d' 9i-e t!werin literar" i$res& 8' 8e!e# Sam$el 7i*hards!n# enr" 9ieldin# !nathan

Swit and @a$ren*e Sterne m!$lded i*ti!nal pr!se int! literar" !rm that appealed t! the 1/ th*e'7eader' n d!in s!# the" *reated the d!minant literar" enre ! the net three *e' ; the m!dern n!-el'

"e#oe+sirst n!-el 7!bins!n Br$s!e# 11# was l!!sel" based !n the real lie eperien*e ! a

shipwre*ked sail!r and was presented as a tr$e st!r" in a diar" !rm t!ld b" the her! himsel' .he her!! the st!r"# 7!bins!n# als! hat a str!n appeal !r the new readership as he was a pere*t eample !

the C$ritan ideal ! a sel& made man ; an !rdinar" man wh!# thr!$h hard w!rk and aith in F!d #

!-er*!mes ad-ersit"' 7!bins!n Br$s!e is enerall" rearded as the irst n!-el in the En' lan$ae '8e!e went !n t! write 5 m!re n!-els# Ca&tain "ingleton Moll (landers Ro)ana Colonel Jac*

Memoirs of a Ca+alierand a pse$d!& a*t$al a**!$nt ! @!nd!n d$rin the reat pla:$e entitledA

Journal of the $la,ue -ear.8aniel 8e!e pr!d$*ed hism!st imp!rtant w!rks d$rin the A$$stan Ae# named !r its writers wh!

*!ns*i!$sl" attempted t! em$late the w!rk ! the !riinal A$$stan writers# s$*h as Diril and !ra*e'

e is als! am!n th!se resp!nsible !r the *reati!n ! the Enlish n!-el' >-er the *!$rse ! his

lietime# he w!rked as a 0!$rnalist# pamphleteer# and essa"ist# writin as a s!*ial *!mmentat!r !r themer*hant *lass' 8e!eLs w!rk is a hallmark ! the e!*lassi*al Ae' t is dida*ti* as well as anal"ti*al'
http://wiki/Birnam,_Perth_and_Kinrosshttp://wiki/Birnam,_Perth_and_Kinrosshttp://wiki/Dunsinane_Hillhttp://wiki/Lady_Macduffhttp://wiki/Sigurd_the_Danehttp://wiki/Sigurd_the_Danehttp://wiki/Northumberlandhttp://wiki/Northumberlandhttp://wiki/Soliloquyhttp://wiki/Tomorrow,_and_tomorrow,_and_tomorrowhttp://wiki/Suicidehttp://wiki/Caesarean_sectionhttp://wiki/Quibble_(plot_device)http://wiki/James_I_of_Englandhttp://wiki/Birnam,_Perth_and_Kinrosshttp://wiki/Dunsinane_Hillhttp://wiki/Lady_Macduffhttp://wiki/Sigurd_the_Danehttp://wiki/Northumberlandhttp://wiki/Soliloquyhttp://wiki/Tomorrow,_and_tomorrow,_and_tomorrowhttp://wiki/Suicidehttp://wiki/Caesarean_sectionhttp://wiki/Quibble_(plot_device)http://wiki/James_I_of_England


10/79

8e!e wr!te !n p!liti*s# relii!n# and e*!n!mi*s# and he drew r!m his s!*ial awareness when he

wr!te his n!-&els# s!me ! whi*h were passed ! as a*t$al mem!ir'

.he @ie and Strange Surpri,ing dentures o# /obinson rusoe o# ork2 !ariner2 betterkno(n toda as /obinson rusoe# was p$blished in 1%19' t was his irst n!-el and *ame t! be his

m!st re*!niGed

' 7!bins!n Br$s!e & was based !n the ad-ent$res ! Aleander Selkirk# a S*!ttish sail!rmar!!ned al!ne !n the island ! Kernan&deG in the S!$th Ca*ii*' n terms ! literar" hist!r"# it is !ten*alled the irst Enlish n!-el' 7!bins!n Br$s!e re0e*ts his mer*antile amil" in a-!r ! a lie at sea'

Ater a n$mber ! ad-ent$res# in*l$din his en*!$nters with pirates and an es*ape r!m sla-er"# Br$s!e

is *a$ht in a h$rri*ane' is ship is rendered $seless as a res$lt ! the st!rm# and !r the net twent"&eiht "ears# he is stranded !n an island in the Baribbean' .he w!rk d!*$ments Br$s!eLs str$le t!

s$r-i-e in is!lati!n' 7!bins!n Br$s!e has man" *hara*teristi*s ! a *lassi*al epi*# with an identiiable

her!# hard tra-el# separati!n r!m a h!meland# and e-en small battles' 8e!e assins the *hara*ter !7!bins!n Br$s!e se-eral admirable :$alities# re*!niGed# b!th in m!dern times and at the time ! the

b!!kLs p$bli*ati!n# !r his pra*ti*al&it"# intellien*e# and a well&balan*ed relii!$s&ness# am!n !thers'

.he b!!k was e-en $sed !r instr$*ti!nal p$rp!ses'

hemes4ear

7!bins!n Br$s!e m$st !-er*!me his ear in !rder t! s$r-i-e his l!n !rdeal !n the deserted

island' .he trial b" ear beins when he r$ns ab!$t like a madman# s*ared ! e-er" shad!w# and sleeps

in a tree with a weap!n; +ear banished all m" relii!$s h!pe# all that !rmer *!niden*e in F!d'+ e:$i*kl" realiGes that he m$st re*!-er his wits and reas!n i he is t! s$r-i-e'At se-eral p!ints in the

narrati-e# Br$s!e is alm!st !-erwhelmed b" his ear ! the $nkn!wn' t pr!pels him t! *!l!niGe the

island# se*$rin his shelter and be*!min sel&s$i*ient' is abilit" t! $nnel his ear int! pr!d$*ti-it"and *reati-it" all!ws him t! s$r-i-e $nder etreme *!nditi!ns'Br$s!e masters his ear when he a*es

the $ltimate *hallene J the de-il' n-estiatin a *a-e# he is met b" a pair ! e"es' At irst s*ared# he

realiGes that he *an *!nr!nt this enem" 0$st like he has met e-er" !ther *hallene !n the island' +e

that was araid t! see the de-il# was n!t it t! li-e twent" "ears in an island all al!ne'+Human ondition

