Blog 1 Quarter 2

The reason Shakespeare's works are remembered is because they play on ideas that transcend setting. The issues involved  are issues of people from all time periods and geographical locations. This proves to be true in Othello. Being in high school, I can relate to Othello. If you truly think about it makes sense. More than once, I have hurt someone i love because i have believed a third party. Surely, everyone can relate to this. Obviously we share the same feelings, embarrassment, betrayal, anger, etc. But what does it say about humans that we can all relate to this. Is it a matter of human nature or learned behavior? Why is it that we take the word of an outside source over the words of the one we love. Even if the outside source has circumstantial evidence, is that truly enough to outweigh the word of our closest confidant. Logic would tell us no, but time and time again we don't believe those we love, and we hurt them. I believe it is a bit of nature and a bit of nurture. Surely, the constant stream of scandals in our news cant help. When we here about people cheating all the time, we get so afraid that we will be another case that we believe any accusation made. We are conditioned to believe that things are "too good to be true." But there is also a human nature aspect of it. As humans, we have learned that we must be strong to survive. Survival of the fittest, right? But how does this show itself in our every day life. I believe there is a direct connection between natural selection and the idea that well believe anyone over the person we love. We want to be strong. We fear seeming weak so much, that we would rather risk a relationship with, or even the life of, a loved one. This may seem like rambling, and to an extent it is. But it is with thoughts like these that Shakespeare stays alive. When you delve into his works and get not one, not two, but 3, 4, 5, levels deep, that is when true thought happens. Shakespeare brings this out in every person when given the right amount of time and effort to take in. This is what makes Shakespeare immortal. This is what literature is all about, being able to connect with so many different people, from so many different time periods, on so many different levels. It truly is a beautiful thing.