Sharelle mcmahon biography of william shakespeare
His elevated status meant that he was even more likely to have sent his children, including William, to the local grammar school. William Shakespeare would have lived with his family in their house on Henley Street until he turned eighteen. When he was eighteen, Shakespeare married Anne Hathawaywho was twenty-six. It was a rushed marriage because Anne was already pregnant at the time of the ceremony.
Together they had three children. Their first daughter, Susannawas born six months after the wedding and was later followed by twins Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet died when he was just 11 years old. Shakespeare's career jump-started in London, but when did he go there? We know Shakespeare's twins were baptised inand that by his reputation was established in London, but the intervening years are considered a mystery.
Shakespeare was the company's regular dramatist, producing on average two plays a year, for almost twenty years. His father held various municipal positions, which offered the family a respectable status in their community. However, John's financial troubles during Shakespeare's childhood raised questions about their economic stability.
Despite these challenges, Shakespeare's early environment in a market town flourishing with arts and commerce likely influenced his future literary career. Regarding education, records about Shakespeare's schooling are scarce. Scholars speculate he attended the King's New School in Stratford, where he would have been exposed to a curriculum that included reading, writing, and Latin—an essential foundation for a budding playwright.
Shakespeare likely attended this school until approximately age 15, after which he did not continue to university. This lack of formal higher education has spurred debate and skepticism about his literary accomplishments, leading some to question whether someone of his background could produce such profound works. Nevertheless, the educational experience he did receive may have equipped him with a solid grasp of the classical works and languages that would inform his writing.
Shakespeare played a crucial role as both an actor and a playwright, working diligently to develop a diverse repertoire. His proficiency in creating engaging characters and compelling storylines quickly distinguished him from other playwrights of the time. By the late s, Shakespeare had written several celebrated plays, and his popularity continued to soar, drawing audiences from all walks of life.
As he ventured deeper into his career, his works evolved, showcasing a mastery of language, plot intricacy, and the ability to explore a wide range of human emotions. William Shakespeare's influence on the world of theater is immeasurable, making him a towering figure in the history of drama. His works, which include approximately 37 plays, sonnets, and 2 narrative poems, have captivated audiences for over four centuries, showcasing a profound understanding of human emotion and conflict.
As a prominent member of the King's Men, the most celebrated theatrical company of his time, Shakespeare not only performed but also wrote many of the plays that defined the Renaissance era. Most scholars and literary historians dismiss this hypothesis, although many suspect Shakespeare sometimes collaborated with other playwrights. Shakespeare was likely affiliated with several different theater companies when these early works debuted on the London stage.
His works weave together and reinvent theatrical conventions dating back to ancient Greece, featuring assorted casts of characters with complex psyches and profoundly human interpersonal conflicts. It has been suggested that he intended them for his intimate circle only, not the general public. Shakespeare died at age 52 of unknown causes on April 23,leaving the bulk of his estate to his daughter Susanna.
Sharelle mcmahon biography of william shakespeare
Furthermore, Shakespeare is believed to have influenced the English language more than any other writer in history, coining—or, at the very least, popularizing—terms and phrases that still regularly crop up in everyday conversation. You can opt out at any time. Over the years, various biographers have speculated that he may have been a poacher on the run from a disgruntled landowner, a horse-minder at a London theater, or more probably, a local schoolmaster.
Also during his lost years, the bard was devoting a good portion of his time to playwriting. Bysolid evidence shows that one if not more of his plays was underway on London stages. The first of his plays in production was probably "Henry IV, Part One," an historical work which not only chronicles the active years of the monarch's reign but also introduces his son Hal and Henry Percy, or Hotspur, a rival.
The bard had established himself in London prior toas evidenced by a mention in the London Times by a fellow playwright. Byhe and a group of colleagues had formed an acting troupe they called The Lord Chamberlain's Men, in honor of their patron, which would soon grow to prominence in the London theater scene. The s were quite a prolific time for Shakespeare.
ByShakespeare had written approximately 15 of his 38 surviving plays. He had achieved enough financial success to purchase one of Stratford's nicest homes for his family. He continued to live principally in London where he wrote and acted in his plays. During periods such as Lent when theaters were closed and when outbreaks of the plague shut down the city, he likely spent time with his family in Stratford.
Shakespeare was not only writing scripts for his company, often based on stories from mythology, literature and historic accounts, but he was also acting in his own plays. Inthe acting troupe built The Globe from the ruins of The Theater, establishing their own playhouse, which opened in Early in the new century, the bard continued to produce great literature, penning such masterworks as "Troilus and Cressida," "Measure for Measure," "All's Well That Ends Well," and some of his most renowned tragedies, including "Hamlet," "Othello" and "King Lear.
Their first performance for the monarch was "As You Like It. The bard was growing artistically during this era, customizing his mastery of blank verse with wit and intention to enrich his characters' dialogue and enliven the action.