Shakespeare’s Legacy in Modern English: A Critical Examination of His Influence on Language and Literature

Among literary greats, Shakespeare stands head and shoulders above the crowd. No writer has ever had the same lasting impact as Shakespeare. Homer, Dante, Leo Tolstoy, and Charles Dickens are just a few names that come to mind. Even though he wrote for a very limited theater audience in the late 16th and early 17th century, his plays continue to have a global appeal and are produced frequently. The renowned prognosis of Shakespeare's contemporaries, such as Ben Jonson, that his works would outlive their author, is still relevant today. While Shakespeare's genius remains elusive, his gifts as a writer are plain to see in his works, which evoke strong feelings and provoke thought. Thanks to his keen intellect, extraordinary lyrical talent, and keen perception, he was able to delve into universally relatable human emotions and conflicts. Using extraordinary wordplay and imagery, Shakespeare brought human experiences to life, in contrast to other authors who write about abstract ideas. Thanks to his talent for bringing his characters to life onstage, his works are both thought-provoking and approachable; they encourage audience participation and foster empathy. Beyond his literary contributions, Shakespeare had an impact on the evolution of the English language. His contributions to contemporary English are substantial, as he created numerous new terms and altered others. Looking at Shakespeare's sonnets, poems, and plays through the prism of reader-response theory, this study will investigate his unique writing style and the enduring influence he has had on literature.