莎士比亞是古往今來最偉大的作家之一，他的創作對英國乃至全世界文學創作都產生了巨大的影響，其作品幾乎被翻譯成世界各種文字、各種新版本和譯本層出不窮且歷久彌新。此外，莎士比亞的語言已滲入英語國家人們的日常用語中，並且決定了他們對詩的認識。
莎士比亞的許多傑作，四個多世紀以來，既是家喻户曉，深入人心，顯示出難以抗拒的藝術魅力;又具有深刻的思想內涵，吸引着無數專家學者共同研討，成為一門畢生從事的學問，而且隨着時代的進展，莎學也隨之不斷地在拓展更新，沒有止境。歌德也曾為之感歎“説不盡的莎士比亞!”這觀之不足、鑽之彌深的雅俗共賞，這巨大的藝術魅力和深刻的思想內涵的完美結合，説得上是偉大的文學經典作品確切不移的標誌吧。
《羅密歐與朱麗葉》是莎士比亞早期劇作中最複雜和最著名的一部;《哈姆雷特》、《奧瑟羅》、《李爾王》、《麥克白》是代表莎士比亞悲劇最高成就的“四大悲劇”，也是最淋漓地表現其偉大之處的作品，其中尤以《哈姆雷特》在世界上享譽最高，成為世界戲劇史上難以企及的高峯。
《仲夏夜之夢》、《威尼斯商人》、《無事煩惱》、《皆大歡喜》、《第十二夜》是莎士比亞的喜劇代表作，尤以後三部最能表現莎士比亞喜劇創作的風格，人稱“嬌豔明媚的喜劇三部曲”。
莎翁同期時代劇作家班·瓊斯稱頌莎士比亞“不屬於一個時期，而歸於千秋萬代”。我國著名劇作家曹禺先生也説過“莎士比亞劇作的變異複雜的人性，精妙的結構，絕美的詩情，充沛的人道精神，浩瀚的想象力，是任何天才都不能比擬的”。
the merchant of venice "book
used to look at shakespeare's tragedy, i occasionally change stomach, to appreciate his comedy writing, but also quite tasty. last week, i read a novel written by shakespeare "the merchant of venice", let me feel the value of friendship. antonio, the main character and nobility of youth sincere friendship between the巴薩尼奧, in the face of life-and-death test, they are even more selfless friendship. "the merchant of venice" and other shakespeare plays, the performance of his love of life, as well as the yearning for youth. i think this script interesting plot twists and turns, filled with a very strong comedy, but also reflects the life of shakespeare himself optimistic, cheerful character. there is a play not only hateful, but also sympathize with people who, he called shylock is a jew, the loan-sharking. he inexcusable greedy, but he is also a discrimination against the jews. play on behalf of oppressed jews in the passage that has always been memorable to me: "are the jews not the eyes, no limbs, facial features, there is no consciousness, no feeling, no bloody? he was not eating the same food, the weapons can be subject to the same injury , also need medical treatment, will find the winter cold, summer heat will feel that, as with the christians? "he suffered as a national voice grievances issued. i prefer that鮑西亞. her elegant noble, gentle love, a high degree of wisdom, the courage to wit decisively engaged in action in their own actions that poor women than men. this book was written out at that time living in venice where the merchants of the true story of human affection and friendship more important than anything else, this book was written out of our deal with the proper attitude of a friend. shakespeare never wrote the comedy is so enjoyable.