Montaigne & Shakespeare

# Montaigne and Shakespeare: A Brief Overview

Michel de Montaigne, the father of the essay, and William Shakespeare, the master playwright, were contemporaries who profoundly influenced Western literature. Montaigne's introspective essays, exploring themes of skepticism and self-knowledge, likely influenced Shakespeare's character development, particularly in figures like Hamlet, whose soliloquies echo Montaigne's contemplative style. The complexities of human nature explored by both figures continue to resonate with readers today.