Doubting dreams in Shakespeare
Raphael Lyne
Review Of English Studies July 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1093/res/hgag043 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Shakespeare's characters (Dolabella, Brackenbury, and Romeo) voice reactive scepticism about dream content, memory, and report, and seem to flourish as a result. The author contends these doubts are socialized, spontaneous versions of Montaigne's approach to memory and dreams, staged in social situations of dream-reporting, and that Shakespeare thereby does serious thinking in dramatic form, responding to a tradition in which Lyly is a key predecessor. |
Abstract
Abstract This article considers expressions of scepticism about dreams in Shakespeare. It focuses particularly on doubts about dream content rather than dream interpretation, about memory and report rather than causes and origins. It observes these particularly in characters (Dolabella in Antony and Cleopatra, Brackenbury in Richard III, and Romeo) who discover these doubts reactively and then seem to flourish and gain substance as a result. These doubts are seen as socialized, spontaneous versions of the approach to memory and dreams that Shakespeare could and would find in Montaigne. It is important that these discoveries take place in social situations, where dreams are reported and offered for scrutiny. Shakespeare’s brief, fraught interactions respond to a long tradition in which Lyly especially is a key predecessor. In Lyly dream-sharing is a leisurely business, but it still performs important social functions. The combination of everyday exchanges with miniature philosophical discoveries shows Shakespeare doing serious thinking in dramatic form.