Poets were ever thought unfit for state

This quote appears in the play Sir Thomas More (3.2) whose authorship has stirred
much debate through the centuries. Various scientists have analysed the handwritings in
the manuscript and have ascribed them to a wide range of people while toying with the
possibility that this humble line could hold the key to a larger literary mystery the man
behind Shakespeares name. The view that men of arts have no place in politics has found
supporters since Platos Republic. Francis Bacon also shared this view in Advancement of
Learning. It is quite reasonable to assume that a man with such political ambitions as
Bacons could fear to disclose himself as a poet and especially a dramatist. Whats more,
in Elizabethan England the publishing business was a dangerous affair there was strict
control over the media and anyone who dared to express controversial views was
threatened by execution. So undoubtedly if Bacon attempted play-writing, playing upon
mens minds[i] he would use a pseudonym. An interesting etymology of the name
Shakespeare is suggested by Clarke (2011, p.136): Pallas Athena, the goddess of
wisdom, derives her name from pallein to shake. According to the myth she is born
with a shield and shaking a spear. In the Iliad she is said to borrow a helmet from Hades
to the effect of invisibility. Shake-speare could actually signify the wise invisible
Athena. What better name for a philosopher to hide behind while working on his great
project- the Instauration, the complete revision of classical learning and scientific
methods based on experimental data, observation and induction! For Bacon, the mere
function of history is to instruct through example and analysis in practical politics. The
inductive method, suggested by Bacons project could only be effective in the sphere of
politics if there is a complete survey of political data. Since there is no evidence that
links Shakespeare to any kind of political activity or philosophy, that seems to be the
most probable explanation for the profound interest in politics that the history plays
express. The Instauration project finds expression in another play as well Loves
Labours Lost. There are ample historical concurrences which relate the play to Bacon
but whats more, this is the only Shakespearean play that deals with education and more
specifically with the academy as an institution. If in the New Atlantis we see the project
for divine knowledge of the nature of all things, Loves Labours Lost explores the
conflict such an academy gives rise to the clash between the theory and the experience;
the question of the true nature of knowledge and its sources. To me, the two works are
part of one and the same debate and they only prove how discerning the mind behind
them is.

[i]

Francis, Bacon. Advancement of Learning (1640), Book 2, xiii.

Other sources:

Clarke, Barry R. The Shakespeare Puzzle: A Non-Esoteric Baconian Theory.

2011.
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato-rhetoric/ (on March 4, 2012)
http://www.rowan.edu/open/philosop/clowney/Aesthetics/philos_artists_onart/plato.htm (on March 4,
2012)
http://www.bartleby.com/214/1410.html (on March 4, 2012)

http://www.iep.utm.edu/bacon/#SH2d
http://www.fbrt.org.uk/pages/essays/essay-gt_inst.html
Do you know what the connection between Sir Francis Bacon and
your fridge is? Well, actually, one can say it was your fridge that killed
him. Im not saying this to impose a sense of guilt or anything but just
to show you to what lengths Bacon was ready to go pursuing his great
project the Instauration. Although the above statement is rather
exaggerated, there is a grain of truth in it - Bacon earned his place,
doubtful as it could be, among those killed by their own discoveries and
inventions because he supposedly caught his death of the cold while
experimenting with the effects of freezing on poultry 1. The
circumstances of his death are far from heroic but they seem very
indicative of his motivation and firm believe in his project in the core of
which lies empiricism, observation and induction. The Renewal of
Learning calls for revision of the knowledge inherited from the Greek
philosophers through a six-step program for a better comprehension of
Nature. Curiously enough, he illustrates every step of the program with
his own works except for the third, which could be summarized as the
presentation of the data to the eyes and heart by means of suitable drama
and illustrated examples2. This one he illustrates with the 1623 Folio of
Shakespeares works. Besides, Shakespeares history plays could easily
exemplify the third step which regards the collection of data. Clark (2011,
p. 113)3 /and not only/ notes the fact that Bacon and Shakespeare
somehow managed not to overlap in their presentation of British history.
While Bacons works contains just scientific history, data on which the
inductive method could be applied, Shakespeares work contains the
ethical and political histories which otherwise might not have been
published. Bacon saw history as a tool for political instruction 4. This is very
well reflected by one incident in Henry IV, involving Prince Hall /later Henry
1

http://answers.encyclopedia.com/question/did-sir-francis-bacon-die-376855.html /on 12.03.2102/

http://www.fbrt.org.uk/pages/essays/essay-gt_inst.html /on 12.03. 2012/
3
Clarke, Barry R. The Shakespeare Puzzle: A Non-Esoteric Baconian Theory. 2011 .
2

Dean, Leonard. Sir Francis Bacons theory of civil history writing, in Vickers, Brian. (Ed.)
Essential Article for the work of Sir Francis Bacon. Sidgwick & Jackson: 1972. p. 219.
4

IV/, where we see Shakespeare actually manipulating the facts just to

execute the moral of the story: Prince Halls favoured servant was accused
of felony and the enraged prince stormed in the court to order his
servants release. The Chief Justice refused in attempt to preserve the
independence of the court to which the prince answer with what seemed
to be almost a threat to the Chief Justices life. The judge reasoned with
the prince who, realizing his mistake, finally let himself be taken away of
the room; the King, Halls father was then extremely pleased with the
judge, etc /that is the story we get from Sir Thomas Elyots The
Governor5/. In the play, however, the prince remains perfectly calm and
magnanimously forgives Chief Justice and lets him stay in office. Various
sources disprove this outcome. But such an alternation is far from typical
for Shakespeares history plays, which leads us to believe that its only aim
was to convey the moral of the events. The people these lessons were
targeted most probably were the audience of the Inns of Court usually
law students trained to become the future rulers of England.

Elyot, Sir Thomas. How Noble a Virtue Placability Is, The Governor, Book 2, VI (1531)