DRAMA DISCUSSION: Is Shakespeare Overrated?

Is Shakespeare Overrated?

William Shakespeare is considered to be one of the greatest playwrights of all time but, not every one would agree. Some people think that Shakespeare is very overrated. But what do you think? Discuss below!

Make sure that you don't just make points, expand on them, it makes for a better discussion! Also, make sure that you display a good quality of written communication and use correct spelling, punctuation and grammar.

There are 50 possible points for this class, to get the maximum amount of points bear in mind what I said above.

Also, the person who I feel contributes most to the discussion will get an extra 10 points.

I agree with Elana; Shakespeare to me, isn't overrated at all. In addition to Elana's points, I think that Shakespeare did things with the english language that no one ever did before. He transformed the language, literally, and also increased the popularity of plays. Shakespeare was a literary genius and deserves to be recognized as such. Without the existence of his plays, the world would be transformed from what we know today, and English class wouldn't be half as interesting .

I think that a large part of the reason his plays seem so over-rated is because people spend to much time focusing on trying to understand the language. In regards to watching one of his plays, I try to use context and mannerisms to understand it. A good example of this is the movie version of Much Ado About Nothing with Kenneth Brannagh.

During the scene in which Ursula and Hero are discussing Benedick's alleged love for Beatrice with the intention of Beatrice overhearing, there are some parts of the language where it took me a while to grasp the precise meaning. However, the point was very clear. It's the same in the scene in which Beatrice asks Benedick to kill Claudio, there are some sentences where the instinct is to go, "Huh?" You still get the idea that Beatrice is ticked off at Claudio for dishonoring her cousin, and would like very much to kill him herself if she could. That much is quite clear.

When reading the plays, it's a little more difficult to pull this off. Even still, especially with his comedies, there is enough similarity between the language of his time and of our time. You can still get the context and understand the plot. Quite a few of the clever jokes are missed, though, due to the complicated language. My roommate played the role of the nurse in Romeo and Juliet. She says that afterward, a lot of her fellow students came up to her and said they had no idea until she portrayed the character that it was supposed to be funny. So, in general, I think his plays are more enjoyable on stage or screen, than read. Unless of course, you have a knack for understanding the language.

The only thing I do not like about Shakespeare, and this was somewhat hinted at in the movie Shakespeare in Love, is that most of his plays seemed to follow a very specific formula. This makes all of them, whether comedy or tragedy, rather predictable.

To conclude a slightly long-winded contribution, I do not think that Shakespeare is over-rated by any means. I do, however, feel that many people put too much pressure on themselves to understand Shakespeare. So many teachers, and other people in general, would like us all to believe that it takes strong intelligence and sophistication to enjoy Shakespeare. If we could get over this misconception and realize that, like Tolstoy, Shakespeare wrote for the general masses, we may find much more enjoyment in his many wonderful plays.

*edited to include proper grammar in regards to the play titles*

Just a discussion point: Many of his ideas are not that original. What do you think of this?

To be truthful, not many ideas are original. Typically, most writers draw inspiration from many outside sources. Sometimes the inspiration comes from experience, sometimes it comes from a suggestion. Other times, we draw from other things we have read or seen. As I stated in my previous posts, it does bother me that his plays often seemed to follow a specific formula. While it does bug me, I acknowlege that sometimes it just happens.

*nods* That's true, very few are original... All the good plots get used up early xD. But it doesn't really bug me very much. I'm sure that the orphaned-child-with-an-important-destiny-grows-up-and-becomes-hero plot has been used before, but do I still love Harry Potter? Of course! But *cough* anywho, back to Shakespeare xD. No, the re-using of plots doesn't bother me.

Here's a way that I think of it: Person 1 throws a bunch of fruit together to make a fruit salad that's truly yummilicious. It gets eaten with gusto. Person 2 comes along a while later, takes those same fruits, but throws them into a blender and gets a smoothie. Same components, but they're both delicious, though in their own way.

xD. Did that make sense at all?

Shakespear, Over rated? YES! We have just started studying the tempest at school and boy is the language odd! does anybody else agree? I cant understand half of it!

