Why read Shakespeare?

I can imagine that as a high school student, you must have wondered why you still have to read Shakespeare in your English or literature class. What could Shakespeare possible have to add to your life in the 21st century, in which almost nothing is the same as in his time? What could his texts, four centuries old, have to offer you?

Although we are separated from Shakespeare by 400 years, some things have not changed. We are still human beings, we are born and we die and in the time in between we try to enjoy our lives and look for ways to give meaning and sense to it. This essence of human life has not changed; it has existed as long as human beings have existed. The value of Shakespeare lies in the fact that his plays and poetry can add something to your life in many different ways. In his work, Shakespeare deals with many different human emotions such as: joy, sorrow, fear, anger, desire, hate and love. His plays also deal with ethical dilemmas. For example, Hamlet’s famous words pose such a dilemma: To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? (Hamlet, 3.1.)

In these lines Hamlet is thinking about suicide. Hamlet is one of Shakespeare's most difficult characters. He seems to have to struggle with all sorts of ethical dilemmas and he seems not to be able to make the right choice.

The plays confront you with complex issues such as racism, the differences between man and woman, display of power and the abuse of power and colonialism. The plays may challenge you to look at these issues in a new and different way. This is why it is worthwhile to read and study Shakespeare. His works have meaning and value even when the world around them, the context of the 16th century, has changed enormously.

Another reason to read Shakespeare is because he has a very deep influence on the English language and on western culture. Although you may not appreciate everything, he is partly responsible for the world that you grew up in and for the ideas, words and expressions that, perhaps unconsciously, shaped you and the culture you live in.