"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." -- Rudyard Kipling
The Renaissance was the rebirth of art, music, dance, theater, literature, poetry and so much more. There were many important figures during this time that helped make great advancements and discoveries in all of these areas. Men like Petrarch, Giotto, Botticelli, Donatello, Da Vinci,
Machia-velli and Shakespeare. All of these men created wonderful masterpieces that we still enjoy today but I would like to focus on Shakespeare and his understanding and use language.
Language is the root of basic human communication and connection. Words can be used for good or for evil. They can express love or hatred. We use our words for everything, at school, at work, during recreation, in relationships and families. Without language or any type of communication we would all be cut off from one another. Now there are different types of language and communication. They are less formal occasions where formal language is not necessary. On the other hand there are formal occasions where one would want to be more aware of the words leaving his mouth. Learning about language and it's proper use can empower us.
Shakespeare most certainly had a way with words. We still study his eloquent words today. We may not understand completely his Shakespearean language but no one should ever deny the fact that he was a genius. He made great contributions to the world of theater and poetry. He even attributed a few words to the English language that we still use today, which Sara S. Drogin shares a few of those with us in her book Spare Me the Details, *"words such as 'bump,' 'lonely,' and 'assassination.'”
He is a man often respected as the greatest writer in the English language and we would do well to appreciate and respect his works. Even if we don't quite understand him, we should respect him for the genius he is and the wonderful contributions that he made to our native language.
*Sara Drogin (2008-05-13). Spare Me the Details!: A Short History of Western Civilization (Kindle Location 973). iUniverse. Kindle Edition.
I agree that words can really have a powerful effect on people, and I think that rhetoric and a focus on oration really became popular in the Renaissance because of that. Shakespeare really was a genius in the way that he used words, which is what makes reading (or seeing a performance of) his works so enjoyable- they are clever and evoke emotion in a way that writings before the middle ages (like the Confessions of St. Augustine or similar) couldn't quite achieve (in my opinion) because they are so rigid in their language and subject.
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