What are the similarities between William Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe?

Answer 1

It obviously depends on which play you are talking about. Tenessee Williams tended to be at least somewhat autobiographical in writing every one of his plays. But if you are interested in A Streetcar Named Desire, there are a few very significant links. - Tenessee's father was an alcoholic, and often wildly violent. These elements come into play very obviously in the character of Stanley, and more subtly when it comes to Mitch. - Tenessee's sister, Rose, was schizophrenic. She was a beautiful young girl very abosrbd in her own fantasy, but had hysterical episodes quite frequently. Tenessee used to look after her, but when she was in her late teens she had a lobotomy, which failed and left her blank and emotionless. Tenesee never forgave himself. This is clearly echoed in the relationship betwen Stella and Blanche, and Blanche shares quite a few qualities with Rose. However... -More than anything else, the character of Blanche DuBois is based on Tenessee himself. He said in various interviews 'i am Blanche DuBois'. He was a self-professed homosexual (something which caused him to be submitted to violence by his father and generally cast-out in an unkind society). He wrote the character of Stanley as an example of a man he would be both disgusted by and attracted to. He is similar to Blanche in his Alcoholism and vulnerability - also, naturally in his love of literature. The play ends with the destruction and sedation of Blanche, which, although similar to the history of Rose, is more significantly a symbol of Tenessee's own personal downfall - maybe something he believed he deserved for both his own homosexuality and his neglect of his sister.

Answer 2

one of the things they have in common is writing about loves they have lost. in Shakespeare's "Shall i compare the to a Summers day", Shakespeare uses a ton of metaphors comparing her to a bright day. in EAP's case he does the same by saying she was a child and i was a child in this kingdom by the sea but we loved with a love that was more then love i and my Annabel lee. he is saying that there love was as pure as that of small children. although they are very different ( like the fact that EAP is very Gothic and dark) they both have similarities.