Great Writers of the Seventeenth Century
William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Garcilaso Inca de la Vega are all great writers of the seventeenth century. Their works as well as plays, books, and other writings are still being acknowledged today. Though all three men are very important in literary history their marks left on English literature are extremely unique and very different.
Miguel de Cervantes was a man who lived a trouble life and look to writing as an escape, from the world around him. According to Jean Caravaggio author of The Cervantes Project, “After five years spent as a slave in Algiers, and four unsuccessful escape attempts, he was ransomed by the Trinitarians and returned to his family in Madrid, where a few months later he published a pastoral novel called, La Galatea” (1). The novel gained him little success, but it wasn't until 1605 where he gained immediate success for his work Don Quixote. Unfortunately, Don Quixote is the only work written by Miguel de Cervantes that I'm familiar with, however he is still known all over the world as the father of the Spanish language, thanks to his brilliant creation Don Quixote.
Garcilaso Inca de la Vega was also a great writer of this period. José Durand, author of Selections from the Library of José Durand, believed even though Vega was wealthy being the son of an Inca princess and a Spaniard father, he still gained a reputation that lead to accusations of treason, during this difficult period of rebellion and civil war in the colonies (1). “Garcilaso's writings provide eloquent testimony to the emotional and intellectual struggles faced by this unique hybrid of the Old and New worlds” (1). Vega was the first man ever to write from a Native American's prospective and his publication Florida gained him worldwide success. Garcilaso Inca de la Vega seems to be a great historical author, but sadly I had never heard of him until now.
William Shakespeare is the Michael Jackson of English literature. Everyone knows him despite whether or not they like or dislike his works. Shakespeare is one of the most, if not the most respected writer of all time. His works are constantly being read, re interrupted, and even made into hit films. According to the Academy of American Poets, “In his poems and plays, Shakespeare invented thousands of words, often combining or contorting Latin, French and native roots” (2). Shakespeare has written over thirty plays and almost everyone them are still being acted or read today. “These plays are usually divided into four categories: histories, comedies, tragedies, and romances (1).” Shakespeare’s earliest plays were primarily comedies and histories. Plays such as Henry VI and the Comedy of Errors. Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare's second and one of the most famous tragedies written by him, drew him even more success as he continued writing more plays with similar themes. Plays that he is greatly known for, such as: Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, and Antony and Cleopatra.
William Shakespeare is obviously the most famous and my personal favorite out of the three. However, Miguel de Cervantes and Garcilaso Inca de la Vega both made there marks in history and became great writers of their time.
Words Cited
Academy of American Poets. http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/122. 1-2. 2011
Canavaggio, Jean. "Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616): Life and Portrait". The Cervantes Project.
Retrieved 2007-01-04. http://cervantes.tamu.edu/biography/new_english_cerv_bio.html
Selections from the Library of José Durand. 2011. http://www.library.nd.edu/rarebooks/exhibits/durand/index.html
