Look to Literature for Your Halloween Costume Ideas

Literature provides a plethora of Halloween costume Ideas.

Literature parallels history in many cases, especially the works of the old masters, Shakespeare, Molire, Dickens. And there is a wealth of Halloween costume ideas within these works of art. And naming rights are not an issue. Naming rights, as in the characters already have names, such as Uriah Heep. I just love that name.

How far back to you want to go? One might go back to the classic works of Sophocles or Aristophanes (The Father of Comedy). Would you recognize the names of any of their characters? Perhaps not, but after a little research it might be a good way of impressing others with your vast knowledge.

I especially love the works of Charles Dickens and all his rich (as in character) characters. David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, Tiny Tim, Marley's Ghost. There too, are the lesser known female counterparts to these characters.

Along with Uriah Heep, I love the name Mrs. Malaprop (Sheridan's 'The Rivals'). Not only she a costume idea, but she's a rich and humorous character as well. She's especially interesting because the words 'malapropos' and 'malapropism' are directly traceable back to this characters name.

Because so many famous works are written a century or more ago, the costuming could be more difficult as to the aristocracy in many of these works, but the average characters (usually poor to average) clothing might be assembled from bits and pieces at home....study your character and the period in history. Don't forget that rich dyes, thus bright colors, were unavailable for centuries.

More recently, one might consider the aristocracy of "The Great Gatsby' or the downtrodden characters from 'Tobacco Road'. I don't know how one would build a Holden Caulfield costume (Catcher in the Rye), but maybe one could find some normal teenage clothing from the 1950's at a second hand clothing store.

Taking a side trip, one might also consider dressing as the author (Jack London, Virginia Woolfe, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or one of the Bronte sisters) instead of one of their characters.

Halloween costume ideas don't need to come from a costume shop. Perhaps a longtime unread book from one of your shelves and a visit to your attic might be all you need.

A longtime owner and manager of a theatrical, masquerade and Halloween costume shop, I (Russ) have accumulated a wealth of knowledge as it relates to the costume business. More information as to ideas for Halloween costuming can be found at:
http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net

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