Ms. Marilyn Lesley
Ms. Marilyn Lesley is the HOD of English Department at Navkis Educational Centre. With over 25 years of experience in the teaching field- spanning both ICSE and CBSE schools. She has headed the British Council Accreditation and Reaccreditation process and has been part of Literary initiatives. A certified Master Trainer for CBSE, she has trained the teachers of the English department in 2 schools, incorporating best practices, to better foundational learning of the language across Class 1-12. She has completed her Post Graduation in Kathak from Allahabad University, and is deeply interested in creative pursuits.
“Why read Shakespeare?” It’s certainly a fair question.
If you ever studied Shakespeare in school, you’re probably all too familiar with other ways this question has been posed before:
“Ma’am, why are we reading this? Why does it matter? Is this graded ?Really!”
However, when someone honestly asks the question “Why do we read Shakespeare?” there’s typically a deeper concern under the surface: is Shakespeare still relevant? I, for one, certainly believe he is. In this article, I hope to convey why.
First, however, let me ask you a few questions:
- Do you laugh at movies like She’s the Man and our very own Angoor?
- Do you enjoy the intrigue of movies like Maqbool and Haider?
- Are you moved by films like Qayamat Se Qayamat tak, Ram Leela and The Lion King?
If so, you’re living proof of Shakespeare’s relevance. All of these productions were directly inspired by his work. There are so many reasons Shakespeare is still worth reading and studying. Today, however, I’m going to focus on just ONE.
The main argument behind this reason is simple: we find OURSELVES at the heart of Shakespeare’s works,
You might be tempted to think that in the 400 years since Shakespeare wrote his plays, we human beings have changed so much. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Shakespeare is still so important today because his characters teach us about ourselves. For the entirety of our existence, we as human beings have always wrestled with, among others, the topics of love, heartache, hatred, envy, passion, ambition and joy. Despite, what the most progressive humanist ideals might lead us to believe,these topics will never disappear. They’ll never be resolved. They are simply part of our human nature! The solution to our human nature isn’t found in embracing delusion, creating magic pills, and constructing utopias. We instead need to be honest about who we are, both the good and the bad aspects.
Reality check: works of art don’t stick around for over 400 years without good reason. When you read Shakespeare, the insight you gain isn’t anything trendy. While many of today’s books and movies are entertaining, only the smallest fraction of them are going to be around in 50 years, much less in 100. When you read Shakespeare, however, you don’t have to worry about the insight you get from it being made irrelevant in 10 years. Portia in the Merchant of Venice is the perfect example of the resilient and quick witted young girls of today. The unbridled ambition of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, finds resonance in the unchecked aspirations of the uncompromising youth of today. Technology advances, culture changes, and trends come and go, but human nature, always remains the SAME.
One of the main benefits of reading Shakespeare is that you get to live vicariously through his characters, and see how things play out. Thinking of doing something you know you’ll regret later? Go back to Macbeth’s example and see how that worked out for him. If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, think of Hamlet grappling with his inner turmoil.
Superman/ Ironman might be incredible, but not as relatable as Macbeth. Getting to the heart of Shakespeare’s characters takes work, but it’s doable. The insight gleaned from this is priceless. If you understand how the world works, you’re set up for success!
The vast majority of one’s success in life is based on emotional intelligence, not IQ alone. By learning how people naturally act and react in different situations, you’ll know how to respond in the correct fashion.
In addition, you’ll also have more insight on broader cultural trends. After all, at the heart of every trend or political movement, there are human beings.
On top of everything else you’ll learn something about yourself. The self-knowledge you glean is the most priceless insight of all.
That’s why we read Shakespeare, because he’s honest about WHO WE ARE.
