William Shakespeare, a playwright famous for his creations in literature, is covered in almost every English class. His plays are prominent within theatrical society, with hundreds of performances and adaptations appearing every year. The reason Shakespeare is still read today is widely debated, but most agree it is because he produced fascinating plays, added to the English language, and came from mysterious beginnings. The controversy surrounding the authorship of his plays also contributes to the intrigue of his image given he might have actually been Queen Elizabeth the First, Sir Francis Bacon, or even Sir Walter Raleigh—each a notable historical figure in English society.
Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, and The Tempest—all are standard school reading list books, and all were written by William Shakespeare. In fact, Shakespeare is estimated to have authored or co-authored around thirty-eight different plays. Throughout his plays, Shakespeare introduces a variety of plots into mainstream literature that have been copied hundreds of times over the course of the centuries. From betrayal to paranoia to doomed romance, Shakespeare changed the literary landscape with innumerable adaptations of classic tropes.
William Shakespeare, nicknamed “The Bard of Avon,” can be recognized throughout the world given his role as one of the greatest writers of all time. Approximately 1,700 words were first written by William Shakespeare. Using those words, William Shakespeare added to the English language, but he also contributed to English grammar. He helped popularize compound words, which are part of the basis for modern English today. His theater, The Globe, brings in over 1.25 million visitors a year. Although it had burnt down in 1613, it was rebuilt most recently in 1997 and remains open for plays, tours, and theater workshops today. Shakespeare’s legacy can be seen through the numerous visitors to sites linked to himself and his plays.
“To be or not to be, that is the question.” One of Shakespeare’s many famous lines, it shows the depths of human misery and how death connects each person. With this quote, Hamlet is seen questioning whether he should face the horrors of life and the consequences of his actions or if he should end it all as he has nothing to live for. Shakespeare manages to connect to the fear that everyone faces, the wonder of what will come after death. It shows the audience how madness becomes rooted in one’s mind and how uncertainty ruins lives. Despite the simplicity of these words, William Shakespeare confronts death. He earns respect, disdain, and confusion from his plays and the phrases he created, while only adding to his own mystery. Shakespeare shows common issues in the world throughout his plays, giving insight into the feelings of betrayal, love, revenge, and more. As the audience becomes enamored with his writing, they find very little information on the author, adding to the feeling that he could have been anyone and faced problems just as they do. The way that Shakespeare continues to resonate with spectators can be seen through the way he showcases common problems and relates to the viewer’s life.
Despite the centuries gone by, Shakespeare remains an icon to English speakers in the modern world because of how his plays connect to the readers. Within his characters, the audience sees themselves reflected. With every plot twist, the next generation of writers take inspiration. Each description of storms and battles only adds to a director’s imagination for a re-make of one of Shakespeare’s works. William Shakespeare has been a monument within English literature for centuries and will continue to do so with his plays, poems, and his mysterious history.
Photo Credit: John Taylor
Works Cited:
McCrum, Robert. “Ten Ways in Which Shakespeare Changed the World.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 17 Apr. 2016, www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/apr/17/ten-ways-shakespeare-changed-the-world.
Muniz, Hannah. “To Be or Not to Be: Analyzing Hamlet’s Soliloquy.” To Be or Not to Be: Analyzing Hamlet’s Soliloquy, PrepScholar, 9 Dec. 2019, https://blog.prepscholar.com/to-be-or-not-to-be-soliloquy#:~:text=The%20soliloquy%20is%20essentially%20all,of%20what%20comes%20after%20death.
“Our Story: Discover.” Shakespeare’s Globe, The Shakespeare Globe Trust, www.shakespearesglobe.com/discover/about-us/our-story/.
Shakespeare, William, and Philip Edwards. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Cambridge University Press, 2019.
Shakespeare, William. Othello. Manchester University Press, 2002.
Great job Vivienne! A dead playwright can change the world, indeed!
Great article!