Robinson Crusoeis a meditati!n !n the h$man *!nditi!n# and an ar$ment !r *hallenin

traditi!nal n!ti!ns ab!$t that *!nditi!n' 9indin himsel al!ne in a deserted island# Br$s!e str$les t!maintain reas!n# !rder# and *i-iliGati!n' is +!riinal sin+ is his re0e*ti!n ! a *!n-enti!nal lie' When

he lea-es Enland !r a lie !n the hih seas# he re$ses t! be +satisied with the stati!n wherein F!d

and at$re hath pla*ed+ him' Br$s!e str$les with J and e-ent$all" tri$mphs !-er J nat$re' .heb!!k s$ests that this str$le is at the heart ! h$man nat$re; man is !n earth t! tri$mph and ain

pr!it r!m nat$re' An" pr!it makes sense in this -iew ! the w!rld# whether that means ettin 0$st

!ne plank !$t ! a h$e tree !r b$ildin a b!at t!! hea-" t! brin t! the water' >n*e Br$s!e is able t!!-er*!me his ear and s$bd$e nat$re is rewarded hands!mel"'

!oneB!nsistent with 8e!e%s writins !n e*!n!mi*s# m!ne" is an imp!rtant theme inRobinson

Crusoe' At the beinnin ! the narrati-e# Br$s!e details h!w m$*h m!ne" he has# what he d!es withit# and what he ains b" his a*ti!ns'>n the island# m!ne" l!ses all -al$e' Br$s!e has t! ind an!ther

wa" t! meas$re his w!rth' While r$mmain thr!$h a ship !r sal-ae he laments al!$d at the siht !

s!me m!ne"# +> 8r$O what are th!$ !!d !r'+ndustriali,ation

nd$strialiGati!n is deined here as a pr!*ess whereb" h$mans *hannel the !r*es ! nat$re int!

the pr!d$*ti!n and man$a*t$re ! !!ds !r their e*!n!mi* *!ns$mpti!n' .his ind$strialiGati!n is

1


11/79

Br$s!e%s !**$pati!n# a**!rdin t! his *$lt$ral ba*kr!$nd and his relii!n' e immediatel" sets !$t t!

be pr!d$*ti-e and sel&s$i*ient !n the island'

Br$s!e has a ew implements with whi*h he is able t! re*!nstr$*t a semblan*e ! *i-iliGati!n aswell as *reate m!re ad-an*ed te*hn!l!"' While b$ildin his h!$se# he n!tes that e-er" task is

eha$stin' n brie# he praises the idea ! +di-isi!n ! lab!r+ as he des*ribes *$ttin timber !$t !

trees# brinin the w!!d r!m the trees t! the *!nstr$*ti!n site# and then *!nstr$*tin his shelter' es!!n de-ises lab!r&sa-in de-i*es# th$s in*reasin his ei*ien*" and pr!d$*ti-it"'

.he ne*essit" ! a sharp a leads Br$s!e t! in-ent his !wn !!t&p!wered sharpener' e has +n!

n!ti!n ! a kiln#+ b$t he manaes t! ire p!tter"' e needs a mill !r rindin his rain# b$t n!t indin

a pr!per st!ne# he settles !r a bl!*k ! hard w!!d' .he entire pr!*ess ! bakin his !wn bread sp$rs arealiGati!n ! h!w w!nder$l the state ! h$man te*hn!l!" is'

Ce!ple take the lab!r behind the ne*essities ! lie !r ranted when s$*h items *an be easil"

p$r*hased in the market' Br$s!e is n!t s$estin that pe!ple ret$rn t! a w!rld ! sel&s$i*ienth!$seh!lds' nstead# as he !es ab!$t his er*$lean tasks# like *reatin a simple shel in his h!$se# he

*!mments that a *arpenter *!$ld ha-e inished the tw!&da" 0!b in an h!$r' .h$s he appre*iates the

pr!*ess ! spe*ialiGati!n that helps make ind$strialiGati!n s! s$**ess$l

' S(i#t( 166&145) $sed hard& hittin and at times bitter satire' Swit# like 8e!e# started his

*areer as a 0!$rnalist' e :$i*kl" ained a rep$tati!n as a satirist taretin # am!n !ther s$b0e*ts#

p!liti*al *!rr$pti!n and Enlish misr$le in reland' is reat satiri*al n!-el ullier+s raelwasp$blished in 1%76and was an immediate s$**ess' t has been interpreted at man" dierent le-els ; as a

tra-el b!!k !r *hildren# a bitin p!liti*al satire and an indi*tment ! a s!*iet" that a**epts war and

*!rr$pti!n and re0e*ts altr$ism and reas!n as a wa" ! lie'F$lli-erLs .ra-els !nathan Swit saw !-erniht s$**ess with the 12 p$bli*ati!n ! his

p!liti*all" *hared satire F$lli-erLs .ra-els' t had all ! the elements ! a temptin readJm"ster" as

well as p!liti*al# s!*ial# and se$al s*andal' @em$el F$lli-er is the main *hara*ter ! F$lli-erLs.ra-els# and the b!!k is an a**!$nt ! his ad-ent$res in @illip$t# ,r!bdinna# @ap$ta# and am!n the

!$"hnhnms' F$lli-er inds himsel t!werin !-er the inhabitants ! @illip$t (the" are !nl" si in*heshih)# and the" reer t! F$lli-er as PP=an&=!$ntain'LL F$lli-erLs siGe is a p!liti*al iss$e# and# as he

be*!mesm!re andm!re in-!l-ed in @illip$t# demands are p$t $p!n him t! aid the @illip$tians in a waraainst ,le$s*$' .he pl!t is larel" alle!ri*al and *!mments indire*tl" !n *!ntemp!rar" ,ritish

p!liti*s' t did n!t take the p$bli* l!n t! dis*!-er that the a$th!r was writin ab!$t Enland rather than

@illip$t and the like !r that the a$th!r ! this satire was !nathan Swit' Swit was n!t !nl" a*ti-e !nthe p!liti*al s*ene b$t a well&kn!wn 0!$rnalist with an easil" re*!niGable st"le

Stle

oint o# ie(

@em$el F$lli-er himsel narrates the st!r" ! ulli+er's Tra+els# b$t this irst&pers!n narrat!r isn!t *!mpletel" reliable' .h!$h F$lli-er is -er" ea*t with the details ! his tra-els# and we kn!w him

t! be h!nest# s!metimes he d!esn%t see the !rest !r the trees' Swit deliberatel" makes F$lli-er nai-eand s!metimes e-en arr!ant !r tw! reas!ns' 9irst# it makes the reader m!re skepti*al ab!$t the ideas

presented in the b!!k' Se*!nd# it all!ws the reader t! ha-e a !!d la$h at F$lli-er%s epense when hed!esn%t realiGe the abs$rdit" ! his limited -iewp!int' e *ertainl" s!$nds !!lish when et!llin the

:$alities ! $np!wder t! the pea*e$l ,r!bdinnaians# !r eample' Als!# at the end ! the n!-el# the

reader *an see that F$lli-er has t$rned int! a misanthr!pe (hater ! h$manit")# b$t *an hear in his -!i*eb!th here and in the intr!d$*t!r" letter t! his p$blisher that he is pr!$d and arr!ant in his belie that

h$mans are Kah!!s' ,e*a$se b" the end ! the b!!k readers are a**$st!med t! bein skepti*al !

