Literature - The Language of Insights into Human Nature

As we celebrate Shakespeare's 400 death anniversary with the rest of the  world and hail him as one of the greatest writers in human history, one can't but wonder and reflect what gave him the exemplary status of the the most widely read English author.

One somehow one expects writers to write well.  But what makes Shakespeare greater than others is perhaps his very perceptive insights into human nature.

The reason why Shakespeare was so imminently quotable was that as we go through life's travails, we realise that almost every situation we go through, has an immediate insight that Shakespeare had already unravelled about human nature 400 years ago.

Recently when a musician-writer friend of mine was let down on a entertainment contract by a rather well known industry trade body I could not but help quote Shakespeare in a comment on the timeline on Facebook -' the man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.  The motions of his spirit are dull at night, and his affections dark as Erebus.'

About love Shakespeare said 'Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind'. While the mysteries of love are still being unravelled by mankind through scientific eyes, there seems little doubt that love is an emotion beyond the limits of reason and rational thinking.

Or for example the Fool in King Lear says ' have more than you show, speak less than you know and lend less than you owe'.

This sentence tells us that it is better to be judicious and sensible while dealing with others.  In fact some lines like these are very deep and can be split into many parts.

1.  Have more than thou showest

Sometimes it is not wise to reveal to others everything that you have.  Everybody should not know everything you own for example.  In fact when you tell people about everything, you can sometimes in fact be called a show-off.

2. Speak less than thou knowest

There are 2 kinds of people.  Who flaunt how much they know about a particular subject or subjects. Again we often describe such people as pompous.  On the other hand some carry their knowledge quietly. We often describe such people as humble.  

3. Lend less than you owest

Here there seems to be a great financial principle that is embedded in the statement. In fact it is a sensible dictum for any business to borrow more than you lend.  If one looks at today's companies a large number of them would have a substantial amount of debt. And debt would exceed credit in most companies.

The greatness of Shakespeare  lies in the way he unravels human nature and the human mind.  And his ever lasting philosophy that he derives from and for everyday living.  His prescriptions for leading a good and successful life.  An uncovering of great human truths that seem to be as relevant 400 years ago as they are today.  

It does seem to prove that basic human behaviour does not change. 

Dedicated to my grand-mother  and mother, both Professors of English.  And especially in memory of my mother whose birthday falls tomorrow.

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