YE OLD BLOG

Imagine a Saturday night. It’s late, you’re tired, and all you want to do is curl up and watch a good movie. You check Netflix and come up with a list of possible films, The Lion King, Ten Things I Hate About You, Warm Bodies, and West Side Story. Although these movies seem to come from different worlds, in reality, they all have one trait in common. All of them are inspired by Shakespeare! Yes, even centuries after plays like Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and The Taming of the Shrew were written, they still make appearances. Although, Many of Shakespeare’s work appears in modern settings, as well as the classic time period. Take, Warm Bodies for example. Setting the stage in future America, where Zombies have taken over. Despite their differences, and the constant war between their species, a human girl, coincidentally named Juliet, and zombie boy, called R, find love. It is the classic star- crossed lover story, only applied to a more modern situation. Also, the Lion King is inspired by the classic play, Hamlet. Where, a young prince is forced to flee after his uncle murders his father, and forces his mother to marry him. Sound familiar? But why are Shakespeare’s plays so applicable to modern situations? And how are they withstanding hundreds of years? Mainly because although the details of the plays are complex, in reality, the summaries can be shortened to fit any situation. For example, Julius Caesar is about a group of people who dislike their political situation. The SUNY New Paltz Department of Theatre Arts recently interpreted Julius Caesar to take place in an elite girls’ boarding school, where the homecoming queen is murdered by her own ‘clique’. Also, the character's traits are recipes for a storyline. Take Tybalt from Romeo and Juliet. His feisty personality, and hot temper makes him a classic bully. Also, Puck from A Midsummer’s Night Dream can be translated into devilish boy who just wants a good time. And finally, the plays are relatable.  For example, what teenage girl hasn’t felt hopeless when she realizes her family won’t like her latest boyfriend? And all of us have felt discouraged over our political leaders. So, next time you choose a movie like The Lion King to watch with your family, remember that is was actually Shakespeare who lifted Simba into the air, thanks to his relatable, interesting, and timeless plays.