F$lli-er%s per*epti!ns# !ne *an $ess that his misanthr!p" has s!methin t! d! with his arr!an*e'

11


12/79

$mans simpl" *an%t be pere*t and i we h!ld !$rsel-es t! that ideal we will hate h$manit"# b$t

F$lli-er *an%t see this tr$th' Swit *laimed that it was n!t he that was misanthr!pi*# b$t F$lli-er# the

narrat!r he *reated'Setting

Alth!$h the antasti* lands that pr!-ide the settin !r ulli+er's Tra+elsseem $nreal t!da"#

m!dern readers sh!$ld keep in mind that the settins w!$ld n!t ha-e seemed s! aret*hed t! Swit%s*!ntemp!raries' .he n!-el was written in the 12s# and F$lli-er tra-els t! areas that were still$nkn!wn !r little epl!red d$rin this time' .he b!!k was written be!re the dis*!-er" ! the ,erin

Strait between Alaska and 7$ssia# !r eample# where ,r!bdinna is s$pp!sedl" l!*ated' t was als!

be!re the dis*!-er" ! an ee*ti-e means ! meas$rin latit$de# whi*h meant it was -er" dii*$lt !rsail!rs t! na-iate and epl!re new territ!r" a**$ratel"' .ra-el!$es# !r a**!$nts ! 0!$rne"s t! !rein

lands# were -er" p!p$lar at this time# s! the readin p$bli* was a**$st!med t! hearin ! new

e!raphi*al dis*!-eries' .h$s F$lli-er%s epl!rati!ns t! new lands# while $n$s$al# w!$ld ha-e seemedlittle dierent than the strane tales ! +e!ti*+ lands in Ameri*a# Asia# and Ari*a' @ike the tra-el!$es

it par!dies# ulli+er's Tra+else-en pr!-ides maps ! F$lli-er%s 0!$rne"s in the b!!k t! lend m!re

tr$th$lness t! the st!r"'

StructureStr$*t$rall"# ulli+er's Tra+elsis di-ided int! !$r parts with tw! intr!d$*t!r" letters at the

beinnin ! the b!!k' .hese letters# r!m F$lli-er and his edit!r S"mps!n# let $s kn!w that F$lli-er is

basi*all" a !!d pers!n wh! has been -er" m$*h *haned b" the amaGin 0!$rne"s t! !ll!w' Cart !ll!ws F$lli-er%s 0!$rne" t! @illip$t and its tin" pe!ple< Cart t! ,r!bdinna and its iants< Cart

t! se-eral islands and *!$ntries near apan< part D !ll!ws F$lli-er t! the *!$ntr" ! the !$"hnhnm'

.he irst and se*!nd parts set $p *!ntrasts that all!w Swit t! satiriGe E$r!pean p!liti*s and s!*iet"'

.he third part satiriGes h$man instit$ti!ns and thinkin and is s$bdi-ided int! !$r se*ti!ns that are set

in @ap$ta# ,alnibarbi# Fl$bbd$bdrib# and @$na' .he irst tw! se*ti!ns are seen as a *riti:$e !

s*ien*es and s*h!lars< the Fl$bbd$bdrib se*ti!n l!!ks at hist!r"< and the @$na se*ti!n at Swit%sears ab!$t ettin !ld' .he inal se*ti!n m!-es r!m *riti*iGin h$manit"%s w!rks t! eaminin the

lawed nat$re ! h$manit" itsel':topia

.he idea ! a pere*t s!*iet"# with instit$ti!ns s$*h as !-ernment# s*h!!l# and *h$r*hes that arelawless in desin# bean with the an*ient Freeks and was epl!red b" .h!mas =!re%s /to&ia(1516'

F$lli-er inds a near&$t!pia in the land ! ,r!bdinna# where war and !ppressi!n are $nheard

!' n this se*ti!n# Swit in*!rp!rated man" ! the ideas ! the s!*ial enineers ! his da"' Swit%simpatien*e with $t!pian the!ries is als! e-ident# h!we-er' ,e*a$se the ,r!bdinnaians are h$manlike#

their $t!pia is n!t *!mpletel" pere*t' .he" *an be insensiti-e# treatin F$lli-er as s!me s!rt ! pet !r

t!"# and their s!*iet" in*l$des p!!r bears' n @$na# F$lli-er is t!ld ! a ra*e ! men wh! areimm!rtal# and he imaines that their wisd!m m$st be reat# makin their s!*iet" well&!rdered and their

pe!ple happ" and *!ntent' n!rt$natel"# e-erlastin lie d!es n!t *!mbat the ee*ts ! !ld ae# and

the imm!rtals are !b0e*ts ! pit" and dis$st' Swit *!mes *l!se t! *reatin a pere*t $t!pia with the!$"hnhnm# b$t s$ests that man *an ne-er reall" it in a pere*t s!*iet"# be*a$se he is b" his nat$relawed' .here!re# he *an !nl" stri-e !r the ideal# and ne-er rea*h it'

,$t w!$ld we want t!I .he ,r!bdinnaian s!*iet" is impere*t# b$t the pe!ple are wise and

h$mane' While the !$"hnhnm s!*iet" d!es n!t ha-e rie# l"in !r de*eit# reed !r l$st# ambiti!n !r!pini!n# it als! d!esn%t ha-e l!-e as we kn!w it' All the !$"hnhnm l!-e ea*h !ther e:$all"' .he"

*h!se their mates a**!rdin t! eneti*s rather than l!-e !r passi!n# and the" raise their *hildren

*!mm$nall"# be*a$se the" l!-e all the *hildren e:$all"' F$lli-er wants t! rise ab!-e the h$man*!nditi!n and be a !$"hnhnm# b$t Swit implies that this is neither p!ssible n!r ne*essaril" desirable'

