Teachers have been seriously debating about whether or not William Shakespeare’s

work should still be part of a student’s education. Shakespeare is still relevant and should be

taught in schools today. There are lessons to be learned from Shakespeare that can still be

useful today.

Shakespeare demonstrates a strong sense of friendship in his characters and that

trusting someone is important. Iago talks to Roderigo about reputation and how you should not

worry about it. In the text Iago states, “Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got

without merit and lost without deserving” (Shakespeare 99). This quote shows that reputation

can be a trick to make a person look good. This shows that Shakespeare is still relevant and

should be taught because in our everyday lives we all have a reputation on each other. In

Othello log number 4 the question is asking about reputation. This supports my claim because

Roderigo says that reputation does not matter just like I feel like with my reputation since

different people can have different views on society.

In Othello log number 5 it talks about manipulation, being fooled and being tricked.

Othello is at most fault and is most to blame because he causes Iago to do bad things by

choosing Cassio over him. Othello is gullible and can not control his anger. This is shown when

Othello states, “Ay, let her rot and perish and be damned tonight, for she shall not live. No, my

heart is turned to stone” (Shakespeare 183). This quote shows that Othello is angry at

Desdemona since she cheated on him. This supports my claim because people need to learn

how to control their anger and need to be aware of falling for tricks and being manipulated by

someone.

Some people do not believe that Shakespeare wrote the plays and poems that bear his

name. In an article it states, “The great Shakespeare authorship controversy was sparked in the

1850s — more than 200 years after his death — when American writer Delia Bacon and British
bookseller William Henry Smith each published their arguments on the topic. Among other

potential authors of the plays credited to Shakespeare, they suggested philosopher Francis

Bacon and poet Walter Raleigh were more likely the “real” writers of Romeo and Juliet, etc. In

the subsequent century, more than 50 alternative writers were proposed.” (Six reasons

Shakespeare remains relevant 400 years after his death). This quote shows that Shakespeare

is still relevant today because many people use his language to write their own things.

In conclusion, Shakespeare is still relevant and it should still be taught in schools today. I

believe it should be taught in schools still because it can give important life lessons to people so

they won’t get tricked or fooled by reputation and be gullible.