The first literary illusion that I noticed in this poem was a repeated mention of the famous artist Michelangelo. The way the narrator describes his anxiety sound a lot like narration from Dante’s Inferno. It is thought by many that the peach mentioned in the poem is a reference to the biblical forbidden fruit. The play Hamlet is mentioned by name.

The most obvious literary allusion in my opinion is the mentions of Hamlet. As stated, it is mentioned by name, and it may be a reference to how the narrator is paranoid. In the latter half of the play, Hamlet becomes increasingly anxiety ridden and afraid of being overthrown and killed, which relates to the narrator of this story, as the narrator is afraid of his impending death. It could also be a slight reference to old theater superstition, wherein a mention of the play by name meant things would go wrong during production.

Michelangelo is a famous artist primarily known for his statues that almost exclusively depict young men, which is a reference to how the narrator is self-conscious about getting older.