12


13/79

llegor

An alle!r" is when *hara*ters !r e-ents in a w!rk ! i*ti!n represent s!methin r!m realit"#

s$*h as a*t$al pe!ple# pla*es# e-ents# !r e-en ideas' n ulli+er's Tra+els# and espe*iall" in Cart # man"! the thins F$lli-er eperien*es *an be linked t! a*t$al hist!ri*al e-ents ! Swit%s time' 9!r in&

stan*e# the relii!$sHp!liti*al *!ntr!-ers" between the ,i Enders and @ittle Enders *!rresp!nds t!

a*t$al *!nli*ts between Cr!testants and Bath!li*s that led t! se-eral wars' @illip$t stands !r Enland#while ,le$s*$ stands !r Enland%s l!ntime enem"# 9ran*e' .he tw!&a*ed .reas$rer 9limnap*!rresp!nds t! the Whi leader Sir 7!bert Walp!le# while the Empress%s !$trae at F$lli-er%s

etin$ishin a pala*e ire with his $rine mirr!rs the *!mplaints Q$een Anne had ab!$t Swit%s

+-$lar+ writins' .he n$mer!$s alle!ries t! be !$nd in the n!-el added t! satire Swit%s readersw!$ld ha-e en0!"ed' .he" ha-e als! pr!-ided *riti*s thr!$h!$t the "ears with -al$able material !r

anal"sis'

ullier;s raelsre*!$nts the st!r" ! @em$el F$lli-er# a pra*ti*al&minded Enlishmantrained as a s$re!n wh! takes t! the seas when his b$siness ails' n a deadpan irst&pers!n narrati-e

that rarel" sh!ws an" sins ! sel&rele*ti!n !r deep em!ti!nal resp!nse# F$lli-er narrates the

ad-ent$res that beall him !n these tra-els'

Cerhaps the m!st inn!-ati-e w!rk in the new ield ! n!-el& writin was d!ne b"

*aurence Sterne $ 1%13-1%68 an Anli*an priest wh! seemed t! adhere t! n!ne ! the r$les that had

been established !r the new enre' is


14/79

*atastr!phes that beall .ristram are a*t$all" relati-el" tri-ial< !nl" in the *!ntet ! Walter Shand"%s

e**entri*# pse$d!&s*ientii* the!ries d! the" be*!me *alamities'

.he se*!nd ma0!r pl!t *!nsists ! the !rt$nes ! .ristram%s n*le .!b"' =!st ! the details !this st!r" are *!n*entrated in the inal third ! the n!-el# alth!$h the" are all$ded t! and de-el!ped in

pie*emeal ashi!n r!m the -er" beinnin' .!b" re*ei-es a w!$nd t! the r!in while in the arm"# and

it takes him !$r "ears t! re*!-er' When he is able t! m!-e ar!$nd aain# he retires t! the *!$ntr" withthe idea ! *!nstr$*tin a s*aled repli*a ! the s*ene ! the battle in whi*h he was in0$red' e be*!mes!bsessed with re&ena*tin th!se battles# as well as with the wh!le hist!r" and the!r" ! !rtii*ati!n and

deense' .he Cea*e ! tre*ht sl!ws him d!wn in these +h!bb"&h!rsi*al+ a*ti-ities# h!we-er# and it is

d$rin this l$ll that he alls $nder the spell ! Wid!w Wadman' .he n!-el ends with the l!n&pr!miseda**!$nt ! their $n!rt$nate aair'

Historical onte=t.Enland in the 12s'

While Swit was writin ulli+er's Tra+elsin the 12s# Enland was $nder!in a l!t !

p!liti*al sh$lin' Fe!re # a an!-erian prin*e ! Ferman"# had as*ended the ,ritish thr!ne in 114

ater the death ! Q$een Anne ended the St$art line' Alth!$h he was n!t a bad !r repressi-e kin# he

was $np!p$lar' ?in Fe!re had ained his thr!ne with the assistan*e ! the Whi part"# and his Whiministers s$bse:$entl" $sed their *!nsiderable ains in p!wer t! !ppress members ! the !pp!siti!n

.!r" part"' Swit had been a .!r" sin*e 11# and bitterl" resented the Whi a*ti!ns aainst his riends#

wh! !ten a*ed eile !r w!rse' nderstandin h!w e-ents in E$r!pe and Enland led t! this p!liti*alri-alr" *an help the reader ! Swit%s n!-el better $nderstand his satire'

.he 7est!rati!n

.he 7est!rati!n era bean in 166# a ew "ears be!re Swit was b!rn' At this time BharlesSt$art (?in Bharles ) be*ame kin ! Enland# rest!rin the Cr!testant St$art amil" t! the thr!ne'

Bharles s$pp!rted a str!n Bh$r*h ! Enland# als! kn!wn as the Anli*an Bh$r*h' e was

s$pp!rted b" the .!ries# a p!liti*al part" made $p m!stl" ! *h$r*h !i*ials and land!wnin n!blemen'Cr!testants wh! did n!t s$pp!rt the Anli*an *h$r*h teamed with 7!man Bath!li*s t! !rm the

!pp!sin Whi part"' .he main s!$r*e ! *!ntenti!n between the parties was the .est A*t ! 163#whi*h !r*ed all !-ernment empl!"ees t! re*ei-e *!mm$ni!n a**!rdin t! the Anli*an *h$r*h%s

*$st!ms' n ee*t# this pre-ented n!n&An&li*ans r!m h!ldin !-ernment 0!bs' Swit himsels$pp!rted the a*t# and e-en swit*hed r!m Whi t! .!r" in 11 be*a$se he belie-ed a str!n Bh$r*h

! Enland was ne*essar" t! keep the balan*e ! p!wer in the !-ernment' .hr!$h!$t his lie# he elt

that instit$ti!ns s$*h as the *h$r*h and !-ernment had t! be str!n in !rder t! rein in pe!ple%stenden*" t!ward *ha!s and sin< he epl!red this idea in ulli+er's Tra+els' >-er the "ears# h!we-er#

Swit *ame t! belie-e the .!ries were as m$*h t! blame as the Whis !r enain in partisan p!liti*s#

l!*kin h!rns !-er min!r iss$es and brinin the !-ernment t! a stalemate' Whene-er !ne part" wasin a-!r with the reinin kin and in p!wer in the Carliament# it atta*ked the !ther part"# eilin and

impris!nin the !pp!siti!n%s members' Swit satiriGed their selish and pett" p!liti*s in Cart !

ulli+er's Tra+els# where the @illip$tian heir (wh! represented Fe!re # the $t$re kin ! Enland)has t! h!bble ab!$t with !ne sh!rt heel and !ne hih as a *!mpr!mise between the tw! parties thatwear dierent heihts ! heels'

.he Fl!ri!$s 7e-!l$ti!n and War ! Spanish S$**essi!n

Bharles %s br!ther ?in ames # a Bath!li*# *ame t! the ,ritish thr!ne in 16/5' eimmediatel" repealed the .est A*t and bean t! hire Whis !r his !-ernment' .he Anli*an&

d!minated Carliament se*retl" ne!tiated with William ! >rane# the Cr!testant 8$t*h h$sband !

ames%s Cr!testant da$hter =ar"# t! take !-er the thr!ne' n 8e*ember 16//# William did s!# and

14


15/79

ames led t! 9ran*e with!$t a iht' .his was *alled the Fl!ri!$s 7e-!l$ti!n be*a$se n! !ne was

killed in the *!$p'

S!!n ater ?in William and Q$een =ar" *ame t! p!wer# the Bath!li* @!$is RD !9ran*e de*lared war !n Spain !-er trade and relii!$s iss$es' William entered the war !n the side !

