When authors refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.
Literary and Philosophical References
- Thomas Chatterton, poet (2.1.3.77)
- "I go—and leave my character behind me," quote from Richard Brinsley Sheridan's play The School for Scandal (2.1.3.77)
- Isaac of York, character in Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe (2.1.3.125)
- Dante (1.1.3.15)
- Sirens, Greek mythology (1.1.9.11)
- Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe (1.1.12.5)
- "by their fruits ye shall know them," reference to Matthew 7:20 (2.3.2.84)
- "turneth away wrath," reference to Proverbs 15:1 (2.3.2.149)
- "O Death, thou […]" paraphrase of I Corinthians 15:55 (2.4.5.20)
- Lucrezia Borgia, opera by Gaetano Donizetti (3.3.4.26)
- "I came, saw and conquered [...]" reference to Julius Caesar's "Veni, vidi, vici" (3.4.1.27)
Historical References
- Charles V of Spain (1.1.7.14)
- Titian, Italian painter (1.1.7.14)
- Pope Alexander VI (2.1.2.26)
- Mr. and Mrs. Manning, who committed a notorious murder in 1849 and were publicly hanged that same year (2.1.2.26)
- Jesuits (2.1.4.7)
- King Charles I of England (3.3.5.51)
- Holy Roman Empire (3.4.1.1)
- Masons (3.4.1.1)
- Isaac Newton (3.4.1.17)
- Nero, Roman Emperor (3.4.1.17)
- Alexander the Great (3.4.1.17)
- Raffaelo Sanzio, Italian painter (1.1.7.6)
- Goths (1.1.7.14, 2.2.1.6)
- Tory party (1.2.4.26)
- George II of England (2.1.1.30)
- John Howard, English prison reformer (2.1.3.77)
- Great Exhibition of 1851 (3.1.1.17)
- King Solomon (3.1.11.24)
Pop Culture References
- Figaro's song, "Largo al Factotum" (2.1.3.22)
- Man of Sentiment, popular character type in 18th-century novels (2.1.3.154)