# Shakespeare — Essays character guide

> Shakespeare in Essays by Henry David Thoreau.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0017-poetry

## Who they are

English playwright; referenced as a literary touchstone.

## In the story

### [III: Not How Many, but Where the Enemy Are](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/iii-not-how-many-but-where-the-enemy-are)

Quoted at the chapter's opening: 'What’s brave, what’s noble, Let’s do it after the high Roman fashion.'

### [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/aulus-persius-flaccus)

Listed alongside Homer and Milton as poets whose works are not yet the full voice of the Muse.

### [Natural History of Massachusetts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/natural-history-of-massachusetts)

Referenced alongside Homer as a poet who could be inspired by fishing and nature.

### [The Landlord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/the-landlord)

Mentioned as a great poet whose works are tame compared to the rude incidents of the road heard by the landlord.

### [Homer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/homer)

Referenced as a great poet, but Thoreau asserts that humanity itself is the greater poet.

### [Chaucer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/chaucer)

Mentioned alongside Chaucer and Milton; noted for being philosophical and for embodying multiple characters like Hamlet and Falstaff.

### [Poetry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/poetry)

Cited as an example of the inspired, genius-driven stream of poetry (Alpheus).

### [Thomas Carlyle and His Works](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/chapters/thomas-carlyle-and-his-works)

Mentioned alongside Homer as an example of a writer who speaks directly and confidently to readers, in contrast to Carlyle's approach.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/characters/shakespeare
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_2_se/characters