Explore Carter’s Use of Shakespeare in the novel ‘Wise Children’
Carter continually uses Shakespeare throughout the novel, Carter uses a countless number of Shakespearian references throughout the novel almost too many to be deemed realistic which as a result conforms the novel to magic realism. The structure of the novel itself is similar to a Shakespeare play as the novel comprises five chapters whilst a Shakespearian play comprises five acts. Carter also shows how art emulates life as Ranulph Hazard is seen as being unable to differentiate between art and real life. Ultimately Carter’s main use of Shakespeare is trying to bring Shakespeare back to low culture as Shakespeare has become the epitome of high culture which is evident through characters such as Melchior and Ranulph.
Carter uses an endless array of Shakespeare references many of which apply to normal everyday situations ‘Perhaps Shakespeare had eaten such a soup’. Many of the Shakespeare references used in the novel can be seen as ultimately unnecessary which begs the question: Why does Carter use such an array of references? To the extent where her home is a reference to Shakespeare, ’49 Bard Road’ in this instant art emulates life as Carter associates Dora’s home with Shakespeare. Combined with the number of absurd references conforms Wise Children to magic realism as the readers will be unable to determine if Carter is using these often absurd references to Shakespeare in a realistic way. However these references relate to Carter’s post modern writing style as the reader has to work to understand the novel from beginning to end. Although once the readers have accepted Carter’s writing style the novel is free flowing and possesses an eloquent and fast paced rhythm.
