Short Biography William Shakespeare

Information about the life of William Shakespeare is often open to doubt. Some even doubt whether he wrote all plays ascribed to him. From the best available sources it seems William Shakespeare was born in Stratford on about April 23rd 1 !". #is father William was a successful local businessman and his mother $ary was the dau%hter of a landowner. &elatively prosperous' it is likely the family paid for Williams education' althou%h there is no evidence he attended university. In 1 (2 William' a%ed only 1(' married an older woman named Anne #athaway. Soon after they had their first dau%hter' Susanna. )hey had another two children but William*s only son #amnet died a%ed only 11. After his marria%e' information about the life of Shakespeare is sketchy but it seems he spent most of his time in +ondon writin% and performin% in his plays. It seemed he didn*t mind bein% absent from his family , only returnin% home durin% +ent when all theatres were closed. It is %enerally thou%ht that durin% the 1 -.s he wrote the ma/ority of his sonnets. )his was a time of prolific writin% and his plays developed a %ood deal of interest and controversy. 0ue to some well timed investments he was

able to secure a firm financial back%round' leavin% time for writin% and actin%. )he best of these investments was buyin% some real estate near Stratford in 1!. ' which soon doubled in value.

Some academics known as the Oxfords claim that Shakespeare never actually wrote any plays they suggest names such as Edward de Vere. They contend Shakespeare was actually ust a successful !usinessman. "evertheless there is some evidence of Shakespeare in theatres as he received a variety of criticism from people such as #en $ohnson and %o!ert &reene.

Shakespeare the Poet

William Shakespeare wrote 1 " Sonnets mostly in the 1 -.s. Fairly short poems' they deal with issues such as lost love. #is sonnets have an endurin% appeal due to his characteristic skill with lan%ua%e and words. Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove:

The Plays of Shakespeare

)he plays of Shakespeare have been studied more than any other writin% in the 1n%lish lan%ua%e and have been translated into numerous lan%ua%es. #e was rare as a play,write for e2cellin% in tra%edies' comedies and histories. #e deftly combined popular entertainment with a rare poetic capacity for e2pression which is almost mantric in 3uality. " his above all: to thine ownself be true, And it must follow, as the night the da!, hou canst not then be false to an! man. "arewell: m! blessing season this in thee#" ,+ord 4olonius' #amlet Act I' Scene 3 0urin% his lifetime' Shakespeare was not without controversy' but he also received lavish praise for his plays which were very popular and commercially successful. Shakespeare died in 1!!"5 it is not clear how he died althou%h his vicar su%%ested it was from heavy drinkin%. #is tombstone is marked with the followin% epitaph5 6ood friend for 7esus sake forbeare )o di%% the dust encloased heare 8lessed by y man y spares hes stones And curst be he y moves my bones.It is true to say that each line of Shakespeare has been poured over by scholars and students , no idea or concept has been left unturned. Shakespeare has left a profound and lastin% impact on literature' cinema and theatre.