Should Shakespeare Be Taught In Schools

1301 Words6 Pages

Shakespeare is a vital part of the English experience In recent years, there has been a controversial debate on if Shakespeare is still relevant or important enough to be included in the English classroom. Based on actions of schools all of America, it looks like there are several programs that believe his works are not of importance. Removal of Shakespeare from high school and college curriculum is a dilemma that has occured far too frequently in recent years. In schools all over the Country, works of the great William Shakespeare are being removed and barred from the english classroom, saying that his pieces are “too hard” and “too difficult for young students to understand”. Too many students have gone through their entire high school …show more content…

Shakespeare was a master of absorbing his readers into the story. His works are relatable and understandable, even despite the fact that they’re centuries old. Having such a connection with the readers should be a major goal of any writer or producer. Another example of Shakespeare’s works being used for inspiration is evident with all of the remakes of his works. There have been countless movie and book recreations, all stemming from one or more of Shakespeare’s 400 year old works, and the reason these stories are even around is because of the broad themes and relatable situations which continue to appeal to such a wide variety of people, even today. Plus, with all of the remakes floating around, it can become quite easy to finally understand the stories of the Bard. By watching or reading stories like West Side Story, readers have an opportunity to pick up on pieces of the Romeo and Juliet storyline, that they might not have picked up on during their initial read. These remakes are often much easier for younger audiences to understand, and also help to keep Shakespeare alive and deliver his works to a new generation. This more modern version of Shakespeare allows younger and younger audiences to learn of the great works he provided, while also allowing them to put their own spin on his works and continue the spread of a classic …show more content…

His additions and improvements to language were phenomenal and have laid the foundation for famed and successful writing. It is undeniable that Shakespeare’s works are considered by many, to be outdated. However, Shakespeare has put so much into the art of writing, and coined so many phrases and words that absolutely must be studied and learned. There is too much Shakespeare has to offer, and no longer can his works be disregarded based on the facts that they’re “too old” or “too difficult” for students to grasp. The idea is not for them to be easy to grasp. The idea is for them to be challenging reads, full of literary devices that teach children about one of the most famed writers in history. Shakespeare’s works are over 400 years old and are still more relevant than one might think. Oddly enough, his works are considered today to be “pop culture” because they are perpetually ingrained into the daily lives of millions of people who continue to study and remake his original pieces. Shakespeare in the park, various movie remakes, and artists and musicians are all people or things who perpetuate the works of The Bard and help his memory live on. It is so important to have Shakespeare involved in and out of the classroom. There are so many works, with such broad themes that there is bound to be one that reaches out with everyone. When people are able to comprehend Shakespeare in