Turner and Hughes

It is my understanding that this blog is supposed to be a reconciliation of Shakespeare, Turner, and Hughes; and after leaving class on Friday, I ran (figuratively) over to the library and picked up a copy of Frederick Turner's book Shakespeare and the Nature of Time.  I will try to get explain the relationship between these three works as well as how we can use these works with relation to A Midsummer's Night Dream


Shakespeare and the Nature of Time:
The metaphysical space that takes place in a Midsummer Night's Dream that comes about due to the majority of the action taking place during the night.  During this time, the natural cycles that help to indicate time are interrupted and therefore, the actions of the play are capable of stepping to a realm that helps break away from a timeless reality.  This helps to bring in subjects that doesn't exist in this reality (like the fairies) into the real world and connect them with the mortal characters.

School of Night:
In School of Night, there is an interesting connection between the action in A Midsummer's Night Dream and the action of the literal School of Night.  During the night, in both cases, we see a series of fantastical events taking place.  The School of Night introduces the world to new developments in the sciences, mathematics, and philosophy.  These introductions can (at least in my opinion) be considered as 'magical' (and I'm certain the government and the church would agree) as the actions that take place during the night in the place.



Essential Shakespeare:
O! Ted Hughes! I'm not entirely certain how to connect this introduction to these other two works, at least not as I've connected the other two so I will just make a few notes about where I am with my Shakespeare memorization from the anthology (if that is what it is to be called).  Up to this point, I have managed to memorize Macbeth's "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow.." as well as Sonnet 116.  I have started on the "As You Like It"'s "All the world's a stage..." speech.