Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ms. Shirk
The Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Macbeth, and more. These are some of the plays
that have been around for 450 years. Made from English poet, playwright, and actor, Williams
Shakespeare. Some may think he was just an old famous british guy that wrote poems and isnt
relevant anymore to today's teaching society although, Shakespeare has made characters that are
relatable to today's society, teaches about the modern human condition, and has different ways of
teaching.
Shakespeare was a white male in the 1500s, though he had a diverse mix of people in
some of his plays. In the article Teacher: Why its ridiculous not to teach Shakespeare in
school its states ...look at the characters of Othello and Emilia, and youll see a humane,
progressive, and even diverse portrayal of the complexities of race and gender. This is one of
the problems we face today everywhere. In schools, jobs, and television. We see this a lot and
hear it, but we dont really talk about it. Shakespeare does a good job in that play of showing
diversity and thats something that we should see more of. Shakespeare was teaching that since
We have all felt insecurities of how we are seen and judged. In a quote by Matthew
Truesdale he says, ...I believe he has much to teach us about the modern human condition... In
the play Othello who lived a life full of valor and who has experiences far beyond and far
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greater than those of his men...we empathize precisely because weve been there... most of us
have felt insecurities that come not because we cant succeed or havent succeeded, but that
instead come because of how we are seen and judged. Everyone has had an experience with
being judged and felt insecurities, Shakespeare does this in Othello and shows how everyone
Many think that Shakespeare shouldnt be taught anymore because he isnt relevant.
Some think we should teach about other cultures. Truesdale states that Where does it state that
we cant teach Shakespeare and oral African tradition? Both subjects are important and should
be taught. He teaches us about race, gender, and identity. Although cultures are important to be
taught and we need to know about it because it's happening now, we can also incorporate
Although people think hes just an old British guy, thats 450 years old he has a lot to
teach us about the real world and issues we face among each other. Shakespeare has a lot to
teach on race and diversity by using diverse characters in his plays, the modern human condition
about how we feel abf our emotions, and different ways of teaching not just one subject but you
don't need to just teach Shakespeare. Shakespeare might be one of the oldest in the English