It can be safely said that no piece of literature, be it poetry or prose, is ever dead. A proper classic lives on far beyond the life of its creator, and remains a living, breathing work. If this is accurate of any form of classic literature it must be accurate of classic drama, for the reason that it lives on both in print and onstage. At the same time as Shakespeare has long been dead, his work does live and breathe, and should be treated as such. It can be effortlessly stated that the work of literature has stood the test of time when William Shakespeare wrote it. But the question arises why are his works so appreciated and treasured? One of his most well-known works, Hamlet, is still a favorite between actors and occasional readers, alike, and why is Shakespeare's work still able to confront and motivate people, four hundred years after it was written. The answer is easy and straightforward. Shakespeare's work, though complex, will never have just one meaning, it will until the end of time be up to the understanding of the people of the time that is interpreting the drama.
