by Ann Palmieri

Created on: February 18, 2008   Last Updated: January 18, 2012

"Out! Out damn spot!" Those words ring true today as well as they did in the 1600s. Some may have a little trouble with the words in the plays because they are from another era in time, but Shakespeare's writing is not incomprehensible! People don't say the Bible is incomprehensible, and the King James Version was written about the same time as Shakespeare's works.

I am a fan of the great bard. He had such an imagination and a handle on language that he invented over 2000 sayings that are present in these plays and still used today. Besides the words, his use of humor and romance can't be touched by any other other, past or present.

All over the world, scholars and cultured people, revel in the beauty of Shakespeare's language. The words in Romeo and Juliet are spoken world-wide because his themes are so universal in nature. This is why his genius is so admired. Even though Shakespearian English sounds a little different, just watch the play! You will know what is happening because of the action. The problem with a lot of people and Shakespeare is exactly that: they never saw the play! One cannot truly enjoy Shakespeare until you see and hear it at the same time.

We do a lot of injustice to Shakespeare because classrooms read the play from a book. Plays are meant to be seen and experienced. Who would ever know that Macbeth and his wife passionately loved one another? It never says so, but the action shows how much they are willing to do to make the other happy. "Out, out damned spot!" Can you see the pain on Lady Macbeth's face, the madness of Macbeth when he sees a dagger floating before him?

Those who have had unfortunate experiences with Shakespeare's works in high school need to take another look. Spend $40 for a ticket to summer stock and see Julius Caesar or Othello. You will feel differently. Have you ever been to an Italian opera? You don't have to know Italian to understand the action! Amazing! Same goes with Shakespeare. A Midsummer's Night Dream has been done beautifully by modern day actors in a recent movie. The music is splendid and the acting is okay, but you will know what is going on most of the time. You will love the movie if you listen carefully and watch the action. Let me warn you, however; once you begin to like Shakespeare, you'll want more of him!

Think of Shakespeare as a prerequisite for being a cultured person. Once you have studied his genius, you feel captured by the spirit of castles, intrigue, murders, incest, ghosts, and fairies. You might become a sophisticated, mature connoisseur of the best things in life: wine, aged cheese, and Shakespearian theater.

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