When in Doubt, Stuff and Things about Shakespeare...

     In chapter 5, When in Doubt, It's from Shakespeare..., Thomas C. Foster goes into depth, of how much William Shakespeare has influenced the English language throughout history. But Shakespeare has not only left an imprint on both reading and writing, but many movies and any other forms of entertainment. Many adaptions have been created from many of William Shakespeare's works. from Romeo and Juliet to Hamlet, many have parodied or have tried to create something to that of the original. So Thomas C. Foster goes into depth of how many artists and writers have been influenced by Shakespeare's works, and even if they haven't read his works, many well known to the everyday common man quote any of Shakespeare's creations. Shakespeare has influenced many throughout the years and for years to come, and many have tried to reach his level as a writer, but we all have failed because whenever we see outstanding writing and story telling, we all know it must be from Shakespeare.
     Such as the examples given by Foster in this chapter, many writers have quoted Shakespeare without even knowing, or they did, yet it doesn't sound as good as Shakespeare. Many famous writers such as Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Somerset Maugham, Tom Stoppard, John Steinbeck, Aldous Huxley, William Faulkner, Pearl S Buck, Agatha Christie and many other famous writers have used phrases from Shakespeare as titles for their works. So just to name a few, they have not only quoted Shakespeare for inspiration, but to also create better forms of art in their writing. But why Shakespeare, and why not only one but all of his works have been overused either in a good or bad way. Just like Foster made the example of Rocky and Bullwinkle, how people don't occasionally or rarely quote them. But the reason for that matter is how many know that Shakespeare's works are very sophisticated and complex because of the Elizabethan English. And for many, if they know they are quoting Shakespeare they feel much smarter yet they end up looking dumber if they unquote it un properly. So the sole reason writers reuse his works, over, and over again is solely because his stories are great, the characters are compelling, and the language fabulous, as explained by foster. But still writers may be influenced by other writers from the past and present but less frequently, yet writers are not the only human beings being influenced by William Shakespeare.
     After the rise of his popularity and as his plays entertained the millions, and after Shakespeare's death, many have tried to copy or modify his works but yet many have failed to do so. Even up to this date their have been many adaptations and changes done in Shakespeare's stories. Such as the movie Romeo and Juliette starring Leonardo Dicaprio, is the modern telling of one of the most over quoted stories of all time. Then live plays such as the retelling of Julius Caesar at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in 2012, which not only was a modern twist on the story but was transposed into action to modern Africa. Both Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar have added to Shakespeare's fame but to the list of the many who have been influenced by his works. Even this year there was a movie that somewhat quoted Shakespeare, which was the LEGO movie. In which there was literally a Shakespeare figure that said "To build, or not to build", which simply quoted one of Shakespeare's works in a comedic yet educational way. Which not only was an intentional allusion to Shakespeare, but that the audience may reference back to one of his works and to influence the younger audience also. Shakespeare's stories can be seen everywhere today and many have either created good or bad adaptations from it, in the end it was originally created by Shakespeare himself.
     Mostly everyday I hear people quoting or attempting to retell any of his plays or stories, yet they will never reach his status as a writer or storyteller. From writers, to poets, and directors all have contributed to William Shakespeare's popularity and legacy. Each day people become aware of who he was and what he did either it be for good or bad. Because in the end "the writer we know better than any other, the one whose language and whose plays we "know" even if we haven't read him, is Shakespeare. For he has left an imprint on our lives for many years to come either if we are reading or seeing, Shakespeare will most of the time be the one influencing it.