William Shakespeare

• 1. The Stratford Silence

  ›

  William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, and baptised on the 26th of April 1564. His father John worked as an alderman and a successful glover from Snitterfield. Mary Arden, his mother, came from an affluent landowning family influential within the Recusant Catholic community. He was the third child of eight siblings and the eldest surviving son. No attendance records survive for the King's New School he likely attended, yet grammar school curricula provided intensive Latin education based on classical authors. At age eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway, who was twenty-six years old at the time. The consistory court issued a marriage licence on the 27th of November 1582. Their daughter Susanna followed six months later, baptised on the 26th of May 1583. Twins Hamnet and Judith arrived almost two years after that, baptised on the 2nd of February 1585. Hamnet died at age eleven and was buried on the 11th of August 1596. After these births, Shakespeare left few historical traces until he appeared in London theatre records in 1592. Scholars call the years between 1585 and 1592 his lost years. Nicholas Rowe first biographer recounted a Stratford legend claiming Shakespeare fled to escape prosecution for deer poaching. Another story suggested he minding horses for theatre patrons before rising to fame.

• 2. The Globe And The Company

  ›

  By 1592, Shakespeare had become sufficiently known in London to be attacked in print by Robert Greene. Greene called him an upstart Crow beautified with our feathers in Groats-Worth of Wit. This attack suggests his career began anytime from the mid-1580s to just before that year. After 1594, his plays were performed only by the Lord Chamberlain's Men, a company owned by players including Shakespeare himself. In 1599, members built their own theatre on the south bank of the River Thames named the Globe. The partnership also took over Blackfriars indoor theatre in 1608. Records indicate his association made him wealthy enough to buy New Place, the second-largest house in Stratford, in 1597. He invested in parish tithes in 1605. The Globe opened in autumn 1599 with Julius Caesar among its first staged plays. Most post-1599 masterpieces like Hamlet and King Lear were written for this venue. Richard Burbage played leading roles in many premieres including Richard III and Othello. Will Kempe served as popular comic actor playing Peter in Romeo and Juliet until replaced around 1600. On the 29th of June 1613, a cannon set fire to the thatch roof during Henry VIII performance. The theatre burned to the ground, an event pinning down a play date with rare precision.

• 3. Tragedies And Romances

  ›

  Shakespeare produced most known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays included comedies and histories regarded as some best works in these genres. He wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth. These are considered finest works in English literature. In his final phase he wrote tragicomedies such as The Winter's Tale and The Tempest. Less bleak than tragedies, four late romances end with reconciliation and forgiveness. Some commentators see this mood change as evidence of serene view on life. Others believe it merely reflects theatrical fashion of day. Shakespeare collaborated on two surviving plays Henry VIII and The Two Noble Kinsmen probably with John Fletcher. Critics consider Measure for Measure Troilus and Cressida problem plays due to singular themes. Hamlet has been analysed more than any other character especially for soliloquy beginning To be or not to be. Unlike introverted Hamlet whose fatal flaw is hesitation, Othello and Lear undone by hasty errors of judgement. In Macbeth uncontrollable ambition incites Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to murder rightful king. Their own guilt destroys them in turn. This play adds supernatural element to tragic structure.

• 4. The Sonnets And Verse

  ›

  In 1593 and 1594 when theatres closed due to plague, Shakespeare published Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. He dedicated both poems to Henry Wriothesley third Earl of Southampton. A Lover's Complaint appeared printed in first edition of Sonnets in 1609. Most scholars accept he wrote that poem though critics find fine qualities marred by leaden effects. Published in 1609 the Sonnets were last non-dramatic works to print. Scholars uncertain when each of 154 sonnets composed but evidence suggests written throughout career for private readership. Francis Meres referred in 1598 to sugred Sonnets among his private friends. Two early drafts of sonnets 138 and 144 appeared in The Passionate Pilgrim published under Shakespeare name without permission. The 1609 edition dedicated to Mr. W.H. credited as only begetter of poems. It unknown whether written by Shakespeare or publisher Thomas Thorpe whose initials appear at foot dedication page. Critics praise Sonnets as profound meditation on nature love sexual passion procreation death time. His standard poetic form was blank verse composed in iambic pentameter. Usually unrhymed consisting ten syllables line spoken stress every second syllable. Once mastered traditional blank verse began interrupting varying flow releasing new power flexibility. In Macbeth language darts from one unrelated metaphor simile another challenging listener complete sense.

