William Shakespeare
was surely the world's most performed and admired playwright. He was well known in his time, and like many artists his fame continues to grow after his death. His plays dealt with many controversial topics, from racism to witchcraft- perhaps adding to the appeal of his plays in general. Shakespeare led an amazing life for his time, a time when actors and actresses were looked down upon and discriminated. He helped to change this stereotype and altered the world perception of theatre forever. In this report, I will outline many areas of Shakespeare’s life, including His birth, marriage and children, parents and family, education, as well as his death.
Birth and early years 1564
the ...
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( Website). As with most sixteenth century births, the actual day was never officially recorded, but along with most remarkable men the power of myth and symmetry has proven irresistible, so April 23 it has become.
Parents and Family
Shakespeare's parents were John and Mary Shakespeare, who lived in Henley Street, in Stratford. John, the son of Richard Shakespeare, was a whittawer (a maker, worker, and seller of leather goods such as purses, belts and gloves) and a dealer in agricultural commodities. He was a solid, middle class citizen at the time of William's birth, and a man on the rise. He served in Stratford government successively as a member of the Council (1557), constable (1558), chamberlain (1561), alderman (1565), and finally high bailiff (1568)--the equivalent of town mayor. About 1577 John Shakespeare's fortunes began to decline for unknown reasons. There are records of some debts he may have had, but of course, none can be verified for certain. In 1586 ...
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Life, [2]) (Website). Rowe's source was the actor Thomas Betterton, who made “a journey to Warwickshire on purpose to gather up what remains he could, of a name for which he had so great a veneration (Website).” We cannot be certain, but it would seem likely that William was apprenticed to his father's business in the usual way, perhaps some time around 1577 when John Shakespeare's fortunes seem to take a turn for the worse.
The other significant educational opportunity Elizabethans had was mandatory attendance at church, where they were exposed to either the Geneva Bible or the Bishops' Bible. Church attendance also brought them under the influence of The Book of Common Prayer, ...
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William Shakespeare. (2005, March 20). Retrieved April 18, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/William-Shakespeare/24021
"William Shakespeare." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 20 Mar. 2005. Web. 18 Apr. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/William-Shakespeare/24021>
"William Shakespeare." Essayworld.com. March 20, 2005. Accessed April 18, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/William-Shakespeare/24021.
"William Shakespeare." Essayworld.com. March 20, 2005. Accessed April 18, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/William-Shakespeare/24021.
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