Is it fair to say that Shakespeare is the most influential writer of the last 50

Question: Is it fair to say that Shakespeare is the most influential writer of the last 500 years!?

Can you name anyone whose influence is greater!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Deliberately playing Devil's Advocate here (because it interested me to think of who _could_ be considered greater)--I think you are right, but I want to offer food for thought!.

Novels: Defoe!. Started the novel in its current form; popularized it; made it more of a self-contained work as opposed to Pilgrim's Progress and other such moral tales!. (Had you lengthened this to the last 700 years, I would have picked Boccacio and/or Chaucer for starting the novel entirely, in the first place!.)

Plays: Ibsen!. Took away the stagey theatricality evident both in Shakespeare and other Early Modern works and in French Academie ("well-formed") plays!. Made the theater a vehicle for truth, as opposed to morals--and morals were what lots and lots of playwrights before him were concerned about!.

Poetry: Whitman!. Made poems into a less structured and more structured thing, concerned more about rhythm and meter as opposed to rhyme and conceit!. The first poet with a really editorial narrative voice!. Had complete control of form and then broke the rules--paved the way for Eliot, Pound, et cetera!. Related the author to his surroundings more than any other poet before him!.

_If_ I were to choose someone more influential than Shakespeare, those would be my picks--I could argue that each were more influential in their genres, but Shakespeare was more influential overall!. also-rans include Milton, Donne, Twain, Austen, Moliere, Blake, Eliot off the top of my head!. (Edit: I see someone also mentioned Joyce, can't believe I forgot him!. He's probably the strongest also-ran for a novelist, natch!.)

This is obviously limited to Western literature--I would argue that Li Bai, Lao Tzu (assuming he even existed, which is debatable), Kalidasa, Premchand, Tagore, Chand Bardai, Olaudah Equiano, and Ekra-Agiman were more influential in their various respective parts of the world (as well as many others I haven't named!.)Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think that's true!. I mean, so many movies and books have been written based off of his plays (10 things i hate about you, west side story, etc!.)
he used common themes in his plays in a very appealing way!. so many other people nowadays use those same common themes because they like how he portrayed them!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I would agree that is true for Western Civilization!. His influence is widespread because his work remains in print and continually referenced and because English teachers have decided that his works will remain as common reference and ground in studying literature!. Willy IS the canon!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Certainly the most influential writer in English during that period!. Obviously, it varies tremendously from language to language ie!. Dante for Italian, Cervantes for Spanish, probably Tolstoy in Russian etc!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

fair!? yes!.
accurate!? i'm not sure!.
jane austen comes to mind, the bronte sisters!.!.!.

but i think people recognise will because his works are required reading in most schools!.

he was quite the influence, though!.
no doubt about it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes, it is fair to say that!. Other candidates that come to mind: Dante (maybe not in the 500 year limit) Milton, Goethe, Descartes, Kant, James Joyce!.!.!.No, Shakespeare is still the tops!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes its very much fair and he used such a powerful language, really no one can compete him!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes, it is quite fair to speak as such!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes, and no I can't!Www@QuestionHome@Com