Spain# a war the Enlish *alled William%s War' .his *!nli*t was satiriGed b" Swit in the war between

the @illip$tians (Enland) and ,le$s*$dians (Enland with the Spanish# 8$t*h# and Fermans as allies)was ihtin 9ran*e# it was als! warrin with reland' rish Bath!li*s wanted reed!m r!m ,ritish r$le#and Enland eared that 9ran*e *!$ld in-ade their *!$ntr" thr!$h a s"mpatheti* reland' Cea*e *ame

ab!$t in 16# b$t Enland !t alm!st n!ne ! the sp!ils ! war J land in Spain' n !rder t! appear

str!n# William de*lared war aain# this time !n the Spanish and the 9ren*h' .his bean the War !Spanish S$**essi!n'

n 12 William died and his da$hter Q$een Anne as*ended the thr!ne' .he war waed !n

while at h!me the Whis and .!ries !$ht am!nst themsel-es' =an" ! the Whis were mer*hantswh! were pr!itin r!m the war# and the" wanted the ihtin t! *!ntin$e' .he land!wnin .!ries

wanted the war t! *ease# be*a$se it de-al$ed their pr!pert"' Swit helped the .!ries in their e!rts t!

st!p the war b" be*!min edit!r ! their newspa&per# the!)aminer' is inl$ential writins# al!n with

his riend ,!linbr!ke%s se*ret ne!tiati!ns with 9ran*e# helped end the war in 113 with the .reat" !tre*ht' Q$een Anne seemed $nrate$l !r these e!rts# as she later eiled ,!linbr!ke and destr!"ed

Swit%s *han*es ! a *areer in the Bh$r*h ! Enland' Swit was !r*ed t! ret$rn t! reland t! ind a 0!b

as an Anli*an priest'.he Enlihtenment

n the midst ! all this p!liti*al ba*k and !rth# the !ptimisti* Ae ! Enlihtenment was

l!$rish&in' ntelle*t$als# phil!s!phers# and s*ientists s$*h as !hn @!*ke# 9ran*is ,a*!n# and saa*ewt!n were !penin the d!!rs t! epl!rati!n in man" ields# askin new :$esti!ns# and

eperimentin' .he" dis*arded the !ld idea that man is b" nat$re sin$l be*a$se ! Adam and E-e%s all

r!m ra*e in the Farden ! Eden' =an%s abilit" t! reas!n# the" *laimed# *!$ld sa-e him r!m histenden*" t! sin' =an *!$ld *reate a $t!pia# !r pere*t s!*iet"# that s!l-ed the pr!blems ! h$mankind'

Swit -ehementl" disareed' e elt that reas!n *!$ld 0$st as easil" be mis$sed !r !!lish !r selishp$rp!ses as !!d !nes# and man *!$ld ne-er rise ab!-e the tenden*" t!ward sin t! be able t! *reate

$t!pia !n earth' is satire ! the !ll" ! Enlihtenment s*ientii* and the!l!i*al m$sins andeperiments in Cart ! ulli+er's Tra+elsis !ll!wed b" his p!rtra"al ! a $t!pian s!*iet"# the

!$"hnhnm%s# int! whi*h man *an ne-er it'

>/? ?>@*

&the 1 *e was par e*ellen*e the reat ae ! En n!-el # this was be* the essentiall" middle

*lass literar" art was b!$nd t! l!$rish in*reasinl" as the middle *lasses r!se in p!wer imp!rtan*eand partl" be* the n!-el was -ehi*le best e:$ipped t! present a pi*t$re ! li-e li-ed in a i-en s!*iet"

aainst the stable ba*kr!$nd ! s!*ialm!ral -al$es' .he reat Di* m!tt! was sel help # it was an ae

! *!ntrasts ( h"p!*rs"# $linessH ener"# !ptimism and Di* a*hie-ements'.! man"# -i* *arries theeelin ! st$iness# !-erilled'

.he idea ! pr!ress ( We are !n the side ! pr!ressN&=a*a$l" wr!te in an essa" )'.he $t$re

was a better a brihter !ne t! *!me'.he n!ti!n ! pr!ress seemed in eneral a**!rd with the

*!n-i*ti!n that the meanin ! lie la" n!t s! m$*h in present a*hie-ement as in *!ntin$ed !nwardaspirati!n''.he idea ! pr!ress be* a**!mpanied b" the :$esti!nin ! pr!ress&.enn"s!nTs p!etr" #

ard"Ts n!-el'NS*ien*e r!ws and bea$t" dwindles M&represent the Di* awareness -!i*ed thr!$h

.enn"s!n p!etr"'ard" *!$ld ne-er !ri-e the pr!ress that was destr!"in !ld leends # !lkl!re and

15


16/79

r$sti* indi-id$alit" and his depi*ti!n ! li-es ! r$ral w!rkers rew in*reasinl" pessimisti* as he

br!$ht their st!ries d!wn t! nearl" *!ntemp!rar" li-es'

.he passi!n !r the past; pe!ple be* aware ! the passae ! time its p!wer t!*reatedestr!"'.he Di* were !bsessi-el" pre!**$pied with time and the de-i*es meas$rin it' .ime

appears as the relati!n bet p$bli* time and pri-ate time# as well as bet the temp!ral the eternal'Di*

writers were ha$nted b" the h!sts ! MCastHCresent and Ket t! *!me M' .he sense ! hist!r" # ! aperpet$all" *hane$l p$bli* time was *entral t! 1 *e'.he reat p!lar ideas ! Di* peri!d were the idea! pr!ressde*aden*e# the twin aspe*ts ! an all&en*!mpassin hist!r"' the present seemed wa-er"

am!rph!$s# the past at least was ieddeinite'

