Shakespeare's Impact On Theatre

William Shakespeare's writing is a work of art referenced multiple times in the English curriculum across the world. His writing stands out to English learners because of the numerous literary devices that he uses to make his writing emerge from the rest. In his plays, he manages to use ethos, logos, and pathos to give his writing the ability to connect to every person who reads it. Shakespeare also manages to use motifs like omens and warning signs throughout his plays, as well as themes like Fate vs Free will and the ones closest to you may be your biggest weakness. In one of Shakespeare's greatest plays The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, he manages to use Caesar as the connecting point to everything.

Emily Giarrizzo Ms. McGinnity Honors English II 18 November 2015 The beauty of William Shakespeare does not lie his writing, but in the theme in which each of his plays suggest. The speech Marc Antony delivered has an immense impact on the minds of the citizens in Rome through the influence of devices, language, and details. While using a manipulative and powerful tone, he manages to sway a whole crowd while hiding his intentions of revenge and maintaining a neutral ground throughout the entirety of his monologue.

William Shakespeare is regarded as one of the greatest English writers, playwrites, and poets of all time.   In his speech to college freshmen titled "Why Read Shakespeare," Michael Mack offers insight as to why students should envelop themselves in Shakespearean literature. Mack cites key reasons that exemplify the relevance of Shakespeare's works to our daily lives. Because of the clear connections to daily life and emotional appeals he makes, Michael Mack is indeed effective in persuading his audience to read Shakespeare.

Julius Caesar is a historical piece with added variations to make a stageable play (“William Shakespeare: Plays, Poems, Quotes, and Biography”). The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is a very popular play because of its plot. From the article “Why do We Still Care About Shakespeare,” the play is a conspiracy to assassinate the emperor and includes components of murder, political treachery, and justice. Brutus is one of the main characters featured in the play because of his role in taking down Caesar (“William Shakespeare: Plays, Poems, Quotes, and Biography”). Brutus ends up killing Caesar, and then dies but he still believes that killing Caesar was the noble thing to do (“William Shakespeare: Plays, Poems, Quotes, and Biography”).

As people grow up in the English world, it is inevitable to encounter Shakespeare’s work within mainstream media. Many movies and TV shows follow the plot of some of Shakespeare’s most famous works. For example, Disney’s The Lion King follows a young lion’s journey of vengeance, love, and redemption, which derives from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Another example of one Shakespeare’s works being referenced, the line “To be or not to be” may be referenced whenever a character contemplates life and death, - especially when characters are suicidal. Shakespeare’s influence even reaches into people’s way of communication.

The Impact of William Shakespeare on American Culture “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them” (Shakespeare). William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright who is considered one of the greatest writers to ever use the English language (“William Shakespeare his life...” 2015). Known for many of his great works containing poems, plays, and sonnets dating back to 1592. “He was a man of his times, writing for his contemporaries on topics that were the hot-button issues of his day” (Tumiel, 2017). In the times during Shakespeare’s birth there were events taking place such as the age of protestant reformation and the Renaissance, contributing to his works.

As the curtain closes, the audience is struck with a newfound love, and because of the excellent use of literary devices, Shakespeare’s writings continue to live to this

William Shakespeare, Known for his stories as well as the best writer in history. In today’s world, Shakespeare can be appealing to people or it can also be difficult to understand. “ Why Read Shakespeare?”, argument by Michael Mack explains the importance of reading Shakespeare for real-life experience and how his stories can lead to better understanding of the real world and yourself. Mack produce an unproductive argument that cannot appeal to the audience about how significant Shakespeare is for people to read through his use devices and understanding.

As a reader, it is easy to hear “Oh Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo” recited in a movie or see someone lift up a skull in a Hamletesque manner and speak, and immediately recognize that those are references to Shakespeare, but what is less known is that some of the most crowd-pleasing and attention-grabbing scenes in movies and modern entertainment are direct references to Shakespeare. When reading Shakespearean plays or seeing them performed live, it is easy to spot that their storylines and narratives almost parallel media that is observed today. Why is this? Well, as stated by Mental Floss, “..we [writers] cling to legends and potentialities to help us understand anything at all about the man whose writing has helped us to understand

In Shakespeare’s play the fall of King Lear was played out in an over dramatized nature. Many were taken down in his self-destructive fit. Lear’s demise was also played out right after it looked like things were beginning to turn around. This style of writing was due to the Elizabethan Era. That era was known for its flourish in literary works and dramas, leading to the immense over dramatization of Shakespeare’s characters.

As time progresses, social norms and societal conventions evolve to accommodate to modern times. The progression of social norms can be seen through literature as it often addresses the views of people at the time. Due to this, frequently newer generations are unable to comprehend old literature as they exhibit foreign and conservative values. However, Shakespearean plays are studied and read even today because he demonstrates familiar themes or values about human nature that resonate with us in our modern day world, thus being known as a timeless classic. Shakespear’s

In the essay “Shakespeare Meets The 21st Century” (297), Michael Kahn believes that all renditions of Shakespeare’s plays are “interpretations” that reflect the approach to acting and producing at the time of production. In recent times the productions of Shakespeare’s plays have undergone changes to the manner of speaking to be more “conversational” while attempting to retain the rhythm and tone of the play. He explains that Shakespeare’s plays were themselves adapted from those of other playwrights. He marvels at the experience of those who originally witnessed and had no prior knowledge of Shakespeare’s plays must have had. Kahn states “I believe all theater artists who approach these plays envy that encounter and explore strategies to re-create

His plays hold intricate meanings and messages, his works are open to many interpretations and encourage students to use his or her imagination, his plays prompt us to imagine the complex lives lived by his

“To be, or not to be, that is the question:” whether Shakespeare is to be the real author of the great plays and sonnets credited to his name or if his name is to be only a cover up, a pen name, for the true author of the works, may it be Sir Francis Bacon, Edward de Vere, or a collection of authors (Shakespeare 127). Shakespeare’s work has been admired for centuries and it has gained much respect, however, some say the work of Shakespeare may in fact not be his. There are many questions surrounding the topic of Shakespeare’s authorship and whether or not he could have really been the author of so many thought provoking and diverse plays. There is great argument over his lack of proper schooling and travel, as well as there are many candidates

In the twenty-first century, the plays of William Shakespeare may at first appear dated and irrelevant: they use archaic language, are set in the age of Kings and Queens, and the Kingdom of England. However, it would be plainly mistaken to construe that Shakespeare’s works do not still remain integral to a twenty-first century society. Shakespeare’s plays gave the words and expressions one uses every day, revolutionized the art of theater as it was known, and forewarned about issues that would unknowingly still apply centuries later. Therefore, Shakespeare has had a profound effect on our lives by enriching our language and culture, as well as providing ideas that would still apply five centuries later, and it would thus behoove us to learn from his works and life.