Gaiman, Shakespeare and the Question of Authorship

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyse the question of authorship through one of the most popular works of Neil Gaiman, the fantasy graphic novel The Sandman. As Gaiman stated, the graphic novel mainly focuses on the act of storytelling and the relationship that springs between the reader and the author through the work itself. Throughout the graphic novel, numerous characters are portrayed, but this issue will mainly focus on Dream of the Endless, the protagonist, and on Shakespeare, which Gaiman adopts and adapts as a character. The first chapter serves as a theoretical introduction to the writers and includes Gaiman’s personal and professional biography, a history of Shakespearean adaptations for a Young Adult audience and an introduction to the graphic novel as a means of communication. The following chapter examines the universe of The Sandman, with an overview of the Endless, a brief summary of the main plot and the analysis of two relevant issues of the graphic novel in which Shakespeare appears: issue 19, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and issue 75, The Tempest. The last chapter will focus on Gaiman’s postmodern approach to storytelling across The Sandman and particularly on his way of deconstructing “grand narratives” to open new perspectives for his readership. A final analysis of Shakespeare’s character provides a way to highlight Gaiman’s position as a storyteller: Dream and Shakespeare both represent literary copies of the author and, through their journey, express his belief that stories outlive their creators and inevitably shape the lives of those who read them.