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Why Shakespeare is Important to Modern Liturature
In an era where technology has taken over our lives, we really seem to forget the importance of history, and the arts. Literature is especially a category that is slowly diminishing. Shakespeare is known for being one of the most influential and innovative writers of all time. From tragedies, to comedies he has captured all human emotion and written it all down on paper. Shakespeare is important not only because it teaches about language and history, but because it can relate to everyone. It teaches about life, emotion, loss, tragedy, love, and so much more. Many think of Shakespeare as trivial, but for some it opens a window of emotion and imagination. He has also greatly influenced many people. One specific case of a woman named Laura Bates who was a prison volunteer and teacher, who decided to bring Shakespeare to convicts in solitary confinement. She was brought to a convicted murderer, with several escape attempts, and there began the most unlikely of friendships. This bond created by Shakespeare, saved more than one life. There is a reason why whenever you see a Shakespeare play, or read a Shakespeare book, you laugh, cry, gasp and ultimately, see yourself.
From giving the English language a slew of new words, to raising questions of race and prejudice, he has changed history entirely. Shakespeare added roughly 1,700 words to our language, including some names we use today. The name Jessica was first used in The Merchant of Venice. John Wilkes Booth was inspired to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln from his role a couple months before, in Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar. For good or bad, Shakespeare has taught us a lot about ourselves, whether that be how sensitive we are, or how truly cruel and vicious the human race may be. Shakespeare has showed us a mirror of ourselves, and with that, our true colors exposed.