Shakespeare: A Great Playwright

Hareshwar Roy,
Shakespeare: A Great Playwright

William Shakespeare is the greatest writer in the English language. His impact on literature, theatre and even our everyday speech is immense. He belongs to Elizabethan period. He has composed approximately 37 to 39 plays. His plays delve deep into emotions and conflicts. Love, loss, ambition, betrayal, power and redemption are the major themes of his plays. It is his unparalleled ability to capture the universal human experience makes him great.

Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, in April 1564. He was the eldest child of John and Mary Shakespeare. The name of his wife was Anne Hathaway. He had three children named Susanna, Hamnet and Judith. Shakespeare moved to London and worked as an actor and playwright. In London he joined a very famous acting company named the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later the King's Men). He labored hard and his career flourished. He produced a prolific body of work. He passed away in 1616, leaving behind a legacy that is truly immortal.

Shakespeare's major tragedies include Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, Othello and Romeo and Juliet. His other tragedies are Antony and Cleopatra, Coriolanus, Cymbeline, Titus Andronicus, Troilus and Cressida and The Life of Timon of Athens. His major comedies are A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew, and The Comedy of Errors. Shakespeare's popular Roman plays are Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra and Titus Andronicus. Major historical plays by Shakespeare are  Henry IV, Henry V Henry VI, Henry VIII Richard II, Richard III and King John.

Shakespearean tragedies often explore the downfall of a heroic protagonist. They confront us with profound questions about fate, morality and the consequences of human actions. They usually end with sorrow or death. These aren't just sad stories but they are deep dives into the human psyche.

Shakespearean comedies are characterized by mistaken identities, clever wordplay, intricate plots and most importantly happy resolutions. These plays often end with marriages. They often offer a humorous look at life, love and social norms.

Shakespeare ability to create complex and multi-dimensional characters is thing of appreciation. His characters aren't just plot devices. With their own strengths, weaknesses, doubts, and desires they appear as real. From the tormented Prince Hamlet to the cunning Lady Macbeth, each character is meticulously crafted.

Shakespeare's plots are renowned for their intricacy, suspense and dramatic turns. He expertly weaves together multiple story-lines. He often uses devices like mistaken identities and eavesdropping. To reveal inner thoughts of characters and to advance the narrative Shakespeare uses soliloquy, a powerful dramatic device. Shakespearean plays are never boring. They move with a rhythm that builds tension and delivers satisfying conclusions.

Shakespeare's language is a key part of his genius. He largely has written in blank verse. It gives his dialogue a natural rhythm. He also has used a vast vocabulary. He plays with words. He has created memorable metaphors and similes. Many of his phrases like ‘to be or not to be,’ ‘all's well that ends well,’ or ‘break the ice’ are used today.

To conclude, it would be right to say that William Shakespeare is a profound observer of the human condition. His works are a rich tapestry of emotion, philosophy and brilliant storytelling. His plays are as fresh and relevant today as they were in Elizabethan England.
Location: B-37, City Homes Colony, Jawahar Nagar Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India
Currently Dr. Roy is working as Professor of English at Govt. P.G. College Satna, Madhya Pradesh. He is the author of the following books: (1) Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji (2) A Study of M.G. Vassanji 's Novels (3) Varieties of Indianity in the Works of M.G. Vassanji & Rohinton Mistry (4)Diaspora & Indian Diaspora: A Brief Study (5) Short Notes of English Literature - I (6) Short Notes of English Literature - II (7) हमार पहचान ह भोजपुरी - भोजपुरी कविता संकलन (8) हमरा प्यार हो गइल - भोजपुरी गज़ल संकलन (9) भोजपुरी कविताएँ

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