William Shakespeare was born into a catholic family in August 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. The exact date of his birth is unknown; however, it is believed to be on the 23rd of April, known in England as St. George�s Day. On the 26th of April of his birth year, William was baptized. William was the third child to be born in his family, but, despite an outbreak of plague in his early years, he was the only one to survive into adulthood. Young Shakespeare excelled in subjects such as: Latin, Logic, Rhetoric, and classic history at King Edward VII Grammar School in Stratford. He remained in Stratford and attended the school until he was 14. (1)
Little is known about Shakespeare�s whereabouts during the period between 1585 and 1592. This time was known as �the Lost Years�. The actions of two men alerted the public to his whereabouts in 1592. First, a rival of Shakespeare�s, Robert Greene, complained about William in public, and second, Shakespeare�s main rival, Christopher Marlowe, died in a tavern brawl, leaving the door open for Shakespeare to emerge as a true playwright. (1)
The same misfortune that took his siblings away from him in the early years of his childhood took his love of playwriting away from him later on in his life. A plague hit London around 1596, which resulted in the closure of all the theatres in London and eventually led to the death of Shakespeare�s only son, Hamnet, who died at the age of eleven. It was then that Shakespeare returned to Stratford to be with his children and wife, Anne Hathaway. (1)
It is said that at the turn of the century, Shakespeare�s dark creative genius began to develop with such plays as Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear. His last play was written, supposedly as collaboration with John Fletcher, in his home in Stratford. Ironically, King Henry VIII was the play that was playing at the Globe theatre when it caught fire and burned to the ground in 1613. (1)
Shakespeare retired around 1670 from his complex and busy life. All affairs ran down easily until a family incident occurred in 1670. His granddaughter, Lady Elizabeth Barnard died, finally ending his line. (1)
There are many stories about the death of William Shakespeare, some as simple as having him catching a fever from over drinking with his friends in a bar. Although there are many stories, no one really knows how the great writer died. All that is known is that he was buried on April 25th, 1616. Ironically, his death was thought to have occurred on the same day of his birth, April 23rd. Although his death remains a mystery, his life will be remembered by all, he will be remembered by one and only one name, William Shakespeare. (1) |
