Should We Read Shakespeare?

Shakespeare is the only author schools specifically have included in their curriculum. Is this right? Should we keep reading Shakespeare? The answer is yes. Yes, but why? The reasons are countless.

Reading Shakespeare takes a lot of effort–especially for the first time, as it’s not written in the English that we speak today. My first time reading Shakespeare was very teacher-led. The whole play was read as a class so as to ensure each student’s understanding of the material. It was a tedious process, just as reading any other Shakespeare piece is, but the content is well worth the effort it takes to obtain it. Shakespeare can always find a completely accurate way to describe concepts–like love and friendship–still relevant today. Any human, even now, can relate to things Shakespeare’s work describes, which is amazing, considering it was written around 400 years ago. You might ask, though: “Why Shakespeare? Why can’t we just read things that we can just as equally relate to that we can already understand without having to dig too deep?” Yes, of course, we can; nothing is stopping us, and I’m not saying we should drop everything and only read Shakespeare, but a lot of these writers are getting a lot of what they’re saying from Shakespeare. So much modern literature, modern TV, modern pop culture, makes references to Shakespeare’s words, works, and views, so why not start at the source and tough it out to get to what everyone is already talking about. Shakespeare’s work is timeless. There’s always a certain sentiment to knowing previous generations were able to enjoy the same literature and future generations will do the same. Teaching Shakespeare in the classroom preserves this. Shakespeare is an icon, therefore it’s important to give students at least some experience with such an influential character to literature today.

 

 

Gratiano Spells Love

Part of Shakespeare’s take on love, as expressed through Gratiano’s speech, is timelessly accurate, lasting even until today. In his words, “All things that are,/ Are with more spirit chaséd than enjoyed.” (II. vi. 13).  Many of us can relate to this statement, even though it was written over 400 years ago. When a new product is released into the market, everyone always wants to get their hands on it. Most are filled with excitement chasing after the product, but when they finally purchase it, it’s not longer as exciting. Simply, you always want what you can’t get,–and chase after it with vigor–but once you have it, the excitement goes away. The same goes for love. You always want someone more when you can’t have them, and once you do, you don’t as much.

Ducats O’er Daughter

In the play, Jessica, Shylock the Jew’s daughter, runs off with Lorenzo, a Christian, to get married; she takes all of her father’s expensive jewels and other riches. Upon learning this information, Shylock seems to be more concerned over losing his money than losing his own daughter. He begins his rant “My daughter, O my ducats, O my daughter!/ Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!” (II. viii. 15). At the beginning of his rant, he seems equally concerned with each of his problems, which could be perceived as negative, for he should probably be more concerned with his daughter being gone rather than his riches. He continues with more complaints about how his daughter ran away with his ducats, not that daughter is gone. He only wants to find his daughter so that he can find his ducats. Many could agree that Shylock’s concern with his money and not his daughter is wrong.

“My purse, my person, my extremest means Lie unlocked to your occasions.”

Trust and willingness to do anything for the other between both friends, in Shakespeare’s mind and our own, is paramount to a good friendship. In Antonio’s words, “[his] purse, [his] person, [his] extremest means Lie unlocked to [Bassanio’s] occasions.” (I. i. 145). Antonio trusts Bassanio with everything that is his. Hi purse–his money–is always open to Bassanio’s use. Bassanio asks Antonio for yet another loan. Antonio has already lent Bassanio a large sum, and Antonio willingly does so with trust in Bassanio and the willingness to do anything for him. Bassanio, in asking for his most recent loan, does so with reluctance and feels the need to explain himself. After hearing his timid explanation, Antonio is offended that Bassanio felt the need to explain at all–Shakespeare’s way of saying Bassanio should also have trusted that Antonio would do anything for him, no questions asked.

The characters, Portia and Nerissa, show similar friendship traits. Portia comes to Nerissa when she is in need, just as Bassanio comes to Antonio, but in Portia and Nerissa’s case, Portia is in need of emotional support, rather than financial. Portia comes to her because she can trust that Nerissa will give her honest answers and honest advice, and Nerissa trusts that Portia will accept this advice. Portia shows gratitude to Nerissa’s advice through saying “Good sentences, and well pronounced.” (I. ii. 10). And Nerissa responds with an honest piece of advice: “They would be better if well followed.” (I. ii. 11).

Shakespeare tends to understand the human condition and mind better than most people alive. His understanding, explanation, and ability to relate to us is timeless. Every one of us would be able to say that we want a friend that would do anything for us. We want to be able to trust our friends and we want them to have trust in us. We want advice from them that is honest and that will help us. If we need a friend’s opinion on something we are wearing we want to be able to trust them to give us honest advice and opinions This is the kind of friendship Shakespeare describes, and this is the kind of friendship we all desire–it is timeless.

Shakespeare: First Thoughts

I am looking forward to reading work written by such an iconic literary figure. I’ve always heard of Shakespeare’s works and traits, but I have never looked further into it. I’m excited to read work composed by someone who may understand and communicate the human condition and emotions better than most anyone else.