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Introduction

Introduction to William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare, or the “Bard,” as he
is affectionately known, pervades practically
every area of our civilization. He is present
in our lecture halls, on our televisions, in our
theatres, and in our motion picture theatres.
Shakespeare speaks on his own life and
society as well as our own through his plays.
His plays are still often performed by actors
on contemporary stages and screens. For
instance, numerous of his plays were adapted
for the big screen in the 1990s, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Othello.

Shakespeare’s plays are still well-known today, but other authors have
modernised them to appeal to new audiences. Romeo and Juliet, for instance,
are placed in New York City in West Side Story, and King Lear is depicted in
the cornfields of Iowa in A Thousand Acres. His life and works have captivated
our cultural imagination beyond adaptations and plays. Shakespeare’s minor
characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead were the subject of a play
and movie in the 20th century, as was Shakespeare in Love, a fictional film
about Shakespeare’s early years and sources of lyrical inspiration.

Shakespeare has left a lasting impression on our culture, but he is still
mysterious. He doesn’t specify which of his plays should be read aloud
or staged, nor does he say which of his plays were co-written with other
playwrights. Shakespeare the person does not reveal much about himself, and
the few papers that are accessible about him make it difficult for critics and
academics to learn more about the real-life great dramatist.

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