Blog 7: Shakespeare, to exist or to not exist.

             Earlier this week, when learning about the Shakespearian play Julius Ceasar, we watched a video on Shakespeare's life. One thing that stood out to me in this video was the fact that many historians doubt whether Shakespeare really existed. Since many of his plays are similar to others created at the time and the fact that little is known about him as a person, the idea he could have written all those plays does seem a bit questionable. However, whether he existed or not does not change the fact that Shakespeare’s works are considered some of the most influential pieces of literature to this day. 

               Shakespeare is known for many important accomplishments as an author. One such accomplishment is the fact that he is responsible for introducing around 3,000 words to the English language. Furthermore, he is known to be one of the most often quoted authors, coming second only to the Bible. He has inspired people from around the world and continues to do so even 400 years after his death.  His works have paved the way for present and future authors. If he wasn’t truly the one to write all of them, that would not take away from the fact that they will continue to captivate readers for years to come. Shakespeare is undoubtedly a distinguished author, regardless of whether he existed in real life.  

  

Often as a society we get caught up in trivial matters such as this one. We tend to focus on things that have no real value and exist only to cause disputes. Rather than focusing on the unimportant events in the lives of people who lived 400 years ago, we should focus on significant pieces of history, that continue to impact us today. What's truly important is the legacy we leave behind for future generations to learn from, not the opinions of others about how that legacy is created. So next time you find yourself wondering whether something is important or not, ask yourself, will this matter in 400 years? 

 

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