Modern Age - Spring 2016 - 8

ESSAY

SHAKESPEARE, CERVANTES,
AND THE ROMANCE
OF THE REAL
R. V. Young

T

here is no more arresting coincidence in literary history than
the death of two of the world's greatest writers, William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, on the same date,
April 23, 1616.1 The coincidence is fitting because of the similarity in the depiction of the world attained by both men, who are
equally credited with opening the way for modern literature,
especially the novel, with its intimate engagement with "real life."
While both writers strive to represent reality, it is also true that
human experience can only be manifest by means of ideas, which
define in some measure what that experience is. Thus the greatest literature of Western civilization both "imitates" our life and
shapes our understanding of what it can be. While a full account
of the complex engagement of either of these authors could
hardly be managed in many volumes, a few examples from each
R. V. Young is the editor of Modern Age.

8

moder nagejour nal .com



http://www.modernagejournal.com

Modern Age - Spring 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Modern Age - Spring 2016

Contents
Modern Age - Spring 2016 - Cover1
Modern Age - Spring 2016 - Cover2
Modern Age - Spring 2016 - Contents
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