How is the meaning of the novel, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, enhanced by the sustained literary allusion to another work of literature?

The "sustained literary allusion to another work of
literature" is no doubt, the idea that this novel seems to parallel the story of
"Hamlet."  Consider the similarities: Edgar's mother, Trudy is Hamlet's mother
Gertrude.  His uncle Claude is like Claudius.  Many even compare Almondine, though she
is a dog, to the character of Hamlet's Ophelia.

The death
of Edgar's father and subsequent visit by the ghost is the moment that seals for most
reader the comparison to Shakespeare.  It immediately sets up the
meaning of the novel to be a tale of murder and possible revenge. 
Edgar's father has been poisoned by his own brother, and Edgar is the only one who
knows.  As the story unfolds, the natural questions arise: How will Edgar be able to
reveal the secret in a way that everyone believes him?  Will he avenge his father's
death, and how?  And, will he go mad in the process?  Finally, in light of the fact that
"Hamlet" is a tragedy, the big question is will Edgar die in the
end?

Knowing this literary parallel before reading
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle can act as a bit of a story guide but
has the potential to ruin any sense of surprise.  Though the two stories do not match
identically, even the author himself admits the similarities were
intentional.