• 5. The First Folio And Texts

  ›

  In 1623 John Heminges and Henry Condell two colleagues from King's Men published First Folio collected edition plays. Contained 36 texts including 18 printed first time. Most others already appeared quarto versions flimsy books made sheets paper folded twice make four leaves. No evidence suggests Shakespeare approved editions which First Folio describes stoln surreptitious copies. Alfred Pollard termed some pre-1623 versions bad quartos adapted paraphrased garbled texts reconstructed memory. Where several versions survive each differs others stemming copying printing errors notes actors audience members Shakespeare papers. In case King Lear 1623 folio version so different 1608 quarto Oxford Shakespeare prints both arguing cannot conflate without confusion. Ben Jonson former rival hailed Shakespeare with now-famous epithet not age but all time in preface poem. Droeshout engraving published conjunction publication First Folio 1623. Some scholars suggest Droeshout portrait provides best evidence appearance alongside Stratford monument. Art historian Tarnya Cooper concluded Chandos portrait strongest claim known contenders true portrait after three-year study supported National Portrait Gallery London. Composition date contemporary Shakespeare subsequent provenance sitter attire all supported attribution.

• 6. Authorship And Beliefs

  ›

  Around 230 years after death doubts expressed authorship works attributed him. Proposed alternative candidates include Francis Bacon Christopher Marlowe Edward de Vere seventeenth Earl Oxford. Several group theories also proposed. All few Shakespeare scholars literary historians consider fringe theory small minority academics believe reason question traditional attribution. Interest subject particularly Oxfordian theory continues into twenty-first century. Shakespeare conformed official state religion private views subject debate. Will uses Protestant formula confirmed member Church England married children baptised buried there. Some scholars view family members Catholics practicing Catholicism England against law. Mother Mary Arden certainly came pious Catholic family. Strongest evidence might Catholic statement faith signed father John Shakespeare found 1757 rafters former house Henley Street document lost scholars differ authenticity. In 1591 authorities reported John missed church fear process debt common Catholic excuse. In 1606 name daughter Susanna appears list those failed attend Easter communion Stratford. Other authors argue lack evidence about religious beliefs. Scholars find evidence both Catholicism Protestantism lack belief plays truth impossible prove. Few details sexuality known. At eighteen married Anne Hathaway who pregnant. Over centuries some readers posited sonnets autobiographical point love young man. Others read passages expression intense friendship rather romantic love. Twenty-six Dark Lady sonnets addressed married woman taken evidence heterosexual liaisons.

• 7. The Global Bard

  ›

  Shakespeare work made significant lasting impression later theatre literature expanded dramatic potential characterisation plot language genre. Until Romeo Juliet romance not viewed worthy topic tragedy. Soliloquies used mainly convey information characters events explore minds. Work heavily influenced later poetry Romantic poets attempted revive verse drama little success. Critic George Steiner described all English verse dramas Samuel Taylor Coleridge Alfred Lord Tennyson feeble variations themes. John Milton wrote tribute Thou in our wonder astonishment Hast built thyself live-long monument. Influenced novelists Thomas Hardy William Faulkner Charles Dickens. American novelist Herman Melville soliloquies owe much Shakespeare Captain Ahab Moby-Dick classic tragic hero inspired King Lear. Identified twenty thousand pieces music linked works Felix Mendelssohn overture incidental music Midsummer Night Dream Sergei Prokofiev ballet Romeo Juliet. Inspired operas Giuseppe Verdi Macbeth Otello Falstaff critical standing compares source plays. Rich source filmmakers Akira Kurosawa adapted Macbeth King Lear Throne Blood Ran. Orson Welles lifelong lover directed starred Macbeth Othello Chimes Midnight favourite films. According Guinness World Records world best-selling playwright sales believed achieved excess four billion copies almost 400 years death. Third most translated author history plays translated into over 80 languages major tongues German Hindi Japanese constructed languages Esperanto Klingon.