An Introduction to Shakespeare and his life

 Hello, my fellow Shakespeare nerds. This blog will focus on Shakespeare and his life! Basically an introduction to Shakespeare before we get too much into him!

This Elizabethan playwright holds the most unique position in the history of world literature and the fact that almost 90 percent of the schools in the world study Shakespeare just confirms that. William Shakespeare is the first writer in literature whose dramatic writing skills had the ability to transform ordinary human characters into unforgettable pieces of art for example Romeo and Juliet, the greatest love story of all time. His works are celebrated for their understanding of human conditions in all aspects of life. His passion to write in his individual style proved that it is still possible to explore life without it happening realistically. Many of the great romantic writers like Wordsworth, Samuel Coleridge, John Keats have shaped their poetic careers by following his style. Shakespeare was and still is the unbeatable master of romantic and tragic literature. 

Life

Even though there are no authentic sources to write an accurate biography of his life, surprisingly, Shakespeare is the single writer of his age to have such a rich amount of information about his life. Most of what is written about him is based on research and assumptions by literary historians.

Early Life

William Shakespeare was born on or around  April 23, 1564 in the village of Stratford-on-Avon in the country of Warwickshire. Shakespeare's life is said to have revolved around two locations- Stratford and London. He grew up, had a family, and bought property in Stratford, but he worked in London, the center of English theater. As an actor, a playwright, and a partner in a leading acting company, he became both prosperous and well-known. He was John and Mary Shakespeare's oldest surviving child; their first two children, both girls, did not live beyond infancy. Growing up as the big brother of the family, William had three younger brothers, Gilbert, Richard, and Edmund, and two younger sisters: Anne, who died at seven, and Joan. 

Their father, John Shakespeare, was a leatherworker who specialized in the soft white leather used for gloves and similar items. A prosperous businessman, he married Mary Arden, of the prominent Arden family.

Education

Almost little to none is known about Shakespeare's education but it said that he attended the King Edward VI Grammar School in central Stratford, which educated the sons of Stratford citizens. However, his real talents were greatly influenced by the men and natural surroundings of his village. Many of his literary works reflect the beauty of his birthplace, Stratford. 

Marriage and Children

A few years after he left school, in late 1582, William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. She was already expecting their first-born child, Susanna. When they got married, Anne was 26 and William was 18. Anne grew up just outside Stratford in the village of Shottery. After marrying, she spent the rest of her life in Stratford.

In early 1585, the couple had twins, Judith and Hamnet, completing the family. In the years ahead, Anne and the children lived in Stratford while Shakespeare worked in London, although there is no evidence on and when he moved there.

From 1585 until 1592, very little is known about Shakespeare. These are generally referred to as his lost years. But by 1592 we know that he was in London where he was singled out by a rival dramatist, Robert Greene in his bitter deathbed pamphlet, A Groats-worth of Witte.

London Theatre

Shakespeare’s initial life in London began as a humble one. Tradition claims that he used to hold the horses at the door of a theatre-house, where the gentlemen of rank and fashion came to enjoy performance on horseback. He got interested in the theatre from the very beginning and from outside he found his way to the inside of the theatre. He became an actor in minor parts until he gradually worked his way to a better position. For several years after Judith and Hamnet's arrival in 1585, nothing is known for certain of Shakespeare's activities: how he earned a living, when he moved from Stratford, or even how he got his start in the theater.

Following the gap in the record, the first actual mention of Shakespeare is in 1592 as an established London actor and playwright, mocked by a contemporary as a "Shake-scene." The same writer alludes to one of Shakespeare's earliest history plays, Henry VI, Part 3, which must already have been performed. The next year, in 1593, Shakespeare published a long poem, Venus and Adonis

Last years

Among the last plays that Shakespeare worked on was The two noble kinsmen, which he wrote with a frequent collaborator, John Fletcher, most likely in 1613. He died on April 23, 1616—the traditional date of his birthday, though his precise birthdate is unknown.

After about 1608 Shakespeare began to write fewer plays. For most of his working life he wrote at least two plays a year; by 1608 he had slowed usually to one a year, even though the acting company continued to enjoy great success.

Shakespeare was buried in the chancel of Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Thoughts

I have often wondered why so many schools all across the world study Shakespeare but when you look at his work i think most of his works were based on what happened everyday or rather in everyday life, and somewhere somehow lot us find ourselves relating to him. His ability to use dramatic language and change the mood and tone from one of melancholy to that of humor is what brings pleasure in reading his work. I cant say much about his life because most of it is solely based off of assumptions but his life definitely has had an impact on millions of people all over the world even after almost 500 years. 

And that was Shakespeare, one of the most legendary contributors to literature. Feel free to drop your thoughts down below or to contact me if you have any queries  :)

mail: shahmisri10@gmail.com