William
Shakespeare (c. 23 April 1564 – 23 April
1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as
the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent
dramatist. His extant works, including collaborations, consist of
some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative
poems and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His
plays have been
translated into every major living
language and are performed more often than those of any other
playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the
English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted. He
was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he was baptised on
26 April 1564. His date of birth is unknown but is traditionally observed on 23
April, Saint
George's Day. This date, which can be traced to William
Oldys and George Steevens, has proved appealing to
biographers because Shakespeare died on the same date in 1616. – Wikipedia.
While
a reasonable amount is known about William Shakespeare's life and work, it's
significantly less than the vast amount we know about some other prominent
figures from his era, particularly in terms of personal details. Compared
to his contemporaries, we have more information about his profession, his
association with the Globe Theater, and some financial
transactions. However, we lack details about his daily life, personal
feelings, or even his education, unlike what we might find in more extensive
biographies of other historical figures.
More
detail:
- What we know:
We
have information about Shakespeare's baptism and the birth of his twins, his
career as an actor and playwright in London, his role as a part-owner of the
Globe Theater, and his family life.
- What we don't know:
We
lack information about his early education, his motivations as a writer, and
his personal beliefs.
- Lack of records:
The
types of records that modern biographies rely on, like personal letters or
diaries, were not widely kept during Shakespeare's time.
- Contemporaries:
We
know more about some of his contemporaries, like Ben Jonson, who was also a
playwright and wrote about Shakespeare.
- Speculation:
Some
scholars and enthusiasts have speculated on Shakespeare's personal life and
beliefs, based on the works he wrote and the limited historical record.
- Focus on professional life:
The
records that do exist tend to focus on his professional life as an actor,
playwright, and shareholder in the Globe Theater.
Therefore much of how Shakespeare himself is interpreted depends on the ‘inkblot method’; his personal life is so shady he can bear almost any amount of interpretation and serve any purpose. I personally think that as a professional writer he didn't bother writing letters or diaries because there was no money in it.
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WydbcNQpN7Q
All is True
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqb7H8Jt6P0&list=PLZbXA4lyCtqrH_twmafv3X2rS3Vf7fgiD&index=4
Upstart Crow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG14YKyyb7A
Joseph Pearce: Shakespeare, The Authority
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YUo57I_xho
Bugs Bunny, “A Witch’s Tangled Hare”
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