Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Shakespeare was born in 1564, almost 500 years ago. His mature writings have endured, and to this day, they teach and influence powerfully. His story elements have created an enduring legacy. His words are quoted, his characters analyzed, and his stories retold. Shakespeare is a permanent fixture in the worlds of literature and theater.
I have wondered if Shakespeare’s influence is equal to that of the Ten Commandments. After some research, I understand that the two works operate in different spheres. They hold differing kinds of weight among humanity.
Shakespeare’s influence focuses more on artistic expression and cultural understanding, while The Ten Commandments have a broader social impact.
Shakespeare’s influence is primarily in literature, theater, and language. His influence is inspirational, offering insights into the human condition and sparking creativity. His works transcend religion and culture, appealing to anyone who appreciates storytelling and language.
The Ten Commandments are religious and moral guidelines; they are prescriptive, dictating right from wrong. Primarily aimed at religious followers, the Commandments have vastly influenced the shape of Western societies for millennia by impacting legal systems and social codes and influencing individual behavior.
Understanding the differences, I now see that The Ten Commandments are the backbone of Shakespeare’s plots. Similar to how The Commandments greatly influence Western society, they make Shakespeare’s plots very powerful and lasting. Shakespeare’s genius is his creativity, an artistry for structuring complicated plots that beckon highly emotional responses.
Today, Shakespeare’s birthday encouraged me to work through my long-held, knotty question. I understand better now what makes his works continually impact humanity. He was an artist at creating plot structures that intertwined closely to, and often fell against, acceptable social orders and norms.
Dear Friends: Shakespeare makes us think about us! Nobody’s done it better. Diana
Diana's Morning Blog 
What do you think of the theories that the actor Shakespeare was not the author of all the plays? I became convinced a couple decades ago (& now I wish I’d kept better notes on the references). There’s a difference between the comedies and the heavier plays, so I’m convinced that the actor did not have sufficient world experiences for writing all of them. Theater was considered to beneath noblemen of that time, but there’s pretty good evidence that one of them was the actual writer of some or maybe even all of the plays. (frustrating that I can’t remember his name) Kate
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I don’t know. I do often think of “Shakespeare” as (perhaps) a blend of writers as you suggest. What I do know, for sure, is that in writing everything depends on having a plan, structure, and superb language skills. Regardless of whoever might have thought up a work, ultimately by Shakespeare, an extraordinarily great editor/writer is who made the end product happen.
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