Shakespeare and Cultural Exclusion

This chapter acknowledges that whilst Shakespeare’s cultural influence is undeniable, there remain limitations to his work’s cultural influence. The idea that Shakespeare is the ultimate form of cultural success remains a contentious one. It is rooted in Western-centric biases and when Shakespeare’s plays are viewed as the pinnacle of Western literary achievement it ignores the rich literary traditions of other cultures around the world. The chapter suggests that Shakespeare’s works are products of their time, written in a specific historical and cultural context, and some aspects of his work may be outdated or problematic by contemporary standards. The chapter argues that the canonisation of Shakespeare may limit diverse artistic expression and the cultural dominance of Shakespeare’s works may lead to a narrow view of what constitutes great literature, potentially stifling the development of new and diverse artistic voices and preventing transformative opportunities from being identified and achieved.