William Shakespeare - Classic Literature William Shakespeare
Perhaps the most famous figure in English literature, William Shakespeare’s name and work is known throughout the world. The dramatist and poet was also an actor and performed in his own plays to keep costs down. His work has been published by generation after generation in many different languages, thus ensuring he is still one of the most read authors centuries after his death.
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon in April 1564, first appearing on public records on the 26th April when he was baptised. His parents were John Shakespeare, a wood dealer, and Mary Arden, the daughter of a local landowner. During young William’s early life, the family prospered.
Little is known of Shakespeare’s early life, other than he was educated at Stratford grammar school where he was taught Latin, literature and grammar. The next record of him was his marriage Anne Hathaway on November 28th, 1582. It is thought that she was pregnant at the time as their daughter, Susanna, appeared in May 1583. Hamnet and Judith followed her in February 1585.
Shakespeare’s literary career truly began in 1584. He had previous acted in numerous troupes, but at this time he became known in London as an up-and-coming playwright, and also became an integral part of a troupe known as Lord Chamberlain’s Players.
Although the dates of his earlier plays are uncertain, the first play to appear was Henry VI Part I. The dates given for this play range from 1589 to 1592. It would have appeared at a small theatre in London and undoubtedly paved the way for other plays by Shakespeare to appear for a public audience.
Shakespeare’s plays are commonly split into three groups – tragedies, comedies and histories. In total, he wrote 37 plays between 1589 and 1611.
By 1592, Shakespeare had built up enough of a reputation for his rival playwrights, such as Robert Greene, to criticize him and his work. However, his career continued to soar, so much so he was awarded a coat of arms in 1596. In 1599 he also opened his own theatre, The Globe, paid for out of the revenue from his plays.
Although his career was going well, Shakespeare faced personal tragedy in 1596 when his son, Hamnet, died at the age of eleven. The loss of his son hit Shakespeare hard and he began to write more tragedies. Hamlet, written in 1603, was apparently titled in his son’s honour.
When James I ascended to the throne in 1603, Shakespeare’s troupe was designated the "King’s Men". This was the highest honour that a playwright or dramatist could earn. It allowed them to perform plays for the king’s pleasure and heightened Shakespeare’s fame further.
It was after the troupe’s selection by King James that Shakespeare wrote and performed what are arguably his most famous plays. Othello, King Lear and Macbeth all appeared between 1604 and 1606. The other tragedy placed alongside these plays is Romeo and Juliet, which is believed to have first appeared in 1594.
Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets were published in 1609, some of which have caused controversy. They were a series of love poems, arranged in a particular chronological order, with some appearing to be aimed at a man rather than a woman. From this, many critics have pointed out a homoerotic subtext exists and question as to whether he had extramarital and homosexual affairs.
Shakespeare returned to his birthplace in 1610. His home, New Place, was the most coveted property in Stratford. He purchased it in 1597, thus implying that he had accumulated a substantial fortune by that point. In the latter years of his life, he lived as a country gentleman, preferring outdoor pursuits and drinking to writing.
He retired amid a cloud of public controversy in 1611, five years before his death. He was involved in a dispute over common land and only protected his own financial interests, offending numerous others in the process. His daughter was also involved in a scandal when her betrothed, Thomas Quinney, apparently fathered another woman’s child. Shakespeare, already ill at this point, could do little more than protect her inheritance.
Shakespeare’s final performance, for King James no less, came on June 15th, 1613. During a gala performance of Henry VIII, a canon fired into the thatched roof, which then caught fire. The Globe was burnt to the ground. Shakespeare invested in the rebuilding of the theatre, but retired from performance.
William Shakespeare died on April 23rd, 1616. He was aged 52.
