investigating Shakespeare’s influence in today’s literary world
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Date
2021
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UNIVERSITY OF ABBES LAGHROUR-KHENCHELA
Abstract
Abstract
Shakespeare occupies a distinctive position in the world of literature. Other poets, such as
Homer and Dante, and novelists, such as Leo Tolstoy and Charles Dickens, have transcended
national boundaries; but no writer's living reputation can compare with Shakespeare's. The
present study aims at identifying the Bard of Avon's role and status in today's literary world
through examining his global reputation; having considered the reception of his works in the
five continents of the world, and their adaptations to the modern theatre and the movies
industry; highlighting the significant influence of Shakespeare in the literature and philosophy
that shaped his works, no doubt that the influence of his characters and his abilities as an actor,
writer and person has influenced his work; stressing the universality of his works which
affected different languages, cultures, and societies; highlighting his global popularity which
overpasses the world boundaries (who in the world do not know Shakespeare even by name,
or who has never quoted the famous soliloquy "to be or not to be" in all the languages
throughout the world). Our research is about the timelessness of Shakespeare. We mean that
the timelessness of our study should be everlasting in today's literary world. Shakespeare
managed to achieve universal recognition through many literature aspects, mainly due to his
philosophical insight into human reality. We can observe this timelessness in the themes that
he addressed in his plays, how the characters thoughts and actions of his play, the versatility
and flexibility of his works. His works have also corresponded with the History of Britain and
the whole world, which seem to repeat themselves. We also find this timelessness in the
relevance of his works through the continual use and return of his works for inspiration by
many prominent writers around the world. Their reverence to Shakespeare is clearly felt and
sought in the works of these artists, whether these works are literary adaptations, translations,
or cinematic ones.