Shakespeare's Contribution to World Literature

William Shakespeare created a new epoch in world literature. The ideas set forth by the Renaissance, the ideology of Humanism are expressed by him in the most realistic way. Shakespeare has faith in Man. He hates injustice. His plays have become popular throughout the world because of his realistic characters. The history of English drama is reflected in Shakespeare’s works. The development of his characters makes him different from his predecessors (Marlowe and others). Shakespeare’s characters don’t remain static, they change in the course of action. More than that, Shakespeare was the first dramatist to mix comedy and tragedy: “The Merchant of Venice” (1596-1597) is called a comedy, though Shylock is in fact badly treated. He has been called the first great tragic figure.

Shakespeare's language was understood even by the common people of those times. The soliloquies in his plays are not long; the dialogues are true to life. Many well-known English sayings come from his works.

He had a great influence on the English language and English literature. His work is known for its beautiful language, as well as for its understanding of the way people think and feel. Shakespeare is so great writer that every generation discovers new ideas and social problems concerning the relations of man to man in human society in his plays. Shakespeare’s plays do not grow old with time. His plays are regularly performed in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

The first memorial theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, was opened in 1879 in Stratford-upon-Avon. Many plays were staged there and many famous actors started their career in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Since then a season of Shakespearian drama can be seen each year in Stratford.

Research work and study of Shakespeare's literary heritage by scholars will never cease.

The name of Benjamin Jonson is worth mention¬ing in connection with Shakespeare's works. It was Ben Jonson, an actor of Shakespeare's Company and his close friend, who published Shakespeare's plays in 1623. Jonson was not only an actor, he was also a dramatist. He wrote more than twenty plays, some of them were staged at "The Globe" by Shakespeare's Company. Jonson scorned many of the other drama¬tists of his time, but not Shakespeare. He was fond of him:

Soul of the Age!

The applause! delight! the wonder of our stage!

My Shakespeare, rise!

Ben Jonson believed in the unity of action, time and place. He himself followed this rule, and was proud of his plays.

More than that, Ben Jonson was a talented producer of masques which were the real performances with different plots and characters, dancing and music.