April 23 is widely believed to be—and is celebrated as—the birthday of William Shakespeare. Born 460 years ago in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, Shakespeare was a playwright, actor and poet whose works remain among the most beautiful and memorable in the English language. Known as “The Bard of Avon,” he earned a reputation as one of history’s greatest poets.

For Shakespeare’s 400th birthday in 1964, the Queen, Prince Philip and the Queen Mother were involved in the celebration. Also in attendance was Sir Laurence Olivier, widely regarded as one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of all time. 

Today, Shakespeare’s plays are performed everywhere from high school stages to major theaters. “Romeo and Juliet” is perhaps the most frequently staged, but his other famous works—”Julius Caesar,” “Hamlet,” “Macbeth” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”—continue to attract audiences around the world.

Many artists in other countries have produced works inspired by Shakespeare’s plays. The 1967 Swedish film “Elvira Madigan” is a tragic love story inspired by “Romeo and Juliet,” while Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1957 masterpiece “Throne of Blood”—set in feudal Japan—is a celebrated adaptation of “Macbeth.” Many critics consider it the finest Shakespeare-inspired film ever made.

Some of my favorite lines by Shakespeare come from his sonnets and plays:

From Sonnet 43:

“When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,

For all the day they view things unrespected;

But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee.”

From “Cymbeline:”

“Golden lads and girls all must,

As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.”

And:

“All lovers young, all lovers must

Consign to thee, and come to dust.”

In “Hamlet,” Shakespeare wrote the now-famous line: “To be or not to be, that is the question.” Scholars interpret this as a contemplation of life and death.

In 2024, a modern writer might indeed pen something like “Do or don’t do,” but I suspect the elegant phrasing of “To be or not to be” will continue to stand the test of time.

Shakespeare also wrote: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” 

In 2024, one could imagine a twist on that: “All the world is TikTok, and all the men and women are merely live streamers.”

A refreshing thought, isn’t it?

Celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday your way—recite a sonnet to someone you love, watch a film adaptation of one of his plays or simply reflect on the richness of his words.  ν