Edit: Actually it has been a while since i wrote this last bit and i acctually think that it is not so much over rated. Although one person in my class did say that we should stude Harry Potter and the teacher agreed but sadly it is the curriculum but it is ok i suppose. only a little overrated. It is also a little behind the times.

x-Kate-x

*bows* Gin, I bow to the wonderful way you phrased your rebuttal. xD. I can only say two words:

I. Agree.

Oh! Another word!

Wholeheartedly.

I do not think of him as overrated. Yes I will be one of the people to tell you that his play of Romeo and Juliet is overrated (even with its great writing the story is too overdone and isn't as wonderful as people put it out to be. I much prefer Midsummer Night's Dream), but Shakespeare had a way of writing that has sparked creativity in minds of many and has entertained even more. His way of speech in the story in his time may have made more sense and seemed less "odd", but it can still be enjoyed today. I mean he has created words we still use today. That in itself is amazing in my mind.

I think Shakespeare is just as overrated as J.K. Rowling. In other words not. I enjoy both authors and they are both influential and have had a major impact on literature in the world.

I don't think he's overated, rather talented if you ask me. I love his writing all of them. He was always very descriptive, and I love authors that describe everything in their books in a very detailed way. Their characters, the settings, the clothes, everything! Because that way, I can imagine the story in my head and get an image of how it would be like.

I also loved his style of writing, he used words in the correct way. In my opinion, he was extremely wise and had a very big imagination. His thoughts do seem original to me, sometimes tragic and probably not the way I would want his stories to end but I did love them anyway.

Quote :

I like a good tragedy because it leaves me thankful for what I'VE got! But sometimes I wish that the ending was a little happier so I spend ages thinking about it, which I suppose is the best part because now he's got you hooked! Which I think required a lot of effort and skill - I take my hat off to him. (In fact, his tragedies are more realistic than his comedies!)

Well, what you just mentioned is the reason why I love his stories even if sometimes they end up tragic. Because I can imagine all the types of endings I would have put to it or how I could change the story and it obviously leaves you hooked! Have fun reading Romeo & Juliet, it's an awesome story and it's good you're reading it in class

I realise that Shakespeare was just a normal person, with a truly amazing talent for writing, who set off in this world to make a living and a name for himself. I, personally, enjoy Shakespeares work, but the majority of my class have the "overrated" opinion to which many a times have I debated the topic. Some haven't read Shakespeare even though the plays are widely available, and I am known in class as the book worm. I feel the amount of use, Shakespeare recives is truly accounted for, as the plays are some of the most descriptive to this day and also show many people a little window into the past. Romeo and Juliet is the only overrated play in my mind. Iknow Shakespeare foucused on Love in the play but it still recives too much publicity, which only makes the whole play seem corny.

I agree with you on almost every point. I love Shakespeare's work, but everytime our english teacher says that were to do something concerning Romeo & Juliet - the play we're studying this year - my class groans, but it's all I can do not to shout out for joy. I love Romeo & Juliet, we've almost finished it.

To compare tow pf hs plays, say King Lear against Twelfth Night. I think that Twelfth Night ends rather hastily, what with Duke Orsino immeadiatly forgetting his love for Olivia and falling in love with Viola. Convienient or what? Whereas King Lear is a wonderful, amazing play, so gut-wrenchingly sad, but so good at the same time.

I suppose I am the sort of person who is:

A) Generally not very interested in plays.
B) Definitely not interested in tragedies/comedies/love stories.
C) Doesn't like Shakespeare at all.

Don't get me wrong. I think is a very good writer, but that's it. To me, he is no different than all the other great writers of the world. I first encountered his work either when I was in middle school, or my very early days of highschool. I believe we studied Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. I understood them, but didn't get them. I suppose it was good entertainment for people at that time. However, as a kid of the 20th century (that's what I'd be..born in the '90s), I cannot relate to his plays. Of course, that doesn't make Shakespeare any less great. I just don't think he should be so widely hailed. I think he is overrated because people read his plays, like them, and then jump onto the bandwagon of all the other Shakespeare-fans. I can't tell you how tired I've gotten of hearing teachers speak of how wonderful he was, and how we will study him for a whole six-weeks.

I'm not sure if I really contributed anything other than my own badly-worded opinions here >.>;

I think he's a very talented writer, and some other authors made his stories sound cliche by using the ideas. He was the first to use them and that's mainly why he's thought so highly of, so I don't think he's overrated at all.