Introduction to My Blog
Despite being written centuries ago Shakespeare’s plays are still relevant in our modern society. His themes are still relevant to anyone in our society today because we all love and most of us have lost. This means that his plays still have a personal connection with us today. I decided to write this blog so I could share my views on Shakespeare and his relevance to us today.
Despite being written centuries ago Shakespeare’s plays are still relevant in our modern society. His themes are still relevant to anyone in our society today because we all love and most of us have lost. This means that his plays still have a personal connection with us today. I decided to write this blog so I could share my views on Shakespeare and his relevance to us today.
Shakespearean plays in modern setting
William Shakespeare wrote over 35 plays to our knowledge during his lifetime. Even though his plays were written over 400 years ago he is still as popular as ever. This is because of how relevant his themes are to us in the 21st century. It is noted that small amounts of people go to see his plays in theatres anymore but this does not mean people do not love Shakespeare, you may or may not know it but they have played a part in your life as a child or an adult.
Baz Luhrmann’s modern adaption of Romeo and Juliet was a blockbuster success making $46,390,175 in the U.S box office. This is testament to the popularity and relevance of Shakespeare today. Baz Luhrmann has used actors that the younger generations can relate to as they admire and look up to both of the protagonists. He has also changed certain aspects of the stories that mainly revolve around the props used, such as guns instead of swords, cars instead of horses and also the fact that it was set in a major city in America rather than a medieval town in Britain. All of these aspects have been changed to create a more modern feel to the movie without taking away the Shakespearean text. This adaption of Romeo and Juliet shows that people today can still understand the text of Shakespeare and still find it entertaining.
On a personal level I found the text hard to understand at times which took away from my ultimate viewing experience. I would say that most people my age would have felt this way but the relevance of the characters retained my interest.
William Shakespeare wrote over 35 plays to our knowledge during his lifetime. Even though his plays were written over 400 years ago he is still as popular as ever. This is because of how relevant his themes are to us in the 21st century. It is noted that small amounts of people go to see his plays in theatres anymore but this does not mean people do not love Shakespeare, you may or may not know it but they have played a part in your life as a child or an adult.
Baz Luhrmann’s modern adaption of Romeo and Juliet was a blockbuster success making $46,390,175 in the U.S box office. This is testament to the popularity and relevance of Shakespeare today. Baz Luhrmann has used actors that the younger generations can relate to as they admire and look up to both of the protagonists. He has also changed certain aspects of the stories that mainly revolve around the props used, such as guns instead of swords, cars instead of horses and also the fact that it was set in a major city in America rather than a medieval town in Britain. All of these aspects have been changed to create a more modern feel to the movie without taking away the Shakespearean text. This adaption of Romeo and Juliet shows that people today can still understand the text of Shakespeare and still find it entertaining.
On a personal level I found the text hard to understand at times which took away from my ultimate viewing experience. I would say that most people my age would have felt this way but the relevance of the characters retained my interest.
Shakespeare’s Influence on Modern Story-Telling
William Shakespeare is often known as the father of English literature and it is easy to see why. He created the foundations for modern literature he has the most influence in the development of English literature anyone has ever had. Despite being dead for 398 year Shakespeare continues to inspire film producers and authors alike. Themes from his plays have been taken and adapted many times for movies. Famous movies such as The Lion King, She’s the Man and 10 Things I Hate About You are all modern adaptions of one of Shakespeare’s many plays. Lion King is the most popular movie that is a Shakespeare adaption; it is based on Hamlet.
The Lion King shares many similarities with Hamlet, both protagonists go through the same struggles but shown in different ways. Similarities: Both of the main characters fathers are killed by evil uncles wanting to take the throne for themselves. They both leave their respective kingdoms because of their uncles taking the throne. Simba and Hamlet also end up confronting their uncles for what they have done and avenge their fathers. The characters respective fathers also come back as ghosts/spirits to help guide them.
Even though The Lion King is based on Hamlet it also has profound differences to that of the original piece. The Lion King misses some large story potholes from Hamlet. Potholes such as Hamlet being in a suicidal state after his fathers death and instead Simba is living by a “problem free philosophy” know as ‘Hakuna Matata’. This is a major difference between the two stories as it changes the whole feel of the two texts but ultimately it doesn’t change the outcome. It also has another fairly obvious difference that one contains Lions and the other Humans.
William Shakespeare is often known as the father of English literature and it is easy to see why. He created the foundations for modern literature he has the most influence in the development of English literature anyone has ever had. Despite being dead for 398 year Shakespeare continues to inspire film producers and authors alike. Themes from his plays have been taken and adapted many times for movies. Famous movies such as The Lion King, She’s the Man and 10 Things I Hate About You are all modern adaptions of one of Shakespeare’s many plays. Lion King is the most popular movie that is a Shakespeare adaption; it is based on Hamlet.
