Centuries after his plays first graced the stage, William Shakespeare remains a prominent force in contemporary culture. His language, themes and archetypes continue to shape everything from popular entertainment to everyday speech, revealing the enduring relevance of his work in modern life.
Though Shakespeare’s influence extends beyond clever phrases or modern adaptations — it is rooted in the portrayal of humanity that has stood the test of time. Shakespeare’s work is a great liberation to the modern purveyor to be able to relate to a pain that existed long before they felt
it.
Matthew Hansen, professor of English Literature at Boise State University, explained the long lasting brilliance of Shakespearean dialogue, informally referred to as “william-isms”.
“English is always in flux,” said Hansen. “We have always been a language that reinvents itself.”
William-isms create a space not only for modern readers to experience the world, but also as a way to design and reflect the world around us. Had Shakespeare not written “Titus Andronicus”, could we ever feel gloomy?
Hansen also explained how Shakespeare may seem daunting and high-brow to modern readers, however in his day, Shakespeare was for a broad audience, not the intellectuals.
“Often Shakespeare comedy is much more general,” explained Hansen. “So when he makes fun, he is making fun of habitual characteristics of a general group of people … he was total pop culture.”
Chris Canfield, artistic director of the Boise Bards, explained the virtue of Shakespeare’s work, noting while all that survives of him is truly just words, it is the activation of his work that reveals the true poignancy of centuries old literature.
“Shakespeare, for all intents and purposes, is a bunch of words. He’s a bunch of words and books. That’s all he is anymore. That’s all he really has been for the past 400 and something years,” said Canfield. “But within those it’s what we do with them, what those words can do, what we can do with them.”
Hamlet wrestled with grief and indecision, Macbeth showed how ambition can spiral into self-destruction and Romeo and Juliet is basically every doomed situationship ever. These aren’t just old plays — they’re reflections of what it means to be human, no matter the century.
“Thankfully [within] Shakespeare’s world, the foibles, the issues, the deep human problems that are written into the language are still human problems,” Canfield said.
Shakespeare gives modern readers an opportunity to reflect on the modern world through the safety of a fictional lens — allowing readers to grapple with themes of injustice, power and human struggle without flinching because it’s happening on a stage, not in the headlines.
Tris Berg, local professional actor and theater artist explained how Shakespeare’s relevance extends beyond plotlines and sword fights, it is about the people that are written.
“It’s also a nice reflection that misogyny, discrimination [and] things like that … were also problems back then, and there are still problems now,” said Berg. “This is a very powerful tool to shine a light on the flaws within our societies and also just what it means to be human. Human experience isn’t unique to the human right now.”
The human experience has been lived for centuries, there is great solace to be found within the pages of Shakespeare. As Shakespeare once wrote, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so,” all that you have experienced is nothing new. Centuries have survived the fears of the modern person.
“And when we realize that [Shakespeare] and interact with it as a live, living story with real people in it, you are then connected not only to that original work from 400 years ago,” explained Canfield. “You’re also connected to every single person that has ever connected to that show in its 400 year history.”
Shakespeare is not meant to be stagnant and battered with examination — it pulses with life. His characters think and feel with a rawness that is as true as it is to the modern reader.
“In my experience when it comes to the arts, there’s really a chance … to get to everyone’s soul,” said Berg. “Storytellers can change the world, and we’re here to make it happen within our rooms and our opportunities telling stories.”
Shakespeare is still alive for those willing to find it. Whether you are obsessively enamored with a new lover like Romeo or unable to rid yourself of guilt like Lady Macbeth, there are pieces of you within the work of Shakespeare.
