Why reading Shakespear is essential to being a literate adult?

Answer 1

You have to understand that the English language has been influenced by Shakespeare to a degree almost unrivaled by any other single person. I say almost because William Tyndale, a translator of the Bible into English whose language was used extensively in the King James Version of the Bible and Thomas Cranmer, the man who wrote the Anglican Book of Common Prayer also made significant contributions.

So many phrases that literate people take for granted originated in Shakespeare. Reading Shakespeare gives you an appreciation for language and a vocabulary of words and phrases which will server you well.

Beyond that, many of Shakespeare's works are damn good reading. While the English may seem stilted at times, the plots and characters still work. This is one reason you keep seeing them remade, with or without attribution.

Answer 2

It is extremely important. Many of the novels and plays which have been written in modern times have allusions to a Shakespearean situation - even some of the things we see on TV. If you are familiar with Shakespeare's works, you will understand the subtle references that others may miss. It may not make a great deal of difference to your life, but you will feel a sense of satisfaction that you 'got' the reference.

Shakespeare is unwittingly quoted in much of our everyday speech, so we should do him the honour of studying his works if we have the chance (like in school!). For instance it was Shakespeare who first used the term 'salad days', tongue-tied', 'fair play', 'fool's paradise', 'more fool you', 'high time', 'the long and short of it', 'bag and baggage', 'the game is up', 'foul play', 'without rhyme or reason', 'good riddance', dead as a doornail', 'an eyesore', 'a laughing stock', 'for goodness' sake' and many, many others. Most people don't realise that.

Study him while you can. You will be amazed.

Answer 3

He is considered the greatest -or one of the greatest- English-language playwright.

Not reading Shakespeare and calling yourself literate is like being cold-blooded and calling yourself a mammal.

Answer 4

Because Shakespeare was the greatest writer in the English language. He was its original bad @$$ gangsta, as they say nowadays. Why read anything less than the best?

Answer 5

So you can learn how to spell Shakespeare.

Answer 6

Amen to Dave P.

My wife always told me "Women have sex to get married, men get married to have sex." I read a 500+ year old version of this in Titus Andronicus (I think?) so I showed it to her. She was totally un-impressed, still said "Yeah, but I don't see why everyone thinks he's great." Universal images. That's my answer, universal images.