Should Shakespeare Be Taught in Highschool?

Shakespeare, born in the Elizabethan era, is the worlds most

well known author, outsold only by the Bible. Shakespeares plays are
famous are the world hundreds of years after they were written. All of
Shakespeares plays are relatable, entreating and beautiful in the
descriptive language he uses to write them. Not only is Shakespeare
famous for his plays. His sonnets are musical to the ears, filling the
brain with thoughts and questions. Shakespeares works should be
taught in school because of the historical context and the themes
presented.
Shakespeares works give insight into the time period in which he
lived and the settings in his works. In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet,
readers learn about Shakespeares time period and about the different
social classes. Many of the first scenes of every act begin with sexual
references in order to quiet the rowdy peasant class. High-school
students can benefit from learning about the time period of
Shakespeares to help them understand the work better. In Romeo and
Juliet , understanding that twelve year old girls were married off to
have kids is key to understanding how the story is a tragedy to a
romance. On a grander scale, high-school students are able to learn
from the faults of Shakespeares time, such as the imbalance of social
classes and of genders as to be able to appreciate the era we live in
today.

The themes presented in Shakespeares works questions readers

and provides and overall meaning to his works. Shakespeares works
are so vast that many teachers or acting companies tend to focus on a
certain theme. In Georgia Shakespeares most recent production of
Hamlet, the group focused on the increasing insanity of all the
characters written in the play. Also, in Mrs. Swaffords English class, the
play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is being taught with the theme of
love as a creative and destructive force. High-school students can
benefit from works such as Shakespeares, that are timeless in
continues meaning that challenges students to dig deeper into their
soul and make sense of themselves and the meaning behind
Shakespeares captivating plays.
Because high-school students are mature enough to understand
the content and Shakespeares plays, the plays make great works for
literature analysis done by high school students. Students learn more
than just the story. By reading and studying Shakespeare, students
understand the different meanings and hidden messages that are
beautifully buried between the lines and understand the true genius
that is Shakespeare.