Writing Essentials - Commentary

A Peer into The Brilliance of Shakespeare

By: Marcos Campos

William Shakespeare, we all know the man. The man who wrote ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ the man who set the foundation for literature as we know it today, and as the man who used fancy old English to make some of the greatest pieces of literature that’s still being read in modern society. But what exactly makes him…Shakespeare?

What Makes His Work so Likeable?

At least in my opinion, the way he thoroughly describes not only the characters, but their actions, as well as touching on details of the environment in heavy detail, or the way the characters interact with it. He’s most renowned for his dialouge in the plays that he wrote, such as the dramatic interactions between Romeo and Juliet in their own play. One favorite quote from ‘The Tempest’ is when Miranda is scolding Caliban for attempting to sexually assault her, leading to Miranda saying, “I endow’d thy purposes with words that made them known.” Lines such as this have helped Shakespeare gain world-wide recognition due to the sheer complexity of emotions and wording that not only contributes to the story, but to the characters themselves.

My Personal Critiques

Although reading his stories and plays is something truly fascinating, you might begin to notice just how complicated reading old English is, as you may not be used to it at all. And because of this, I can see why not everybody enjoys reading his works, as you need some prior literature knowledge to be able to fluidly read and comprehend, which may draw first-readers away from reading.

What Do I Get out Of His Works?

When I was younger, I used to read Shakespeare works whenever I found them, and I would analyze them, studying the way that English used to be spoken back then amongst people. So for me, I would say that his works are definitely influential for people of all ages. I’d say to stay away from more longer and complicated stories, and start with more well known stories if you’re just starting out—such as 'Romeo and Juliet,' because that play in particular has been reworked and remodeled many times. Not only that, but his stories–obviously–convey a message. An example of this would be the theme of forgiveness and empathy conveyed through ‘The Tempest,’ as throughout the story, there are many moments that reflect on this theme, and even lead up to it to fully capitalize on that.

Final Thoughts

I believe that his works are a thing of masterclass, solely because of how in-depth each story is, as well as portraying a wide cast of characters, each with different personalities that makes them truly stand out. From meaningful quotes, to interactions in his stories that have cemented him in history, Shakespeare definitely has earned the respect and recognition he deserves. Although his works may be hard to read for some, it doesn’t take a genius to know that he was way ahead of his time upon writing his plays.

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