Relevance of Shakespeare Today

The relevance of Shakespeare is, in my opinion, unquestionable, dismantle out in contemporary magazines. Not sole(prenominal)(prenominal) is his parcel to the face language immense in its proportions, but similarly enduring. Even today, William Shakespeare is a household shout out the world over. He is quite liter all(prenominal)y, the figure-head of position literature, even to the average layman. Innumerable versions of his immortal whole kit are seen again and again in our fritter aways, plays and even our writing. His simple yet deep concepts have s in any cased the streak of time and are still as insightful as they were in his day.Over the years, thither have been several adaptations both on stage and in film of Shakespearian working. His plays have inspired successful Hollywood films much(prenominal) 10 Things I Hate About You, based on Taming of the Shrew. The Indian film application too has drawn heavily on Shakespeare as seen in movies like Angoor, where the plot is drawn al about entirely from A Comedy of Errors and Omkara, an adaptation of Othello. iodin of his most well-known plays, Romeo and Juliet, has inspired scores of movies such as Luhrmanns Romeo and Juliet, and the more recent Ishaqzaade.To add to this, there have been countless stage productions of his plays. His workings cross to captivate audiences to this day. His most popular plays are still a source of ideas to filmmakers in need of a muse. Although it has been said that his plots were repetitive and they are viewed as cliched and overd 1 from todays standpoint, the fact remains that these very stories are what draw audiences time after time. A pioneer in his art, he flouted all theatrical conventions of his time and in doing so, altered the very structure of drama.Critics have noted his disregard for Aristotles rules regarding literary unities, but in the quarrel of Pope, To hear of Shakespeare by Aristotles rules, is like trying a man by the laws of one country w ho acted under those of another. Pope, in the Preface to his six-folio edition of the works of Shakespeare also says, Shakespeare is not so much an imitator, as an instrument of nature. This, undoubtedly, was a response to the accusations of several scholars that all of Shakespeares work was, in fact, indebted(predicate) to Christopher Marlowe.They even went as far as to attribute all of the innovations and dramatic techniques that first appeared in Shakespeares writing to Marlowe. Despite such harsh literary criticism and vilification, the works of Shakespeare are today some of the most celebrated in English literature. Shakespeares approach to writing plays revolutionized Elizabethan theatre. Such forwardness of idea and contemporaneity of outlook was previously unseen in his day and age. He addressed contentious subjects that his contemporaries had hitherto not considered.He started the trend of writing in void verse, which transformed all preceding dramatic norms. He used la nguage according to his own fashion, coining words and expressions that have today become so commonplace, that they have the appearance _or_ semblance to have been part of the very idiom of language. To this day, expressions such as too much of a good thing (As You Like It), in my minds mall (Hamlet), it was classic to me (Julius Caesar), break the ice (The Taming of the Shrew) and bated breath (The Merchant of Venice) are used in everyday speech and writing.Shakespearean quotes such as To be, or not to be that is the question (Hamlet Act III, Scene I) and This above all to thine own self be true (Hamlet Act I, Scene III) have passed into standard usage. His plays were compose safekeeping in mind the tastes and preferences of the Elizabethan audiences. He wrote sonnets to appease his patrons and keep a stable income, which enabled him to further his career as a playwright. Not only did his writing have to appeal to the nobles, but also to the commoners, the groundlings.Acceptin g the challenge, Shakespeare incorporated into his writing not only grandiose depictions of scenes of historical importance, but also earthy, rustic toughness in order to please the masses. The themes he dealt with, although in accordance with a particular setting, were universal and easy to relate to irrespective of social class or position. in that respect are few others who hold such widespread acclaim as William Shakespeare. His writing has influenced several writers through the ages, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, John Steinbeck, Aldous Huxley, William Faulkner and Pearl S Buck, to name a few.A number of writers have quoted Shakespeare in their writing or drawn their titles from his works. Thomas Hardy chose Under the Greenwood Tree as the title for one of his novels, alluding to the hobby lines from As You Like It Under the green wood tree / Who loves to lie with me / And turn his merry note / Unto the sweet birds throat. From King Johns interpretation of life Life is as tedious as a twice told tale / Vexing the dull air of a drowsy man. The title, in two ways Told Tales was interpreted by both, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Charles Dickens. Aldous Huxley derived the title of his science fiction Brave New World from The Tempest O, wonder / How many goodly creatures are there here / How exquisite mankind is O brave new world / That hath such people in it. Pearl S Buck named her collected works haggling of Love, which was interpreted from King Lear And your large speeches may your deeds approve / That good effects may spring from words of love. John Steinbeck drew the title of his novel The overwinter of Our Discontent from the soliloquy of Richard III Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this son of York. The title of William Faulkners novel The live on and the ire is taken from the soliloquy of Macbeth It is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury / Signifying nothing. The astute quality of Shakespeares plots i s highlighted by the depth of the characterization.Shakespeares personation of both minor as well as major characters in all of his plays is intricate and inclusive. Few writers have been able to provide such ordered renderings in their works. Such detailed development in terms of plot and character has so far not been rivalled. Despite new advances, Shakespeares gigantic role in the progression of English literature remains unparalleled till date. In particular, it was Shakespeares ability to effortlessly mingle frivolity with catastrophe that led to his fame, and what makes his works invaluable even today.In the Preface to Dr. Johnsons edition of Shakespeare (1765), he writes, This is the praise of Shakespeare, that his drama is the mirror of life that he who has mazed his imagination in following the phantoms which other writers raise up before him, may here be cured of his delirious ecstasies by reading human beings sentiments in human language by scenes from which a hermi t may estimate the transactions of the world, and a confessor predict the progress of the passions. I thereby fold by once again affirming the relevance of Shakespeare in contemporary times as is plainly seen by the vast influence his