Call us old fashioned. Call us nerdy. Call us whatever you like but there is no denying that Shakespeare is one of the best writers and there are many reasons why his plays are still taught through high school. We thought we would share with you a few reasons why he will always be one of our favourite texts to analyse.
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His plays highlight how the human condition remains constant over time and different contexts stand to demonstrate how societies constantly maintain the same values and beliefs.
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Take for example Romeo and Juliet – individuals are motivated by their passion and love. It is the essence of our emotional aspect of being human.
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Othello reminds us that we are all concerned with out outward appearance to the world and we will do whatever is required to protect and uphold our place.
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Whilst our Kings and Queens don’t have the same political power they once did, our Prime Minister sure knows how to replicate a modern Macbeth. Whilst we don’t murder the head of state, we do muster up enough political instability to offer up a leadership spill, which mirrors Macbeth’s (take for example Turbnull, Gillard) act against King Duncan (Rudd, Abbott).
2. In a world were we constantly use slang, acronyms and short hand, Shakespeare’s plays remind us of the beauty of the English language. His phrases will always play a part in any situation of “to be or not to be”. Through the simple construction of sentences, he captures larges modes of thought which draws us in and captivates our interest.
3. More than anything, it reminds our students, not matter what age, that despite their preconceptions about Shakespeare, his writings are a key piece of Literature. It is a prime example of a text that reflects the values of its time but still remains relevant to contemporary audiences. Our case in point – the film She’s The Man is a modem representation of Twelfth Night and The Taming of the Shrew was use loosely as inspiration for 10 Things I Hate About You.
Overall, high school studies wouldn’t be the same without the study of Shakespeare. If you or your child is currently studying Shakespeare and requires a little help grasping the concepts, get in touch and one of our friendly tutors can assist through the journey.