How does Shakespeare relate to the world of today and the relevance of Shakespeare?

Answer 1

Does Shakespeare still have something to say to modern audiences? Clearly yes, since Shakespeare's plays are as popular and maybe even more popular than they ever were, which means that people must be entertained by them. And people have every reason to be entertained by them--they contain lots of sex and violence, strong feelings expressed in the most extraordinary language, bold and memorable characters and unforgettable images.

Because Shakespeare lived in a time of social ambiguity much like ours, Shakespeare's plays speak better to a modern audience bewildered by change, ambiguity and senseless violence than they did to the Victorians who couldn't understand why Shakespeare would write about dealing with changes, deception, ambiguity and senseless violence. They didn't get why Cordelia dies so pointlessly. Modern audiences do.

Yes, Shakespeare's plays are still relevant today. They are classics in English literature for their evocative language and dramatic structure. The stories are timeless. Studying and appreciating Shakespeare also helps students develop a certain mental discipline in analyzing the language. They talk about univeral themes and issues which are relevant today. As drama, they offer actors some of the greatest roles. Movies based on Shakespeare plays continue to do well at the modern box office. A lot of the words we use today were invented by him. Shakespeare was the first to define many psychological disorders, personality types, etc. that later psychologist (such as Freud) use today.

While it may appear that a lot has been changed, the essence of Shakespeare has not been lost, it has merely been adapted to make it more appropriate for younger audiences of today.

Answer 2

People argue that the characters' faults and dilemmas make them genuinely human which transcends time. Even now people feel jealous, lovelorn, devious. However the response to such characters may have differed due to a disperate 17th century ideology.

Answer 3

Shakespeare writes about ordinary people facing ordinary problems and dealing with them. All of the plays are relevant for different reasons.

The Henry VI tetralogy investigates what bad stuff can happen when a country goes through a long period of civil war (Zimbabwe). The Richard II tetralogy looks at what happens when a country loses faith in its politicians (USA and the Republicans). Midsummer Nights Dream wonders if we are ever going to get any sense out of our sex lives (we aren't). Measure for Measure looks at what happens when the state legislature is corrupt (ever hear of the New Orleans flood defences)? .....

Answer 4

Shakespeare's work is much more important now than it was in 1650 when it was less than 50 years old. Since then, people have again and again alluded to the plays, their characters and the lines they spoke. Shakespeare's work is now so entwined with English-speaking culture that no study of English literature can proceed without it. It would be like studying Ancient Greek literature without any understanding of their mythology. Besides, they are terrifically entertaining plays--among the best ever written.

Answer 5

---- cos it's good and Shakespeare is a good writer.

Answer 6

Shakespeare does not relate to today because he has been dead for a long time.