In praise of William Shakespeare

Hoy colgamos aquí la prueba indeleble de que nuestro flamante profesor de inglés Nick Van Deneynde was here.

Y lo hace con un maravillosos ensayo a lo Italo Calvino sobre las razones de seguir trayendo a William Shakespeare a las escuelas. Y en la lengua del aludido, que para eso estamos.

To read or not to read Shakespeare in the 21st century

In honour of 400 years of Shakespeare, it seems necessary to look back on the greatest poet of the English language. Or is he? Nowadays, fantastic writers pop up like flowers in spring. Also, is it still essential to read Shakespeare? After all, he has been dead for 400 years. Are his works still valuable to us? And if so, should they be taught in high school?

First of all, what are the reasons to read Shakespeare in the 21st century? Firstly, his characters are very layered. What does that mean? They have profound characters. They are not simple. For example, the bad guy will still show regret at what he’s done. Second, the storylines are amazing. Shakespeare was able to make very interesting stories. Thirdly, it is quite difficult to read Shakespeare. So, if you’re up for the challenge, it is worth the effort. The fourth reason is the historical element in his works. He perfectly describes the Elizabethan era (England’s Golden Age) and gives us an insight into the world Shakespeare lived in.

However, these reasons might also give food for thought to NOT read Shakespeare. These layered characters make the play far more difficult. Let’s look again at the villain who shows remorse. Here it is Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle who has taken the crown. While praying, Claudius shows his remorse at killing his own brother. Wouldn’t it be easier if Claudius was just a demonic bad guy and easy to hate? Shakespeare’s plays are not easy to read because the plot is often so layered as well. And if that isn’t enough, the language isn’t casual either. For example, when will you ever say to someone the phrase “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”. I’m sorry, but no girl falls for that, boys.

The final question is then if Shakespeare should still be taught in high school? It requires a high level of English to read the authentic Shakespeare and kids aren’t likely to ever use it again. In my opinion, yes. We should still read Shakespeare in high school. Why? Because of his influence on contemporary literature. Shakespeare has made some of the most hated villains and well-loved protagonists in world literature. Furthermore, there are many abridged versions for lower-level learners. So yes, even first years can study Shakespeare. His works can teach students a profound insight into the English language and its history. Because, even though Shakespeare claims the opposite in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, you are never too old or too young to learn.