The Life of William Shakespeare
Where it Began..
Shakespeare was born in April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. Although birthdays were not recorded in 1564, the world celebrates his birthday on April 25th. Shakespeare is the Eldest child of seven siblings. His two older siblings passed away during infancy before he was born, and his younger seven-year-old sister died later. Shakespeare's parents were very well-known and well-off with money. When Shakespeare was five, his father became bailiff. He attended grammar school, King Edward VI School, until he was about the age of fifteen. Shortly after, he got married to Anne Hathaway. He lived his youth in Stratford and later purchased property there, but he worked in London, where the heart of English theater is located. Shakespeare became well renowned later in his years of life. He wrote 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and many other works that have not been recorded due to the time period. He was heavily influenced by Christopher Marlowe. Both Shakespeare and Marlowe grew in popularity as literary writers together. Marlowe created the blank verse, which is commonly seen in many of Shakespeare's poems such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, and many more. Shakespeare is also famous for the iambic pentameter. Such works as Sonnet 18 and Sonnet 145. However, he did not write in a perfect Iambic pentameter.
Insight of Works..
Shakespeare, a major literary influence, grew in a time when literature was just beginning to take its form. Shakespeare's main inspiration was Christopher Marlowe. Although, many of Shakespeare's works were written based on other works that were popular at the time. It was very common for an artist to take inspiration from another person's work. Shakespeare stole infamously from English Kings and Queens, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and many others. Shakespeare's Hamlet displays anger, uncertainty, and obsessions with death. The ghost of King Denmark tells his son, Hamlet, to avenge his murder. Hamlet must murder his uncle who has become the new king. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare writes how love supersedes all other values of life. Two star crossed lovers are separated by their families' hate for one another. Shakespeare wrote sonnets, playwrights, and poetry. In Macbeth, the desire for power is a deadly thing. With the mixture of knowledge of the future and desire for power comes greed. Nothing will ever come in the way of a person filled with greed. Macbeth is shown in the beginning as the most noble soldier, but then evil takes over. Macbeth has an internal conflict whether to seize power or not. After he is swayed to kill the king his guilt takes over, and he becomes paranoid. This results in more deaths of the townspeople. And King Lear, the King divides his kingdom among his two daughters. The daughters he selects are the ones who flatter him the most, and he banishes the third one. The two eldest, the ones with the kingdom, despise their father and shut him out. Meanwhile, the third daughter, who was cast away, loved her father. His plays slowly started to become more famous. They were being performed and read everywhere. His company, Lord Chamberlain's Men, produced them in the Theaters, and in 1599, The Globe. The Globe was the most well renowned and famous theater. For a play to be performed here was of high honor.
Achievements..
Shakespeare is an English Playwright, Poet, and Actor from the Elizabethan Era who is widely regarded as the greatest English language writer. He has written 37 plays and 154 sonnets, while also collaborating on many other works. Shakespeare's writing style was so popular and respected, he became known as the Bard of Avon. The Bard of Avon is a poet who traditionally recites epics, and is occupied with a particular oral tradition (iambic pentameter and blank space). However, Shakespeare's work has been visited and put to life in the more current years. The Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Revival has been given to Shakespeare revisited works in 1991, 1993, and 2002. While the many movies and reinterpretations of his works have earned awards, in the years of Shakespeare's life, there were no awards for the excellence of arts. Furthermore, there are many awards named after him, such as The Shakespeare Prize, The Shakespeare's Globe Book Award, etc. Although deceased for over 400 years, his works continue to inspire greatness in countless writers. Millions of schools dedicate chapters to focusing on Shakespeare's works.
Outside of Writing..
Outside of writing his plays and sonnets, Shakespeare was a famous actor. He later became a business partner in the major acting company, Lord Chamberlain's Men, which was renamed King's Men in 1603. This company produced many playwrights. It also managed the plays that were to be performed at the Globe Theater. Shakespeare became wealthy, like his father, and raised a family of his own.