If you've taken a high school English literature class in the past several decades, chances are that you've read Shakespeare. The impact of Shakespeare's time on concepts of today, notably sex, race, and the market economy, are not as well taught however. By learning more about Shakespeare and going beyond his writing, we can better understand why Shakespeare is still relevant and the continued influence of his time. Mary-Catherine Berger has spent the last 4 years at UNC Charlotte completing her BA and beginning her MA in English Literature and Culture, with a particular interest in the literature of the British Renaissance, book history, and archival studies. She intends to also pursue her PhD in the same field of interest with hopes of becoming a professor. She has presented her work on Shakespeare’s "The Taming of the Shrew" at several student and professional conferences, as well as currently serving as the president of the English Graduate Student Association.Beyond her academic interests, Mary-Catherine is a born and bred Charlottean. When she isn’t working as a graduate assistant for UNC Charlotte’s Leadership and Community Engagement or as a content writer for a local family-owned business, she enjoys thrifting and antiquing around Charlotte while partaking in the many caffeinated beverage options offered at the dozens of cafés that populate the city. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx