“Love is not love, which alters when it alteration finds” (Sonnet 18). “Love is a spirit all compact of fire” (Venus and Adonis). “Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes” (Romeo and Juliet). I probably needn’t tell you that William Shakespeare is known for his romantic prose, and since it’s almost Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be a great time to recapitulate his importance in Western culture or, potentially, introduce some pop culture connections unbeknownst to you. Beware of spoilers.
Without “much ado,” here are some of the things for which we must thank Shakespeare.
1. These movie adaptations
(Including some teen rom coms…)
10 Things I Hate About You
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Based on The Taming of the Shrew.
This ’90s update follows the Stratford sisters, Kat and Bianca, in a high school setting. Much like the original play, Bianca is the sweet and sought-after sister while Kat (played by ’90s queen Julia Stiles) is the antisocial, headstrong one. One of Bianca’s admirers hires bad boy/outcast Patrick (Heath Ledger) to woo Kat so that the sisters’ father can let Bianca date. Comedy and romance ensue.
She’s the Man
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Based on Twelfth Night.
Viola (played by Amanda Bynes) impersonates her brother so that she can take his place at a soccer camp after her mother and male peers tell her that girls shouldn’t play the sport. Much like the conventional Shakespeare comedy, love blossoms, and she ends up with one of her teammates, Duke (Channing Tatum).
Romeo + Juliet
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This one is technically a tragedy, but all the same, it has teen heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo and teen drama star Claire Danes as Juliet. The film’s characters speak in early modern English (i.e., Shakespeare’s original script) while it all takes place in the ’90s. And in this adaptation, the Capulets and Montagues are warring mafia empires.
(…And these classics.)
West Side Story
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Based on Romeo and Juliet.
This musical depicts two rival street gangs in Manhattan, the Jets and the Sharks. There is plenty of ethnic tension in the film, as it depicts the plights of Puerto Rican immigrants and the discriminations they face. In the midst of it all, María, from the Sharks’ side, and Tony, a Jet himself, fall in love. And I’m sure you know how the rest plays out.
The Lion King
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Based on Hamlet.
I don’t think I have to explain this one to you.
(Bonus: The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride is to Romeo and Juliet as The Lion King 1 ½ is to Tom Stoppard’s own Shakespeare adaptation, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.)
2. Archetypal TV characters
In one way or another, the following television characters have been linked to those in Shakespeare’s plays. When you consider their respective story arcs and flaws, it’s easy to see why.
House of Cards
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Frank and Claire Underwood are often compared to Richard III (Richard III) and Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), respectively. Frank’s asides mirror those of Richard III, and he is often hailed as a likable villain— despite his unrelenting quest for power. Claire, on the other hand, is much like Lady Macbeth in that she schemes through her husband and is capable of turning most situations to her advantage.
Breaking Bad
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Breaking Bad’s Walter White is often likened to Macbeth, the titular character from ‘The Scottish Play.’ Like Shakespeare’s anti-hero, he becomes morally corrupted by ambition and meets a similar, karmic fate.
Sons of Anarchy
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When Kurt Sutter was creating the show, he intentionally wove aspects of Shakespeare’s Hamlet into Jax Teller. Jax’s own father, the leader of the biker gang he’s also a part of, dies. His father’s death seems to be catalyzed by his mother and her lover. And you know how the rest goes; Jax must save face in the midst of the tragedy, and it gets ugly. The deliberate association is also rooted in the episode titles of the show (e.g., “To Thine Own Self,” and “What a Piece of Work is Man”).
3. Colloquial sayings
It is well-documented that Shakespeare invented over 5,000 words in the English language. What some people may not know is that the bard also coined many expressions that we still use today. Basically, you are probably quoting Shakespeare without realizing it. Here are some of the most popular ones:
A sorry sight (Macbeth)
Bated breath (The Merchant of Venice)
For goodness’ sake (Henry VIII)
Full circle (King Lear)
Method in the madness (Hamlet)
Knock, knock! Who’s there? (Macbeth)
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Too much of a good thing (As You Like It)
Neither rhyme, nor reason (The Comedy of Errors)
The be all and end all (Macbeth)
All that glitters is not gold. (The Merchant of Venice)
Heart on my sleeve (Othello)
What’s done is done. (Macbeth)
4. Hip-hop?
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Shakespeare has been credited for popularizing, and even elevating, the iambic pentameter. Many studies indicate that a lot of modern hip-hop emulates iambic pentameter (5 sets and 2 beats), which is said to give music a narrative feeling without compromising rhyme and flow. And if that wasn’t enough, some hip-hop artists (including Kanye West and Wu-Tang Clan) have been known to incorporate unique words in their art. Some, in fact, have surpassed the bard in this respect.
*None of these images or gifs belong to the author or Her Campus.