I would definitely say the homage paid to ancient civilizations is important, and provides and awesome frame of reference for how many people in Shakespeare's time viewed things. Preserving the work is a definite yes in my book.

I really have to agree with Debra, the most interesting thing I learned was Ravenscroft's reaction. I always assumed some would oppose Shakespeare's work, but that criticism was so pointed and hard.

Do you think that the attitudes of the characters and where the positions of guilt were placed would have changed if Shakespeare had written this later in his career?