Shakespeare for Everyone

I read Midsummer's Night's Dream and what struck me was how funny it was! The lovers fighting, Bottom's unknowing puns about himself, the commentary made about the play... all these situations are hilarious. What's more, they were written hundreds of years ago but even if one knew nothing about the time period or the culture of the time it would still make sense and be funny. We often like to put a barrier between Shakespeare and ourselves. I read an article by Kurt Lancaster about a Neil Gaiman comic book series where Gaiman mixes a fictional performance of Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare and his acting troupe in front of some of the fairies from the play with commentary about contemporary life. The article states this comic book as an example of Shakespeare being invited back into popular culture and claims that in the 1900s society locked Shakespeare in a glass case as something only for the high brows. He was to be admired, but coolly, and with discipline. This prevented his works from having as deep an effect on people's day to day lives because they were only viewed as art, and not valued for the lessons and enjoyment that they offered. The article claims that it as we allow Shakespeare's work to be enjoyed and be considered relevant instead of just reverenced that its true value will be seen. Reading Midsummer Night's Dream made me realize that Shakespeare did not just write for the nobles in the balcony, but for the people standing in the yard. Even hundreds of years later, there is something for everyone.