The Lion King shares many similarities with Hamlet, both protagonists go through the same struggles but shown in different ways. Similarities: Both of the main characters fathers are killed by evil uncles wanting to take the throne for themselves. They both leave their respective kingdoms because of their uncles taking the throne. Simba and Hamlet also end up confronting their uncles for what they have done and avenge their fathers. The characters respective fathers also come back as ghosts/spirits to help guide them.
Even though The Lion King is based on Hamlet it also has profound differences to that of the original piece. The Lion King misses some large story potholes from Hamlet. Potholes such as Hamlet being in a suicidal state after his fathers death and instead Simba is living by a “problem free philosophy” know as ‘Hakuna Matata’. This is a major difference between the two stories as it changes the whole feel of the two texts but ultimately it doesn’t change the outcome. It also has another fairly obvious difference that one contains Lions and the other Humans.
Shakespearean Language
William Shakespeare left us an incredible legacy of his life’s work. He changed the study of English Literature forever and he also added a few new words in the mean time. He created an astounding 1700 words that had never been used before his time. Most of his words and texts maybe be finally coming to the stage of been out-dated and hard to interpret by the common person of the 21st century. This does not mean that all of his words and phrases are and without even knowing you probably use Shakespeare quotes and words on a daily basis. Quotes such as: “Vanished into thin air”, “stood on ceremony”, “a laughing stock”, “laughing yourself into stiches” and “slept not one wink” are all phrases that Shakespeare invented. You may not say them that exact way but I guarantee you have said something along the lines of “I’m in stiches” when you have found something funny. Or when you didn’t sleep the previous night have said “I didn’t sleep a wink last night”. All of these sayings are our modern interpretations of Shakespeare’s brilliance.
William Shakespeare left us an incredible legacy of his life’s work. He changed the study of English Literature forever and he also added a few new words in the mean time. He created an astounding 1700 words that had never been used before his time. Most of his words and texts maybe be finally coming to the stage of been out-dated and hard to interpret by the common person of the 21st century. This does not mean that all of his words and phrases are and without even knowing you probably use Shakespeare quotes and words on a daily basis. Quotes such as: “Vanished into thin air”, “stood on ceremony”, “a laughing stock”, “laughing yourself into stiches” and “slept not one wink” are all phrases that Shakespeare invented. You may not say them that exact way but I guarantee you have said something along the lines of “I’m in stiches” when you have found something funny. Or when you didn’t sleep the previous night have said “I didn’t sleep a wink last night”. All of these sayings are our modern interpretations of Shakespeare’s brilliance.
Fun With Shakespeare
During his era Shakespeare was considered a comic, he wrote several plays, which were considered comedies, such as The Tempest and Much Ado About Nothing. He also invented several insults during his time, to list a couple: “I do desire we may be better strangers”, “More of your conversation would infect my brain”. These insults translate in modern times to: I don’t think we should be friends anymore and the longer I speak to you the dumber I get, respectively. Shakespeare was extremely blunt in his phrases and told be exactly how he felt. Although he was considered the master of insults most of them are now out-dated and to the common person would be confusing and they would not understand what you are trying to tell them. Using these insults would be fun with someone that had studied Shakespeare but apart from that you would be considered insane in todays society.
During his era Shakespeare was considered a comic, he wrote several plays, which were considered comedies, such as The Tempest and Much Ado About Nothing. He also invented several insults during his time, to list a couple: “I do desire we may be better strangers”, “More of your conversation would infect my brain”. These insults translate in modern times to: I don’t think we should be friends anymore and the longer I speak to you the dumber I get, respectively. Shakespeare was extremely blunt in his phrases and told be exactly how he felt. Although he was considered the master of insults most of them are now out-dated and to the common person would be confusing and they would not understand what you are trying to tell them. Using these insults would be fun with someone that had studied Shakespeare but apart from that you would be considered insane in todays society.
My Conclusion upon the Relevance of Shakespeare
Two or three weeks ago I would have argued the fact that Shakespeare is no longer relevant in our modern society but that would have been an uneducated argument as in reality I knew very little about him. Now having done the research I can come to the conclusion that his work is still relevant to us today, which I find utterly remarkable. His plays were written over 400 years ago and still to this day they retain their relevance. I must also say that without the help of film Shakespeare and his plays would be dead, as the is now an expensive novelty. Ultimately his text is mostly out-dated but his themes have managed to entertain people for four centuries.
Two or three weeks ago I would have argued the fact that Shakespeare is no longer relevant in our modern society but that would have been an uneducated argument as in reality I knew very little about him. Now having done the research I can come to the conclusion that his work is still relevant to us today, which I find utterly remarkable. His plays were written over 400 years ago and still to this day they retain their relevance. I must also say that without the help of film Shakespeare and his plays would be dead, as the is now an expensive novelty. Ultimately his text is mostly out-dated but his themes have managed to entertain people for four centuries.