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Biography of William Shakespeare

  • William Shakespeare

    • English playwright, poet, and actor (1564-1616)
    • Renowned during the Renaissance, particularly in the Elizabethan Age.
    • Often regarded as the greatest playwright in history, known as the Bard of Avon (where "Bard" means poet).

  • Early Life

    • Born in Stratford-upon-Avon to John and Mary Shakespeare.
    • One of eight children; several siblings died young.
    • His father was a successful glover and town official, likely illiterate.
    • Attended grammar school; no university education; debates exist about his educational background.

  • Move to London

    • In his twenties, moved to London to pursue acting
    • Actors traveled in groups; performances occurred in various locations.
    • All-male performances (female characters played by boys).
    • Actors held poor reputations, seen as troublemakers.
    • Lord Chamberlain's Men (later The King's Men) supported Shakespeare's acting and writing endeavors.
    • Theaters closed due to the bubonic plague, leading to Shakespeare’s poetry works.

  • Literary Works

    • Authored thirty-eight plays categorized as:
    • Tragedies (e.g., Romeo and Juliet)
    • Comedies (e.g., A Midsummer Night's Dream)
    • Histories (e.g., Richard III)
    • Merged genres within single plays, uncommon during his time.

  • Performance and Audience

    • Plays performed in royal courts and theaters like the Globe Theater.
    • The Globe attracted audiences from all social classes; the upper rows catered to the wealthy.
    • Groundlings paid a penny to stand near the stage; known for boisterous behavior (e.g., interacting with actors, throwing food).
    • Shakespeare possibly acted in minor roles in his own plays.

  • Universal Appeal

    • Addressed themes of human nature: love, hate, jealousy, grief.
    • Characters depicted as complex, often neither completely good nor bad.
    • Shakespeare’s work remains influential; many plays adapted into modern films.

  • Linguistic Impact

    • Estimated to have coined 1,500 words, including terms like:
    • Advertising, alligator, bedroom, lonely, watchdog, zany.
    • Shakespeare’s vocabulary exceeded 29,000 words, in contrast to the average American's 10,000 words.

  • Later Life and Legacy

    • Returned to Stratford at age 47 for retirement; continued writing.
    • Died on April 23, 1616 (possibly born on the same date).
    • Buried in the church where he was baptized, with an engraved epitaph warning against disturbing his remains:
    • "Good friend for Jesus sake forbear
      To dig the dust enclosed here!
      Blest be the man that spares these stones,
      And curst be he that moves my bones."