The most underrated of Shakespeare’s many theatrical gifts—poetic, tragic, festive—is his tabloid mentality. Shakespeare knew the value of the sensational: ghosts, gore, and grievous bodily harm were all grist for his melodramatic mill. His plays were always aimed at two audiences: the court and . . . (Subscription required.)
SOURCE: The New Yorker at 12:00AM on January 23, 2012