Shakespeare Electronic Conference, Vol. 5, No. 0055. Saturday, 22 January 1994.
 
From:           Julie Traves <
 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 >
Date:           Saturday, 22 Jan 1994 11:09:07 -0400
Subject:        *MSND* and *King Lear*
 
I am currently working on a paper for my fourth year honours paper. The topic
will be something approximating how both *Lear* and *MSND* examine the idea of
"seeing feeling*, how each play explores the necessity of nature and a system
of meaning which grows from it and how this meaning is thwarted by society. In
*Lear* this seems to be at issue in Lear's struggle between his role as king (a
social role which destroys him) and man (and father). In *MSND* this is
explored through the relationship between dreams and life (similar to art and
life in *Hamlet*?) and how this affects the lovers (natural or social
behaviour?). This is just a skeletal plan and I haven't fully fleshed out my
ideas but I would be interested in any comments and also in any information on
books or articles written on *Lear*/*MSND* comparisons  (also anything which
might link these two plays to *The Tempest*. Whew! Thanks a lot.
 
Julie Traves
Dalhousie University