Oh, Shakespeare

During class today we discussed one of the points of Frederick Turner's book on Shakespeare and economics.  During this conversation, something came to mind which hadn't, until today, particularly concerned me.  In A Midsummer Night's Dream, at some point, the question of money arises and I noticed that even though the play is set in and around Athens, the characters still discuss the money in terms of the British monetary system.  I know I thought it strange when I first read it, but I just brushed it off as a minor detail; but upon further reflection, it shows something more.  I believe that this detail gives us an insight into realism and its progress in British literature.  During the process of literary development, realism came under question and I suppose one could say it peaked under the regime of the English novel.  This is the first time that I have noticed some detail like this entering into the details of realism even if this is a demonstration of a nonrealistic detail.  While this thought seems mostly undeveloped here, it is something which I will keep an eye on in the later readings, and perhaps my additional readings, and see if I can make any more notes or conclusions about Shakespeare and realism (or the lack thereof).