Brian R. Dailey 
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
Major: English
Mentor: Margaret-Love Denman - Assistant Professor of English
The role of "The Hero" in the work of Shakespeare and John Irving
Often referred to as a modern day Charles Dickens, John Irving has risen from a career as an obscure academic writer, to a novelist of international acclaim after his best-selling book, The World According to Garp was released in 1979. His mastery of weaving detailed narratives and layering intricate plots allows for the development of truly unforgettable characters.
Since Garp's release, a substantial amount of research has been done on Irving and his writing. The primary focus of which has been the social themes that he includes in his books. His novels have dealt with issues such as religion, rape, incest, and abortion.
My research project explores the heroic ideal in Irving's novels. More importantly, how his heroes compare with those of Shakespeare. Through my research, I have come up with a character analysis that shows some common traits that Irving's heroes possess. My project will carry over into the next year where I will be doing extensive work on Shakespearean heroes. I will then be matching up the traits of both sets of heroes to show their similarities and differences. These findings will be presented in a longer manuscript when my project is completed.
One of the prevalent trademarks in Irving's novels is death. Filled with his dark sense of humor and talent for stretching the reader's bounds of reality, Irving creates scenes that are both outrageous and unique. John Irving's knack for writing about death is the focus of my presentation today.
