Shakespeare References in While Mortals Sleep

My two favorite writers are Kurt Vonnegut and William Shakespeare, so of course I was tickled to find Shakespeare references in While Mortals Sleep, a collection of previously unpublished short stories by Kurt Vonnegut. The first Shakespeare reference comes in the story “Out, Brief Candle.” Actually, the first reference is that story’s title, which is part of a line from my favorite speech from Macbeth (and perhaps my favorite speech in all of Shakespeare): “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,/Creeps in this petty pace from day to day/To the last syllable of recorded time,/And all our yesterdays have lighted fools/The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!/Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player/That struts and frets his hour upon the stage/And then is heard no more. It is a tale/Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,/Signifying nothing.”

Then in the story “The Man Without No Kiddleys,” there are several Shakespeare references. One of the characters is reading Shakespeare’s sonnets, and is interrupted by Noel Sweeney. Vonnegut writes, “The stranger was reading the Sonnets of William Shakespeare” (p. 177). And Vonnegut makes Shakespeare, through his sonnets, basically a character, for he writes, “‘From fairest creatures we desire increase,/That thereby beauty’s rose might never die,’ Shakespeare said to the stranger” (p. 177). And then: “‘Music to hear, why hear’st thou music sadly?’ said Shakespeare. ‘Sweets with sweets war not, joy delights in joy’” (p. 177). The first lines are the opening lines of Sonnet 1, and the second lines are the opening lines of Sonnet 8. A little later in the story, Vonnegut writes: “‘The forward violet thus did I chide:’ Shakespeare said to him, ‘Sweet thief, whence didst thou steal thy sweet that smells,/If not from my love’s breath’” (p. 181). Those are the first lines from Sonnet 99. Vonnegut then continues to quote that sonnet: “‘The purple pride/Which on thy soft cheek for complexion dwells/In my love’s veins thou hast too grossly dy’d,’ said Shakespeare, still chiding the violet” (p. 181). Later in that story, Sweeney asks his companion what his game is. Vonnegut writes: “‘My game?’ said the stranger. He thought awhile, amiably. ‘Shakespeare, I suppose’” (p. 183). Then: “‘Now you see,’ said Sweeny, ‘if you was to come up to me and make me a little bet about Shakespeare – ’ Sweeny shook his head craftily. ‘I just wouldn’t bet you’” (p. 183).

The story “Money Talks” contains a reference to Romeo And Juliet. While in the other story, Shakespeare essentially spoke to one of the characters, in this one a fortune speaks to a character. Vonnegut writes, “‘Goodbye, Romeo,’ said the twelve million to Ben. ‘Don’t look so blue. The world is full of girls just as good as Rose, and prettier’” (p. 230).

While Mortals Sleep was published in 2011. My copy is the Dial Press Trade Paperback Edition, published in 2012.