Ambition

William Shakespeare in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Richard Madoc in "Calliope" both suffer from the same ill: ambition. Shakespeare wants to write plays that contain great truth and will live on through the ages. Madoc, similarly, wants to write great works of literature and become an acclaimed, famous, rich artist. These men do not rely on their talents. Their desires outstrip their abilities. Each man turns to a supernatural being for assistance. In other words, they "cheat."

Ambition is a dangerous thing. As The Sandman notes, mortals never realize what they're giving up to achieve their dreams. Shakespeare has already lost the love of the young son who will soon die. Madoc loses his very humanity through the act of dehumanizing another. He becomes a monster, entrapping and abusing another being. Ultimately, Madoc loses the ideas that he fought to gain and suffers the torture of The...