Shakespeare’s work dates back to more than 400 years ago but his work is still relevant today in 2021. Popular movies and TV shows such as The Lion King, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones, are actually based on some of Shakespeare’s work or Shakespearean culture (Gray). It is quite astonishing that Shakespeare’s work still has an influence in the media today. Shakespeare instructor, Maggie Trapp, highlights “Shakespeare’s plays have an openness to them...they inspire thought, and his capacious works invite reinvention. The plots we think of as quintessentially Shakespearean—Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet and King Lear, among others—are based on old stories, histories and myths that he reworked into his own material.” Once the 17th century language is stripped away and the plot and deeper meaning behind Shakespeare’s plays is analyzed, there is a sense of relatability and intrigue behind his work.
Shakespeare’s work delves into themes such as race, sexuality, love, revenge, and hubris. These themes are still relevant regardless of the time period as Kim F. Hall, a professor of English at Barnard College, states that Shakespeare’s work is a medium for students to discuss and ponder difficult themes such as war, race, religion, sexuality, nationality in a safe and inclusive environment. Although Shakespeare’s work can be challenging to read without any supplementary materials, the difficulty allows for students to enrich their minds by providing thought-provoking ideas and concepts (Woods). In addition, the classic Shakespearean literature can help students with understanding the other texts and observe the progression of the English language as well (Woods). The fact that his work has become the basis of modern literature is indicative of the themes he delves into which are relatable in the past, present, and future.