&the 1 *e was the reat ae ! a$t!bi!raph"'.he :$alit" ! inner lie was re*!-ered b" seleaminati!n and sel repr!!'.he bild$nsr!man# the n!-el ! a "!$n manLs r!wthinitiati!n#

appealed t! the Di* n!-elistsTpassi!n !r a$t!bi!raphi*al elements' .he a*t that the endins ! s$*h

n!-els were aestheti*all" in*!n*l$si-e (8i*kens n!-els)was e-iden*e simpl" that the n!-elist # wh!se!wn de-el!pment was still in pr!ress# *!$ld n!t deta*h himsel en!$h r!m the pr!ta!nist t! pass a

disinterested 0$dement !n the s$**essail$re ! his !rientati!n'

&deta*hment was a prime !b0e*ti-e in m$*h ! Di* writin''ewt!n sinii*antl" entitled his

reat a$t!bi!'w!rk M&Ap!l!ia pr! Dita S$a M' We *an !bser-e the a-!idan*e ! the em!ti!nal*!mmentar"'

&.he m!st *!mm!n p!int ! -iew en*!$ntered in Di* n!- is that ! a n!n dramatiGedH

heter!dieeti* narrat!r ! a *!n-enti!nall" third pers!n narrati-e in the *ase ! $ll !mnis*ien*e' We*an reer t! 2 kinds ! !mnis*ien*e< the ne$tral and the edit!rial !ne# as !rman 9reidman *alls it# the

edit!rial !ne bein a rather m!re pers!naliGed'n 8i*Ts *ase# smt the narrat!r ma" be dramatiGed !r

pers!niied irst pers!n -!i*e# *alled b" 9riedman M the as pr!ta!nist M !r Pthe as witness M'Di* n!- $n*ti!n as Ma mirr!r ! the *!lle*ti-e mind# a mind ! Di* *!mm$nit" MWhile the"

e-!l-e r!m a l!w&mimeti* *!mi* !rms ( 8i*k ) # thr!$h hih&mimeti* literar" !rm (F Elli!t ) # t!

ir!ni*all" m"thi*al !nes ( hard" ) # Di* n!-els remain #means ! anal"Gin the *!mm!n -i* mentalit" #with all its rande$r and deeat' M A l!w mimeti* !rmN thereb" s$est its rather limited s*!pe and

aspirati!ns' A**!rdin t! =iller M three :$esti!ns are *r$*ial t! Di* i*ti!n ; .he :$esti!nin ! time#! interpers!nal relati!n and ! realism M

harles "ickens$1817-18%0&

e ma" be *!ns' the m!st *!mprehensi-e n!-elist sin*e he presents di pe!ple( e**entri*s#

-illains# h"p!*rites# *riminals ) ' M Sket*hes b" ,!G M# M.he C!sth$m!$s Capers ! the Ci*kwi*k Bl$b M&e-er"thin in wrapped in a *!mi* #smt' E-en b$rles:$e atm!sphere'' B'8' bean with a reat sense !

lie and a little sense ! !rm ' M >li-er .wist M&the air&land ! the pre-i!$s b!!k# was be*!min a

nihtmare in the latter& a *hildTs nihtmare in whi*h r!wn&$ps are !dd# arbitrar"# smt abs$rdl" *!mi*s#smt terri"in # smt b!th at !n*e' M =ake Tem la$h# make Tem *r"# mahe Tem wait M# was his riend

Wilkie B!llins Ts !rm$la !r the n!-el' B8 made his readers la$h with his M Ci*kwi*k papers M< n!w

he was makin them *r"in # s$ppl"in all the mel!drama the" *!$l wish !r in the net b!!ks ; P8a-id B!pperield M(1/4)#N,leak !$se M# Mhard .imes NFreat Epe*tati!ns M(1/6 )'

What m!st *riti*s aree is that 8' was n!t a realisti* n!-elist # and that when he attempted t!

write realisti*all" # he ailed ' e *reates dial!$e that has the -italit" and h$m!$r ! the best !

*!med"' is *hara*ters ne-er seem t! *!mm$ni*ate ; the" are is!lated # sel&s!lil!:$iGin beins b!rneal!n ea*h $p!n his ball!!n ! indi-id$al antas" (as Walter Allen p$t it ) and in this he is m!re

realisti* than we are prepare t! admit'

M8a-id B' M&M! all m" b!!ks # like it the best M&the a$t!bi!raph" is s$bd$ed int! art withremarkable skill # B8 epl!res the relati!n bet' *!n-enti!n realit"# bet' p$bli* pri-ate standards'

16


17/79

=r =i*awber # riah eep # are d!minated b" !ne sinle eat$re < h$milit" # eaerated !ptimism '

,esides p!rtra"in eaerated *hara*ters# 8' als! *!ntradi*ts the traditi!nal spirit ! realisti* n!-el ' A

*!n*l$si-e eample *an be pr!-ided b" the !penin *hapter ! P 8BN# an intr!d$*ti!n int! a air"&taleatm!sphere with all the set inredients ' 8a-idTs lie bean at 12 !T*l!*k at niht # whi*h in the !pini!n

! the *!$ntr"w!men was a sin# as he was *$rsed t! be $nhapp" and t! see h!sts !r !ther

s$pernat$ral thins ' e-en m!re# the *!ld =ar*h da" with the wind bl!win was $rther pr!! ! thet!rmented lie 8a-id was !in t! lead' .he !nl" h!sts he inall" saw were the !nes ! man" h!pes #remembran*es# err!rs and s!rr!ws'

8' B!p' is b!rn a p!sth$m!$s *hild !r a -iew "ears li-es happil" with his m!ther their

ser-ant Blara Ce!tt" till his m!ther married =r =$rdst!ne ' 8a-id is sent t! Salem !$se # lead b"the t"ranni*al headmaster Breakle# b$t makes riends;ames Steer!rth .!mm" .raddles'8a-id r$ns

awa" t! his a$nt ,etse" .r!tw!!d # then *!ntin$es his ed$*ati!n at Banterb$r"# li-in in the h!$se !

