Tuesdays With Morrie
Comparing and Contrasting the Techniques of William Shakespeare and Mitch Albom In William Shakespeare’s As You like It and Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie two very different yet similar works written in distant time frames link together the aspects of death. Though they are both centered around one core subject, each author approaches the topic with their own opinions and attitudes peeking through. One work is more matter-of-fact while the other is leaning toward sentimental and emotional value. The thoughts and feelings conveyed in both pieces of literature allow the reader to take away knowledge from two sides of the spectrum. The deep story detailed in Tuesdays with Morrie leaves readers with a life-changing perspective while As
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Shakespeare blankets his readers with feelings of pity, fear and sadness. They feel pity for the man depicted in the monologue, fear about descending into the abyss of death, and sadness for the many people they once might have known who have already arrived. Shakespeare penned "His youthful hose well sav 'd, a world too wide/ For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, / Turning again toward childish treble, pipes" (Shakespeare II. Vii. 22-24). Through his strong imagery, readers can imagine the deterioration of this poor man and it really brings the mood of the monologue to a romantic sorrow. Albom created a mood of peaceful acceptance through his well-developed characters. Whereas Shakespeare describes the life of a John Doe, Albom created the round character of Morrie. Morrie is at peace with his life, and has accepted the fact that he is slowly dying. Albom wrote “‘Let [us] begin with this idea,’ Morrie said. ‘Everyone knows they are going to die, but nobody believes it.’ He was in a businesslike mood this Tuesday” (Albom 80). Albom does not use the flowery language that Shakespeare depended upon and it created something that is more realistic to hook the readers. On the concept of moods, Shakespeare and Albom both employ sadness to drive to the center core of human instinct, the trick with which they are able to pull on the heartstrings of one’s
Shakespeare blankets his readers with feelings of pity, fear and sadness. They feel pity for the man depicted in the monologue, fear about descending into the abyss of death, and sadness for the many people they once might have known who have already arrived. Shakespeare penned "His youthful hose well sav 'd, a world too wide/ For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, / Turning again toward childish treble, pipes" (Shakespeare II. Vii. 22-24). Through his strong imagery, readers can imagine the deterioration of this poor man and it really brings the mood of the monologue to a romantic sorrow. Albom created a mood of peaceful acceptance through his well-developed characters. Whereas Shakespeare describes the life of a John Doe, Albom created the round character of Morrie. Morrie is at peace with his life, and has accepted the fact that he is slowly dying. Albom wrote “‘Let [us] begin with this idea,’ Morrie said. ‘Everyone knows they are going to die, but nobody believes it.’ He was in a businesslike mood this Tuesday” (Albom 80). Albom does not use the flowery language that Shakespeare depended upon and it created something that is more realistic to hook the readers. On the concept of moods, Shakespeare and Albom both employ sadness to drive to the center core of human instinct, the trick with which they are able to pull on the heartstrings of one’s