Shakespeare Pt. 1: England's Playwright

Photo credit to Birmingham Museums Trust

     William Shakespeare was born in 1564 on an unknown date. However, today, his birth is celebrated on April 23 for two possible reasons. First, he died on April 23, 1616 and secondly,  April 23 is the day of Saint George, the favorite saint of England. Either way, the date was most likely very close to his original birthdate; official documents record his baptism on April 26, 1564. The Stratford-on-Avon parish register reads, “Gulielmus filius Johannes Shakspere.” That is–William son of John Shakespeare. 

     John Shakespeare, William’s father,  was a leading citizen in Stratford-on-Avon, and was elected bailiff–or mayor–just four years after William’s birth. However, though his success was fortunate, he gradually stopped attending meetings in the town; and in 1592 was added to the list of those who “came not to church for fear of process for debt.” 

      By the time that this occurred, however, Shakespeare had moved out and married a woman eight years his senior, Anne Hathaway. 

     Though he was born in Stratford-on-Avon (also known as Stratford-upon-Avon), he lived mostly in London, the heart of England, and it was there that he became famous. Records tell us that by the end of the 16th century, London held approximately 200,000 people. The city was the center of wealth and trade, supplying the perfect paying citizens for Shakespeare’s plays.  

     Though it seems that his work was more important than his family, Shakespeare did have three children: Susanna, and Hamnet and Judith, twins. (It is a point of interest that Hamnet died tragically when he was eleven. It is more than possible that Shakespeare named his tragic hero “Hamlet” after his son.) He didn’t live with his family much of the time, however, spending most of his time in London while they lived in Stratford-on-Avon.

     By 1592, at the age of twenty-eight, he was the most famous playwright in all of England. 

    The start of his career probably began with Henry VI. Scholars (which is unavoidable for something that happened so long ago) disagree on the beginning of Shakespeare’s career. While some say that he could have been acting and playwrighting as early as 1587, others think that he started at the turn of the century.

     Whatever the dates, one thing is certain, Shakespeare started young, and when he died in 1616, England had lost her greatest playwright. Whether she appreciated that then it is not certain, but we do know that Shakespeare was immensely popular in his day.

     Many centuries later, some scholars debate whether or not William Shakespeare was actually the playwright’s name. Some people think that another wrote the plays, using a penname.

     There are definite records, though, of a man named William Shakespeare being born in 1564, and there are definite records in books and registers of a Shakespeare writing the plays that we have today. 

    Some people suggest, however, that a certain Earl of Southampton wrote the plays, signing his name as “William Shakespeare,” as it was not “proper” for nobility to indulge in such creativity. This earl, Henry Wriothesley, was born in 1574. To me, it seems doubtful that he was the author of the world-famous plays, for we have record of at least a couple of  poems written by Shakespeare that were dedicated to the earl. The dedication of one "Venus and Adonis" reads “To the Right Honorable Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, and Baron of Titchfield.” Would you dedicate a poem to yourself? Most people wouldn’t. Then again, most people aren’t Shakespeare.

One thing is for certain: while the exact person who wrote the plays may be unknown, someone wrote the plays, and the world can rest in the knowledge that every so often, God creates a person out of the ordinary.

     Lastly, while some people may not have ever read a single Shakespeare play, they would be surprised to learn that they have been greatly influenced by him, sometimes using words he invented, every single day. Here are some of the most well-known phrases or words that Shakespeare created:

1.  Amazement

2.  Birthplace

3.  Dawn

4.  Eyeball

5.  Love letter

6.  Useful

     And… surprisingly enough,

1. “Knock, knock…! Who’s there?”

     I hope you have enjoyed learning more about the fascinating playwright who has influenced over five centuries of humans. Next time we’ll talk a little bit more about Shakespeare’s works of art, and one of the plays that made him famous! Thanks for reading!

 Deus Benedicat tibi 

 (God bless you)

Works Cited

Harrison, G. B. Shakespeare: The Complete Works. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanich, Publishers, N.D. Print

Mannis, Celeste Davidson. Who was William Shakespeare? New York, 2006. Print.