Lanessa Watkins

By Lanessa Watkins of The Pathfinder

October 8, 2025

1. Shakespeare is an expert comedian.

2. If you can quote Shakespeare, you’ll sound smart.

3. It’ll help you pass your English exam.

Shakespeare is, without a doubt, one of the most prolific writers in the world. His works have been translated into over 100 languages, and several have served as inspiration for million-dollar box office successes. The point is: Shakespeare is popular. Even if you haven’t read Shakespeare, you have—in fact—read Shakespeare. Two star-crossed lovers whose relationship is forbidden? That’s Romeo and Juliet. Two witty singles whose romance is interrupted by their scorned past? That’s Much Ado About Nothing. A young prince who wants to avenge his father’s death? That’s Hamlet. 

So, you’ve seen Shakespeare. Many elements of his writing have been incorporated into popular culture and still affect the way we tell stories today. But why, you might ask, is this one particular guy still so widely studied and revered today? Perhaps you read Romeo and Juliet in middle school and thought: yeah, that was alright. Or your teacher forced you to suffer through the endless monologues of Julius Caesar, and you hated every moment of it. Regardless of your previous experiences with the bard, I’m here to tell you that Shakespeare is certainly worth giving another try (and not just so you can pass your English test). 

First things first, Shakespeare’s works are multi-genre, and you need to find the right genre for you. His plays come in three flavors, so to speak: comedy, tragedy, and history. Each of them read very differently, and you won’t enjoy Shakespeare until you’re reading the right one for you. So, let’s take a look:

Comedies: Full of romance, misunderstandings, jokes, and wordplay. Usually simple in terms of plot but lush with interesting characters and ridiculous moments. These productions play especially well on the stage, but the intense wordplay can be difficult to parse. If you’re looking for something witty, lighthearted, and you’re a lover of romance, this might be the category for you. 

Tragedies: Defined by the downfall of a tragic hero, the fight between good and evil, and themes of guilt, revenge, and ambition. These plays typically focus on human flaws and royalty with dramatic speeches and deadly battles. If you’re someone who likes stories that are gritty, human, and impactful, these are the plays for you.

Histories: Focus on dramatic narratives, social classes, and British history. These plays are perhaps the most difficult for Western audiences as the history they reflect is quite distant to us. Unlike the audience Shakespeare’s histories would have played for during his time, we aren’t intrinsically familiar with the Hundred Years’ War or the Medieval British monarchy. Still, the history plays are intense, funny, and incredibly charming. If you’re looking for something rooted in realism with epic tales and imperfect characters, the history plays may just be your jam. 

Regardless of which category you find suits you, you’re sure to enjoy Shakespeare’s writing once you begin to understand it. My suggestion: watch the plays as you read them and don’t be afraid to search for summaries or guides. Shakespeare is old, nearly 400 years old, in fact, and that makes much of the language and wordplay foreign to us. Luckily, there is no shortage of people willing to guide you through reading some of the most influential literary works in history. One such organization is the Folger Shakespeare Library, which offers great resources for reading, watching, and interpreting Shakespeare. Additionally, if you're a high school or college student, I’m confident your teacher/professor would be happy to help you understand why they love the plays they’re forcing you to read. Seriously, just ask. I guarantee you it will make their day. 

Of course, as an English major and someone who has read/watched 13 of Shakespeare’s plays, I have some tricks of my own for parsing the language. 

Tip 1: Watch the play as you read. I mentioned it earlier, but Shakespeare was meant to be watched, not read. Once you see it on stage, you’ll start to understand the appeal. If you’re still struggling to follow along, try a movie adaptation. My favorites are Kenneth Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing (1993) and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (1996). 

Tip 2: Buy a version of the play with notes. Once again, the Folger Shakespeare library creates some great paperback versions of the plays with notes and definitions for understanding the language. Shakespeare’s Globe is another fantastic resource.

Tip 3: Try to understand the context of the play. This may require research. Like I mentioned earlier, Shakespeare does not follow modern conventions of storytelling. He is telling stories from his time and about his people. That means they act, and do, and say things that seem strange to us. Understanding the historical context of Shakespeare’s plays is perhaps one of the most important elements to enjoying his work. Research the setting, the time period, and maybe even what was going on in Shakespeare’s life when he wrote the play. 

Tip 4: Go see a show. As someone who has grown up loving theatre but often having to watch things at a distance, I can tell you without a doubt that live theatre is nothing like watching a video. I enjoyed Much Ado About Nothing when I first read it, but seeing it on stage was a life-changing experience. These characters positively come to life on stage, and even if you don’t understand everything being spoken, the costumes, set, and staging make up for it. Naturally, live theatre is a bit difficult to come by in Idaho, but there are ways to see Shakespeare on stage. For those of you who attend LC State, the faculty offer a truly amazing trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) every year in the fall. The trip does cost a fair amount of time and money, but if you’re interested in seeing some of the highest-quality presentations of Shakespeare (and other plays!) in the country, I think you’ll find the trip worthwhile. A bit more local is the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, which takes place in Boise, Idaho, and typically runs from May to September. 

Now that you’ve been properly Shakespeare-educated, I’m sure you're just raring to read the likes of Henry IV or Taming of the Shrew. If you’re not sure where to start, here are my recommendations:

For comedy, I highly recommend Much Ado About Nothing. This romantic comedy is full of social critique, foolish mishaps, and characters that I guarantee you’ll fall in love with. 

For tragedy, I have to recommend the classic Macbeth. This play has witches, assassinations, power struggles, guilty consciences, and one of the best female characters in all of Shakespeare. 

For history, I recommend Henry IV, Part 1. This play takes place right before the death of Henry IV and features political tension, drunken conversations, and epic Medieval battles. Plus, Prince Hal and Falstaff are simply adorable with their father-son relationship. 

Since you’ve managed to make it this far, I suppose I should tell you the real reasons you should read Shakespeare:

1. His works are filled with humor and genuine fun guaranteed to make you laugh.

2. His writing is one of the foundations of how we tell stories today, acting as the inspiration for countless tropes and conventions in popular culture. 

3. His characters are charming and the timeless themes are universally relatable. It’s impossible to not find something to enjoy.