Why is Shakespeare so important to English Literature?
Shakespeare stands the test of time because his plays are universal. That is, the issues and situations in the plays relate to many issues and concerns faced today. In fact, they apply to about any era. One hundred years from now, the plays will relate to the “present day” concerns of that time. Also, the speech within the plays is so original, so expressive and rich, that it has left its impact on the English language itself. For many, this does not become apparent until they have performed in a Shakespearean play or been exposed to his works several times. It does sometimes take work to understand or appreciate Shakespeare, but it pays off. In fact, much of a given play is understandable on the first reading or viewing. They are not as “hard” as people are lead to believe. As for the issues, here is a very incomplete list of a few issues and the plays in which they are portrayed: loyalty (King Lear, Hamlet, Julius Caesar), love versus blind hatred (Romeo and Juliet), bigotry (Merchan
