Why is knowing the work of Shakespeare so important?
“The fact is, Shakespeare was not sectarian; he pleaded nobody’s mission, he stated nobody’s cause. He has written with a view to be a mirror of things as they are; and shows the office of the true poet and literary man, which is to recreate the soul of man as God created it, and human society as man has made it.”
This is a quote by George Dawson who was a lecturer born in London in 1821. He was called the “greatest talker in England” and helped to open the Shakespeare Memorial Library in Birmingham, England. He recognized that William Shakespeare was one of the greatest writers who ever lived! And, as one of the greatest writers in the Western world – you should know his work! But, why should you know it?
Of course there have been volumes of thoughts created about this subject! Everyone has their own reasons for coming to the Bard’s work…general curiosity… professorial force…desire to sound smart in social settings… well, whatever the reason, knowing this body of work is important! I want to introduce a few of the reasons why.
Reason number one - Shakespeare was a man of his time… and his “time” was important.
The Renaissance period was important because it was truly a re-birth of more than just Western classical thought and philosophy but also art and literature. It was a time marked with a break from the Medieval strictness of thought and institution to the opening up of curiosity and scientific inquiry. It set the stage for a shift in Western culture that would catapult the world in an entirely new direction.
Beginning in Italy, the precepts of the Renaissance spread over Europe, changing each culture it touched. All of Shakespeare’s plays – not just the history plays – give us insight into this period of time in England. Shakespeare’s plays give insights on so many subjects and the opinions of those who lived during his lifetime. He wrote about…law, marriage, love, aging, melancholy (I bet you know which one that is!), duty, loyalty, hatred, deception, witchcraft and on and on and on! These plays encompass so many areas of discovery and expertise.. it is truly amazing!
Reason Number two – Shakespeare is EVERYWHERE!
My children will tell you that I have exhausted them with years of shouting “Shakespeare!” when we are out in the world (because Shakespeare is everywhere!). So, imagine my surprise when, listening to music one day, I heard a song about Romeo and Juliet. I shouted “Shakespeare!” and my daughter said - “No, it’s Taylor Swift!”
Whether you are watching popular movies (such as “10 Things I hate about you” or “The Lion King”) or tv programs (such as Star Trek or the Simpsons) or eating at a fast food place or listening to music or listening to a political speech or driving down the road looking at billboards… you will see Shakespeare’s work everywhere! In fact, YOU speak Shakespeare! He gave us over 1700 words in the English language including eyeball, elbow and blanket. He gave us phrases such as “heart of gold” and “love is blind”. His work has been translated into over 100 languages and is performed around the globe (pun intended!). He is the most produced playwright in history. Truly, Shakespeare words and stories are around us everyday and knowing them will enhance your existence in our world!
Reason Three - Shakespeare wrote beautifully…for the theatre!
Shakespeare has contributed so much to the modern Western culture but, unfortunately, his true genius is often hidden from those who see only the “beautiful language” and his work through the study of English. Shakespeare’s language is beautiful. Shakespeare did write mostly in a “poetic” form but Shakespeare wrote for the theatre. This is a crucial point and losing the theatrical elements of the plays to study them as “literature” is missing a large portion of what makes Shakespeare Shakespeare! It is poetry but it is DRAMA first!
Harold Bloom, a popular Shakespearean scholar, wrote a large volume called “Shakespeare: The invention of the human”. In it, Bloom writes “The plays remain the outward limit of human achievement. They abide beyond the end of the mind’s reach; we cannot catch up to them. Shakespeare will go on explaining us, in part because he invented us.” He believed that Shakespeare wanted, as Hamlet states, to hold “a mirror up to nature”.
The works of this man show the breadth of human experience like no other writer in history. Shakespeare invented us because he was able to capture who we are so accurately. Shakespeares words are beautiful but they must live beyond the dusty shelves of English classrooms and be seen as they originally were meant to be seen… interpreted and spoken by humans! In short, go see Shakespeare’s work on the stage (or on film) to truly understand why Shakespeare is so important! And, I bet, if you just try – you will see yourself on stage staring back at you! The actor you see just might be sharing the same thoughts you have had!
William Shakespeare was the greatest playwright who ever lived and his work is important for us to know because it is all around us and it is… us.
TODAY’S SHAKESPEARE QUOTE: The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together. (All’s Well That End’s Well).