To Be Taught, or Not To Be Taught: That is the Question

Kerr McCallum

Kerr McCallum discusses William Shakespeare's relevance in today's English curriculum, and whether the legendary playwright's time has come to be shelved, for good.

For centuries, William Shakespeare’s works have been a significant cornerstone in the world of English literature around the globe. But in today's fast-paced, diverse world, it is time for us to ask the question if old Willie should step aside. Are his timeless classics and complex language still relevant? Is it time for some new voices to take the spotlight?

Shakespeare’s works explore several timeless themes—love, power, ambition, and betrayal—many of which are still relevant and important in modern society. These themes will arguably always be relevant, or we will no longer be humans. Many of The Bard’s plays allow the audience to think and reflect as they wrestle with human emotion, nature, and morality. Additionally, the English language wouldn’t be what it is today without William Shakespeare’s help; his influence is absolutely unquestionable, with over 1,700 of the words and phrases that he coined still being used today. For example: “addiction,” first used in Othello, “critical,” which had its first appearance in Love’s Labour's Lost, and one of my all-time favourites, “swagger” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. If Shakespeare ceased being taught, not only would his work and its history die out, but the English language would be massively underdeveloped.

Shakespeare and his works are well loved in our English department at Duncanrig; as Mrs. Whiteford puts it, “Shakespeare is an experience no matter what century you’re in. Everybody in the department teaches it if they can.”.

With Mrs. White adding, “Although the language is old, and might seem outdated and irrelevant to young people today, the stories and themes are still so current. This is because people haven’t changed. Everything that mattered to people hundreds of years ago still matters today. Shakespeare helps us to understand what it is to be human." From this, it is clear to see the love our department has for Shakespeare and how much of an impact he has on both the department as a whole and the teachers as individuals.

However, William Shakespeare’s complicated language is already extremely tough to decipher, but those with things like dyslexia or those whose first language isn’t English may find his language even more challenging to understand than it already is. This can cause some people to form a dislike or perhaps even a hatred for Shakespeare and English literature, and if a large enough number of people refuse to read his works, eventually Shakespeare and all of his writing will die out, Changing the world of English literature drastically forever. Either for better or for worse.

Many pupils have mixed feelings on the subject. “I think the themes in Shakespeare’s works still apply to today's world, but it was intended to be enjoyed as a play rather than something you study in school,” says Kirsty Wilson, an S6 with an interest in theatre and performance who has studied A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, and Othello.

Samuel Thompson, also an S6, has studied Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and King Lear and agrees as he says, “While I think Shakespeare is an interesting area of study, schools often miss the way these plays were supposed to be performed, and that can severely attract from the interests students have in Shakespeare’s works.”

But can he be modernised? The answer is absolutely! Many films are retellings of his famous stories; for example, She’s the Man (2006) is inspired by Twelfth Night, West Side Story gains its inspiration from Romeo and Juliet, as does Gnomeo and Juliet (2011), aiming its story towards children. No Fear Shakespeare is another way of modernising his works, where it prints a modern-day translation of his original scripts side by side to help those understand his language. This is exactly what Shakespeare needs; adapting his works to suit every audience possible can hold the interests of current fans and capture the attention of so many more, causing the bard to remain essential to literature as he continues to influence generations for years to come.

In summation, while William Shakespeare’s works can be puzzling and cause disdain in some, they should continue to be taught in schools for years to come as they are a vital part of the English language and the world of literature. Rather than students studying original Shakespeare plays, modern retellings should be taught instead as this would make the story, dialogue, and characters much more understandable. Instead of pupils sweating, stressing, and most likely shedding a few tears trying to have any sort of clue as to what is supposed to be happening in Shakespeare’s writing, they will be able to fully comprehend and appreciate his skills. Through the use of up-to-date, evolved reimagining of Shakespeare’s narratives, we can allow his everlasting themes and plots to live on and inspire for many more centuries to come.

By Kerr McCallum

Issue 1

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