He addressed complex societal issues that continue today.
The wide range of issues Shakespeare wrote on - such as racism and gender identity - mean that he will always be relevant, as these discussions continue today.
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The Argument
Shakespeare's work addresses a variety of complex societal issues which humans continue to grapple with today.
For example, in "Macbeth" and many of his comedies, Shakespeare deals with gender roles and identity through power struggles, cross-dressing, and other plot points.[1] His work often seems to be more sympathetic to women and the nature of fluctuating gender identities than many authors of the past or even today.
In "Othello," Shakespeare clearly displays Iago as a villain fueled by racism who enacts awful things upon the dark-skinned Othello.[2] In "The Tempest," he humanizes the native islander Caliban when many people saw tribal natives as savage cannibals.[3] Shakespeare's grappling with this issue shows his ability to look beyond himself and find a universality in human experience.
Counter arguments
Shakespeare's lack of explicit commentary on these issues is a moral failure, as one should be able to outright condemn racism or sexism.
The works which most reaffirm our current social values are not necessarily the most universal.
Proponents
Premises
[P1] Artwork should address societal issues.
[P2] Shakespeare addressed societal issues.
Rejecting the premises
[Rejecting P1] It is not necessary that artwork address societal issues.