Traditionalist and Cultural materialist - Shakespeare

Ben Johnson: Shakespeare is not of an age but for all time.

Their values:

• The artistic values of the play

• The values taught by the play.

• The universal appeal of Shakespeare.

The traditionalists see Shakespeare as a literary peak. Everyone is moved by Shakespeare and he has something of worth to tell everyone.

Believe that texts are forged in the political and economic conditions of their time and we view them from our own political and economic positions.

They are not a transcendent form of beauty, wisdom and value.

Shakespeare is a success because of historical chance.

Cultural materialists would say that a text cannot speak to everyone.