=iss .r!tw!!dTs law"er =r Wi*kield# wh!se da$hter Anes# a irl ! e*epti!nall" sweet and hih&minded disp!siti!n# eer*ises a p!wer$l inl$en*e !n the rest ! his lie' ,$t 8a-id marries 8!ra# wh!

dies a ew "ears ater' er ather has allen int! the t!ils ! a -illain!$s and *$nnin *lerk riah eep#

!ne ! B8Ts m!st brilliant *ari*at$res# wh!# $nder the *l!ak ! the h$milit" nearl" r$ined him'riah

als! aspires t! marr" Anes# b$t he ind his Mhappiness M in pris!n# $nder a lie senten*e' 8a-id marriesAnes# =r Ce!tt" with EmTl" and =rs F$mmide# is !$nd pr!sperin in A$stralia# where =r

=i*awber# relie-ed ! his debts# appears inall" as a m$*h esteemed *!l!nial maistrate'

.he b!!k de-el!ps !n 2 le-els # the pri-ate the s!*ial ;!n the pri-ate !ne# the st!r" d!es n!tla*k the ine-itable 8i*kens sentimentalities ( 8a-id1s $nhappiness as a *hild# the ate ! little EmTl" #

8Ts relati!n with 8!ra )< !n the s!*ial le-el #*!med" and his realism are de-astatin' .he theme is a

*lash ! dierent wa"s ! lie< dierent strata ! s!*iet" ea*h with its !wn ideals ! entilit" and w!rth*!me int! *!nli*t with ea*h !ther'

MFreat Epe*tai!ns M is seen as the m!st r!manti* ! 8Ts n!-els ' e *!mbines realisti*

elements with r!manti* !nes# parti*$larl" as ar as the atm!sphere *hara*ters are *!n*erned' All hisw!rk is *!nditi!ned b" the *hildlike -iew ! h$man beins s!*iet" # in all his n!-els he i-es the

impressi!n that e-er"thin is seen thr!$h the e"es ! a *hild' e *at*hes with mer*iless deliht theeternal aspe*ts ! a *hara*ter# the apparent meaninless est$res# ner-!$s tri*ks # the habits ! the

spee*h and the !bsessi!ns that d!minates *hara*ters' is best a*hie-ed *h' are the e**entri* !nes' ewas ha$nted b" the sense ! em!ti!nal aband!nment' .he presen*e ! the perse*$ted *hild is *entral t!

his writin# it eplains the mel!dramati* ends !r the air"&tale aspe*ts ! m!st ! his endins' M F'E'N

has been des*ribed as !ne ! 8i*'Ts -ariants !n the theme ! m!ne"# m!ne" as the aent ! is!lati!n# !rCip# perhaps 8i*Ts inest *hara*ter in a m!re !r less nat$ralisti* m!de # is per-erted in his nat$ral

ae*ti!ns and *$t ! th!se nearer and m!st l!"al t! him# b" the epe*tati!n ! m!ne"'.he w!nder$l

!penin *hapter# with the des*ripti!n ! the marshes and the *!nr!ntati!ns ! Cip with the es*aped*!n-i*t sets the ke" t! the wh!le b!!k' As the her!# Cip is bendin !-er his parentsT t!mb# tr"in t!

iner their imae r!m the shapes ! the letters # he is assa$lted b" the es*aped *!n-i*t and s"mb!li*all"

intr!d$*ed int! a pris!n&w!rld# a w!rld ! epe*tati!ns# a w!rld ! re-ersed -al$es' =!ne" andepe*tati!ns ! m!re wealth *!me t! him r!m a m"steri!$s s!$r*e # whi*h he belie-es t! be =issa-isham# wh! t$rned !$t t! $se her s!*ial stat$s !nl" t! d! ps"*h!l!i*al harm $p!n Estella and

Cip'e !es t! @!nd!n # and his new m!de ! lie meanl" aband!ns the de-!ted !e Farer"# a h$mble

*!nne*ti!n wh!m is n!w ashamed' =is!rt$nes *!me $p!n him; his benea*t!r pr!-es t! be the !rmer*!n-i*t # his reat epe*tati!ns ade awa" ' Estella marries his s$lk" enem" 8r$mmle # b" wh!m she is

*r$ell" ill&treated' .a$ht b" ad-ersit"# Cip ret$rns t! !e and h!nest lab!$r # and he is inall" re$nited

t! Estella# wh! has als! learned her less!n' 9!r the m!st *hara*ters# Preat epe*tati!ns P are i*ti!nswhi*h realit" keeps r$stratin and *!ntradi*tin' As the *!n*l$si!n ! MFE P the reader m!st likel"

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18/79

inds CipTs ate a**eptable and en0!"able' Earlier in his lie# he has *haned r!m an inn!*ent# *arin

b!" int! an arr!ant "!$n man as a res$lt ! his n!n realisti* h!pes and epe*tati!ns' !we-er# when

th!se epe*tati!n *!me t! an end# s! d! his $ndesirable traits # as he is sh!wn t! be a tr$l" !!d&nat$red pers!n'

' 9r"e speaks ! him as a shrewd master ! the abs$rd# and in this a !rer$nner ! 2th*e

literat$re'n additi!n t! this# Walter Allen p!ints !$t# he was s$premel" an entertainer # M the reatestentertainer# pr!babl"# in the hist!r" ! i*ti!n +

homas Hard $18)0-1978&

is w!rk represents a re0e*ti!n aainst the Di* pattern' .here are 2 ma0!r pres$pp!siti!ns$nderl"in his w!rk ;

1'time is an ill$si!n#an" e-ent is a repetiti!n ! similar e-ents whi*h ha-e alread" !**$rred e-er

and e-er in hist!r" < 2' 8istan*e and desire are tw! !$tli-in threads in h$man destin"# distan*e as thes!$r*e ! desire ne-er $lilled and desire as the ener" behind attempts t! t$rn distan*e int! *l!seness'

.he aspirin man is p!werless in r!nt ! this s$ddenl" h!stile $ni-erse# wh!se main !rm !

maniestati!n is that ! reak *!in*inen*e'

is irst real s$**ess as a n!-elist is M nder the Freenw!!d .ree M#1/1# # the pr!de*ed a series! n!-els # 9ar r!m the =addin Br!wd M&1/4Mthe 7et$rn ! the nati-eN&1//< M.ess ! the

8T$ber-illes&1/1# ended with P $de the >bs*$reN&1/6' .he h!stile re*epti!n ! this n!-el sent ba*k

t! his irst l!-e# p!etr"'e p$blished / -!l$mes ! p!etr" ; MWesse C!ems M#NC!ems ! the Cast andCresentN# M=!ments ! Disi!ns M# PWinter W!rds M' ard" is *!ns t! be a pessimist# b$t he denied that

he was !ne# *allin himsel a Mmeli!ristL# !ne wh! belie-es that the w!rld *an be a better !ne b" h$man

e!rt'Ket# there is little sin ! meli!rism in his w!rk'is *hara*ters stand in relati!n with weather# seas!ns# a traditi!nal lands*ape' at$re is ne-er

separated r!m the pe!ple# it pre&*!ntiti!ns them' Aainst a ba*kr!$nd with an*ient m!n$ments like

