Beckett, Stranger than Fiction, The Tempest, FW

What is the relationship between all of these books? Good question. Is it that the Tempest and FW are works of Highbrow? Along with Beckett? Yes.
The Tempest, FW and Beckett both deal heavily in the theme of the world as a dream or an illusion. What is real? How can real be defined? How can we know 'real'? Sounds alot like the Matrix... All of these books deal with a character within a novel. A story within a story. Fiction as life. In a sense, they also deal with fate. Do we choose our own path, or is our path chosen for us? An interesting relationship between beckett and Stranger Than Fiction is that in both stories, Beckett and STF's 'author' both kill of 8 people in their stories. The author also tentativly reminds the reader that what they are engorged with is simply, a work of fiction. In STF Karen Eiffle says, "And with a subtle piece of fiction..." and in Beckett he says, "It is midnight and raining" then goes on to say "it is not midnight or raining". Joyce, Beckett and STF all have the never ending list in them. Harold is a counter whereas Joyce counts many, many, many things. Ultimately the reader is forced to understand that these characters, though real they may seem, are not the masters of their own destiny. It has been written. This reminds me of a quote from the Matrix when Morpheus asks Neo why he doesn't believe in destiny, he replies, "I don't like the idea of someone else having control over my life."