Who really wrote the famous plays attributed to William Shakespeare of Stratford-Upon-Avon? Although Shakespeare himself is generally credited, there are many theories on who the true author really was, and there is an ongoing debate in scholarly circles on the many candidates.
Little is known of William Shakespeare, the man whose name and likeness appears on the First Folio addition of the plays, and who is buried in Stratford. The mystery surrounding him has led to people as diverse as Christopher Marlowe and Queen Elizabeth I being credited with the works of Shakespeare.
The most supported challenger, however, is Edward deVere, a nobleman. Those who support deVere believe that a humble commoner from the countryside, with no college education, could not possibly have written the famous plays. They cite descriptions of noble life and foreign cities that they claim Shakespeare could know nothing of. They claim that William Shakespeare was merely a front for deVere. Supporters of deVere are called "Oxfordians."
There are many other theories, as well. Some people support Christopher Marlowe or Ben Johnson, fellow playwrights of Shakespeare. Marlowe, who worked as a spy for the government and was killed in a tavern-fight, is supposed to have actually gone totally undercover and continue writing under the name of William Shakespeare. Others favor Ben Johnson, another writer. Some feel that Shakespeare's extraordinary vocabulary could not possibly belong to one person, and therefore think that a collaborating group wrote the plays.
Many people, though, support William Shakespeare of Stratford as the true author. They are called "Stratfordians." This is the only theory with any substantial proof; the rest are based on conjecture. However, it is very unlikely that we will ever know the whole truth about the author of the plays, and so one guess is as good as another.
What do you believe? Visit the sites below for more information. Are you a Stratfordian or an Oxfordian, or do you have your own theory? View my opinion here, or go to the Discussion Board to defend your idea. |