St!nehene !r an !ld 7!man amphitheatre t! remind $s ! the past# pe!ple are s$b0e*t t! the !r*es !nat$re and t! the !r*es ! destin"' at$re is seen with its p!siti-e side# the !ne whi*h s$stains hist!r" #

keepin the past ali-e # ens$rin its repetiti!n int! *"*li*al patterns 'at$re is n!t a mere ba*kr!$nd! the a*ti!n# it is all&pers$asi-e and determinin man1s a*ti!n'

=!st ! his *hara*ters re$se their dire*t parti*ipati!n in the w!rld s!*iet"# *h!!sin t!withdraw r!m it# t! !bser-e it r!m the distan*e' n m!st ! his w!rk# there appears a *$lminatin

p!int in whi*h the *hara*ters takes st!*k ! hisHher d!$ble stat$s in lie# that ! an a*t!r s$erer and

that ! a deta*hed !bser-er'.his m!ment ends in the realiGati!n that the" are mere p$ppets ! thehist!r"# the" ha-e all been $nkn!winl" the instr$ments ! the mmanent Will' t ma" be *!nsidered a

blind !r*e# sweepin thr!$h the $ni-erse '

e $ses an imainar" t!p!raph" # Wesse# a name taken r!m the realm ! ?in Arth$r '.hereis the !mnis*ient p!int ! -iew# a strate" ! emphasiGe the deta*hment is the handlin ! the narrat!rTs

time as t!tall" dierent r!m the time ! *hara*ters' .he *hara*ters str$le is in -ain .he" iht e-en

when the" kn!w the" will de deeated # this is a trai* n!-el' ard" made the transiti!n bet the Di*n!-el and the 2 the *e n!-el # he !reran the ps"*h!l!i*al i*ti!n M .ess '# A p$re W!man M is thest!r" ! an intellient and sensiti-e *!$ntr" irl wh! is dri-en t! m$rder and s! t! the death b" a set !

e-ents and *ir*$mstan*es s! bitterl" ir!ni* that man" readers ind it the darkest ! ard"Ts n!-els'

.he s$btitle was - m$*h t! Ts p$rp!se' .he n!-el ends with Anel Blare walkin awa"hand in hand with .essTs "!$ner sister # a p$rer -ersi!n ! her' ard"Ts *l!sin s$mmar" reads; P

$sti*e was d!ne# and the Cresident ! the mm!rtals had ended his sp!rt with .ess M .he messae is

that be*a$se e-er"thin is ated# the *hara*ters *an !nl" s$er as the" !ll!w their app!inted *!$rses'.his is als! the wa" in whi*h .ess m$st be seen as a p$re w!man'

1/


19/79

nalsis o# !aAor haracters

ess "urbe#ield

ntellient# strikinl" attra*ti-e# and distin$ished b" her deep m!ral sensiti-it" and passi!nate

intensit"# .ess is indisp$tabl" the *entral *hara*ter ! the n!-el that bears her name' ,$t she is als!

m!re than a distin*ti-e indi-id$al; ard" makes her int! s!mewhat ! a m"thi* her!ine' er name#!rmall" .heresa# re*alls St' .eresa ! A-ila# an!ther mart"r wh!se -isi!n ! a hiher realit" *!st her

her lie' >ther *hara*ters !ten reer t! .ess in m"thi*al terms# as when Anel *alls her a M8a$hter !

at$reN in Bhapter RD# !r reers t! her b" the Freek m"th!l!i*al names MArtemisN and M8emeterN

in Bhapter RR' .he narrat!r himsel s!metimes des*ribes .ess as m!re than an indi-id$al w!man# b$tas s!methin *l!ser t! a m"thi*al in*arnati!n ! w!manh!!d' n Bhapter RD# he sa"s that her e"es are

Mneither bla*k n!r bl$e n!r re" n!r -i!let< rather all these shades t!ether#N like Man alm!st standard

w!man'N .essLs st!r" ma" th$s be a MstandardN st!r"# representin a deeper and larer eperien*e thanthat ! a sinle indi-id$al'

n part# .ess represents the *hanin r!le ! the ari*$lt$ral w!rkers in Enland in the late

nineteenth *ent$r"' C!ssessin an ed$*ati!n that her $ns*h!!led parents la*k# sin*e she has passed the

Sith Standard ! the ati!nal S*h!!ls# .ess d!es n!t :$ite it int! the !lk *$lt$re ! her prede*ess!rs#b$t inan*ial *!nstraints keep her r!m risin t! a hiher stati!n in lie' She bel!ns in that hiher

w!rld# h!we-er# as we dis*!-er !n the irst pae ! the n!-el with the news that the 8$rbe"ields arethe s$r-i-in members ! the n!ble and an*ient amil" ! the dLrber-illes' .here is arist!*ra*" in

.essLs bl!!d# -isible in her ra*e$l bea$t"J"et she is !r*ed t! w!rk as a armhand and milkmaid'

When she tries t! epress her 0!" b" sinin l!wer&*lass !lk ballads at the beinnin ! the third part

! the n!-el# the" d! n!t satis" herJshe seems n!t :$ite *!m!rtable with th!se p!p$lar s!ns' ,$t#!n the !ther hand# her di*ti!n# while m!re p!lished than her m!therLs# is n!t :$ite $p t! the le-el !

Ale*Ls !r AnelLs' She is in between# b!th s!*iall" and *$lt$rall"' .h$s# .ess is a s"mb!l ! $n*lear and

$nstable n!ti!ns ! *lass in nineteenth&*ent$r" ,ritain# where !ld amil" lines retained their earlierlam!$r# b$t where *!ld e*!n!mi* realities made sheer wealth m!re imp!rtant than inner n!bilit"'

,e"!nd her s!*ial s"mb!lism# .ess represents allen h$manit" in a relii!$s sense# as there:$ent bibli*al all$si!ns in the n!-el remind $s' $st as .essLs *lan was !n*e l!ri!$s and p!wer$lb$t is n!w sadl" diminished# s! t!! did the earl" l!r" ! the irst h$mans# Adam and E-e# ade with

their ep$lsi!n r!m Eden# makin h$mans sad shad!ws ! what the" !n*e were' .ess th$s represents

what is kn!wn in Bhristian the!l!" as !riinal sin# the deraded state in whi*h all h$mans li-e# e-en

whenJlike .ess hersel ater

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English and American Literature Redusa