The Influence of William Shakespeare on My Understanding of The Value of Drama

William Shakespeare has definitely paved the way I understand and appreciate the value of drama. Being able to grasp the audience’s attention, drama is a unique text form which also forces them to challenge their own interpretations and emotions. Previously I found plays quite boring and useless but I soon realised that unlike books, plays have the ability to bring a text to life to enhance our understanding.

Shakespeare’s success is based off his personal context being reflected in the play as well as archetypal characters presenting universal themes to force the audience to challenge their own values.

Drama is obviously still relevant as it is a major aspect of entertainment today due to the archetypal characters, specifically the mentor, being present in today’s society. Horatio, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1599-1602), was a continuous source of support to Hamlet. In our lives we have mentors, including parents, teachers and friends who guide us. Drama uses symbolism and motifs to represent important values and ideas the composer is trying to portray. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (1594), the balcony walls are a symbol of the barriers between the two characters and their troubles. The motif of light versus dark is shown in this scene where Juliet is seen in light and Romeo in the dark, implying the tension between the Capulets and Montagues. Overall, drama unquestionably has a distinctive power to bring a text to life through language techniques, specifically symbolism and motifs to create meaning and force the audience to challenge their understanding of drama.

Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’ (1599) explores how themes of ambition, manipulation and leadership are universal values and their relevance for modern audiences. The themes explored in this play are not only relevant within its Ancient Roman context, but are seen heavily throughout Shakespeare’s personal context of the Elizabethan Era and today. The theme of ambition and manipulation is shown through Cassius who was ambitious to gain power and manipulated Brutus into murdering Caesar. Ambition is prevalent in modern audiences through things such as false advertising and social media. Individuals are constantly being manipulated into spending money to change themselves as marketers make it seem that it will improve society, like Cassius towards Brutus. Dishonest leadership is revealed in the play through the Mark Antony’s leadership where he allows the population to believe they have power, whereas Antony only does this so they side with him in order for him to ultimately gain power. Within contemporary society, some leaders try promoting ideas and enhancements in order to gain votes and personally benefit from those actions whereas leadership should work in order to ensure both parties benefit from the actions. In conclusion, it can be seen that William Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’ (1599) explores themes and values of honour, ambition and manipulation, and dishonest leadership in order to force modern audiences to question the representation of values within their own contemporary society and today's world.

William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1596) fulfills his comedic purpose to entertain and examine many important themes, specifically the complexity of love especially within Act 3 Scene I. Shakespeare cleverly uses elements of drama as well as language techniques to engage the audience and achieve his purpose. The motif of an ass-head throughout the play seen through the line “You see an ass-head of your own, do you?” is symbolic of the characters idioticness which is comedic and causes the audience to laugh and relate to the characters' stupidity. The stage direction on costuming is used when Bottom was turned into an arse. Shakespeare did this to create a humorous effect on the audience as Bottom’s name is similar with “ass” and also to resonate with Bottom’s personality traits which is stubborn and ambitious. This is seen through the stage direction of “Enter Puck, and Bottom with an ass’s head”. The complexity of love is revealed within this play, specifically in Act 3 Scene I, where although Bottom has grown an ass’ head, Titania still falls in love with him. This is complex as the only reason she fell in love with him is because of the spell cast on her where she falls in love with the first person she sees. Shakespeare successfully fulfills his comedic purpose which is to entertain. Whilst doing this through his use of elements and language techniques he brings to life many important themes, such as the values and aspects of the complexity of love forcing the audience to adapt their personal understanding and appreciation of drama.

Shakespeare’s work has strongly changed my personal understanding and appreciation of the value of drama. His clever use of literary devices and dramatic features present in his plays have greatly appealed to me, allowing me to connect with the universal themes and unique characters.