work has had on the feeler of the English language and the course of development of English literature.Relevance of Shakespeare TodayThe relevance of Shakespeare is, in my opinion, unquestionable, even in contemporary times. Not only is his contribution to the English language immense in its proportions, but also enduring. Even today, William Shakespeare is a household name the world over. He is quite literally, the figure-head of English literature, even to the average layman. Innumerable versions of his immortal works are seen again and again in our films, plays and even our writing. His simple yet deep concepts have stood the test of time and are still as insightful as they were in his day.Over the years, there have been several adaptations both o n stage and in film of Shakespearean works. His plays have inspired successful Hollywood films such 10 Things I Hate About You, based on Taming of the Shrew. The Indian film industry too has drawn heavily on Shakespeare as seen in movies like Angoor, where the plot is drawn almost entirely from A Comedy of Errors and Omkara, an adaptation of Othello. One of his most well-known plays, Romeo and Juliet, has inspired scores of movies such as Luhrmanns Romeo and Juliet, and the more recent Ishaqzaade.To add to this, there have been countless stage productions of his plays. His works continue to captivate audiences to this day. His most popular plays are still a source of ideas to filmmakers in need of a muse. Although it has been said that his plots were repetitive and they are viewed as cliched and overdone from todays standpoint, the fact remains that these very stories are what draw audiences time after time. A pioneer in his art, he flouted all theatrical conventions of his time and in doing so, altered the very structure of drama.Critics have noted his disregard for Aristotles rules regarding literary unities, but in the words of Pope, To judge of Shakespeare by Aristotles rules, is like trying a man by the laws of one country who acted under those of another. Pope, in the Preface to his six-folio edition of the works of Shakespeare also says, Shakespeare is not so much an imitator, as an instrument of nature. This, undoubtedly, was a response to the accusations of several scholars that all of Shakespeares work was, in fact, indebted to Christopher Marlowe.They even went as far as to attribute all of the innovations and dramatic techniques that first appeared in Shakespeares writing to Marlowe. Despite such harsh criticism and vilification, the works of Shakespeare are today some of the most celebrated in English literature. Shakespeares approach to writing plays revolutionized Elizabethan theatre. Such forwardness of thought and modernity of outlook was prev iously unseen in his day and age. He addressed contentious subjects that his contemporaries had hitherto not considered.He started the trend of writing in blank verse, which transformed all preceding dramatic norms. He used language according to his own fashion, coining words and expressions that have today become so commonplace, that they seem to have been part of the very idiom of language. To this day, expressions such as too much of a good thing (As You Like It), in my minds eye (Hamlet), it was Greek to me (Julius Caesar), break the ice (The Taming of the Shrew) and bated breath (The Merchant of Venice) are used in everyday speech and writing.Shakespearean quotes such as To be, or not to be that is the question (Hamlet Act III, Scene I) and This above all to thine own self be true (Hamlet Act I, Scene III) have passed into standard usage. His plays were written keeping in mind the tastes and preferences of the Elizabethan audiences. He wrote sonnets to appease his patrons and keep a stable income, which enabled him to further his career as a playwright. Not only did his writing have to appeal to the nobles, but also to the commoners, the groundlings.Accepting the challenge, Shakespeare incorporated into his writing not only grandiose depictions of scenes of historical importance, but also earthy, rustic humour in order to please the masses. The themes he dealt with, although in accordance with a particular setting, were universal and easy to relate to irrespective of social class or position. There are few others who hold such widespread acclaim as William Shakespeare. His writing has influenced several writers through the ages, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, John Steinbeck, Aldous Huxley, William Faulkner and Pearl S Buck, to name a few.A number of writers have quoted Shakespeare in their writing or drawn their titles from his works. Thomas Hardy chose Under the Greenwood Tree as the title for one of his novels, alluding to the following lines from As You Like It Under the green wood tree / Who loves to lie with me / And turn his merry note / Unto the sweet birds throat. From King Johns definition of life Life is as tedious as a twice told tale / Vexing the dull air of a drowsy man. The title, Twice Told Tales was taken by both, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Charles Dickens. Aldous Huxley derived the title of his science fiction Brave New World from The Tempest O, wonder / How many goodly creatures are there here / How beauteous mankind is O brave new world / That hath such people in it. Pearl S Buck named her collected works Words of Love, which was taken from King Lear And your large speeches may your deeds approve / That good effects may spring from words of love. John Steinbeck drew the title of his novel The Winter of Our Discontent from the soliloquy of Richard III Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this son of York. The title of William Faulkners novel The Sound and the Fury is taken from the solilo quy of Macbeth It is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury / Signifying nothing. The astute quality of Shakespeares plots is highlighted by the depth of the characterization.Shakespeares portrayal of both minor as well as major characters in all of his plays is intricate and inclusive. Few writers have been able to provide such consistent renderings in their works. Such detailed development in terms of plot and character has so far not been rivalled. Despite new advances, Shakespeares colossal role in the progression of English literature remains unparalleled till date. In particular, it was Shakespeares ability to effortlessly mingle comedy with tragedy that led to his fame, and what makes his works invaluable even today.In the Preface to Dr. Johnsons edition of Shakespeare (1765), he writes, This is the praise of Shakespeare, that his drama is the mirror of life that he who has mazed his imagination in following the phantoms which other writers raise up before him, ma y here be cured of his delirious ecstasies by reading human sentiments in human language by scenes from which a hermit may estimate the transactions of the world, and a confessor predict the progress of the passions. I thereby conclude by once again affirming the relevance of Shakespeare in contemporary times as is plainly seen by the vast influence his work has had on the advancement of the English language and the course of development of English literature.