In this book an attempt has been made to compare the two legendary writers by comparing the eastern way of thinking with the western way.

Shakespeare is amongst the writers Sri Aurobindo holds in high esteem. Sri Aurobindo’s admiration for the great dramatist resulted in obvious Shakespearean influences on him. He adopts for his plays Elizabethan model of drama perfected by Shakespeare’s genius. Shakespeare’s influence is traceable also in Sri Aurobindo’s sonnets.

It is said that Sri Aurobindo had Shakespearean literature on his bed-side when he left his mortal remains. Both the great writers were not satisfied by merely holding mirror to the nature but due to their greater and deeper life power, they recreated the human life in its beauty and completeness. Therefore, there is an obvious need to compare and contrast Shakeapeare and Sri Aurobindo so as to bring out affinities that may be there between their creative ideal and vision as well as their poetic and dramatic art, along with the former’s influence on the later.

In this book an attempt has been made to fulfill the need and to contribute, in some measure to the appreciation of Sri Aurobindo’s poetry and plays. It also briefly touches upon Indian response to Shakespeare. It focuses mainly on Sri Aurobindo’s numerous insights and critical observations on him. To sum up writings of the two such outstanding writers, who represent two very different ways of thinking. On one hand Shakespeare potrays lot of blood shed, gory tales and a wild kind of poetic justice in his writings, but on the other hand Sri Aurobindo truely follows Indian ethos of non violence or ‘Ahimsa’.

The author underlines the stark similarities and differences in both the writer’s exploring their plays and sonnets. The structure of plays and sonnets may be same of both the greatest minds but ethos and personna ingrained in their writings is quite different.

Dr. Meenu Sodhi Sharma

Education: Ph.D. in English Literature from Gurukul Kangri University (2002); M.Phil. in English Literature from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla (1986); M.A. in English Literature from Himachal Pradesh University (1983, topper); M.A. in English Literature from Gurukul Kangri University (1999, gold medalist); B.Sc. from Government College for Women, Chandigarh, Punjab University (1980). She lectured for over 20 years and taught college students of under graduate and post graduate classes at S.M.J.N. P.G. College, Haridwar.

Published Works: Book titled 'Sri Aurobindo and Shakespeare Eastern and Western Theories' published by Prabhat Prakashan, New Delhi. Research Paper titled 'The Fictional World of Ruskin Bond' in the book 'Reflections on the Indian English Fiction. She participated in the national seminar sponsored by HRD Ministry, Govt. of India on the Intellectual Property Rights in Developing countries; national seminar sponsored by UCOST Dehradun and DRDO, New Delhi on Global Warming: It's Impact on Environment, Economy, Society and Politics, and UGC sponsored national seminar on Global Recession and Indian Economy.