Why do some people find Shakespeare boring?

Answer 1

Not all people find Shakespeare to be boring, and in fact a large variety of people find his work to be interesting and challenging. So your question would be more properly stated as "Why do some people find Shakespeare to be boring?"

Well, there are many people who are not properly introduced to Shakespeare's work. Sometimes they are given a script to read without any understanding of how that would work on stage, and so it is difficult to understand or visualize. Sometimes they do see a performance but it is a performance which for some reason, turns them off. A lot of people, especially from the last century, treated and still treat Shakespeare's plays like holy writ, which have to be intoned with respect in some strange "Shakespearean Actor" voice. That can sound really unnatural and tedious.

On the other hand, it cannot be denied that some kinds of writing are easier to read than others. That is why beginning readers are given things to read that use one-syllable words and five word sentences. Complex sentences and longer or unusual words make something harder to read. If you add to that metaphors and similes, it can be a lot of work to get at the meaning of what has been written. For some, it is worth the work to get the complex and beautifully expressed thoughts. For others, it is not worth trying for, and it's dull being around something you are not prepared to try for.

Finally, there are those people who are not concerned with anything outside of their very limited circle of interest. For them, "boring" means "something I have decided not to be interested in." It has nothing to do with the ability of the subject to generate interest. It is not this week's fad, so it is dismissed with an answer like "Because Shakespeare's work is so OLD that it is PREHISTORIC!" or "It is of no relevance to the modern day at all." That is their loss.

Answer 2

Some people find Shakespeare boring because his language can be complex and difficult to understand, especially if they are not used to the older style of English. Additionally, the themes and cultural references in his work may not resonate with everyone.