Shakespeare

William Shakespeare:

William Shakespeare, the playwright, had a life of virtual mystery, intrigue and relative sadness. Shakespeare grew up in a modest upbringing and was known to have only completed elementary school. Though he did not attend college, he would end up as one of histories greatest literary success stories. The mysteries surrounding the life of William Shakespeare are perpetuated with the reference to the 'lost years'; two distinct periods of time from 1578-1582 and 1585-1592, where Shakespeare seemed to have fallen off the face of the plant. I will discuss the town where Shakespeare hales from, excerpts from his works and not commonly discussed information. Followed by a summary of my research.

I recently had the opportunity to take my family on a trip to learn and support my research paper, as we visited the home town of William Shakespeare; Stratford-upon-Avon, a small, rustic, yet aesthetically pleasing town, centered on the river Avon, in the heart of the United Kingdom. The contemporary version of the city is an eclectic mix of old and new buildings and facilities, which capture the essence of William Shakespeare and the folklore he brought to all of Warwickshire. A scenic view from any location along the river banks, seems like a prime location to invigorate the 'creative juices' of almost anyone; it is just that beautiful. As a tribute to Shakespeare the Royal Shakespeare Company performs in front of sold out crowds, nearly year round, in a facility on the banks of the Avon. Stratford-upon-Avon has meticulously maintained the reverence of William Shakespeare in both life and death and is a must to see for any person either researching him or wanting to come to Europe to learn.

William Shakespeare was born in the year of 1564 and due to poor public records practices of the day, there was not a record to his birth. Instead, baptismal records reveal that a child of this same name, from the same town, was born on the 23rd of April in the year 1564. It is believed this is the only documented record of William Shakespeare's birth. In the year 1582, William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway and within one year had his daughter, Susanna. Two years later Anne bore twins, daughter Judith and son, Hamnet.

Shakespeare was unknown for many years, until in Robert Greene, a very popular dramatist of the era, wrote in his biography entitled "Groats-worth of Witte," of Shakespeare's conceitedness and lack of talent.

"...for there is an upstart Crow, beautified with our feathers, that with

his Tygers hart wrapt in a Players hyde, supposes he is as well able

to bombast out a blanke verse as the best of you: and beeing an absolute

Johannes fac totum, is in his owne conceit the onely Shake-scene

in a countrey..."

Greene's inclusion of Shakespeare in his biography seemed to be the catalyst to the remarkable career of William Shakespeare, as within a year of Greene's mentioning of Shakespeare in his biography, he [William Shakespeare] published 'Venus and Adonis'. 'Venus and Adonis' is the stereotypical romance story, but of the day were insightful and was a true display of genius. Venus, a hopeless romantic, falls in love with Adonis, the prototypical athletic, very masculine type. "Hunting he loved, but love he laugh'd to scorn" refers to Adonis avoidance of love, by focusing on his hunting [physical side of life]. Over the course of the play, Adonis succumbs to Venus' unabated advances and innuendo. "So soon was she along as he was down, Each leaning on their elbows and their hips: Now doth she stroke his cheek, now doth he frown, And 'gins to chide, but soon she stops his lips; And kissing speaks, with lustful language broken, If thou wilt chide, thy lips shall never open.' He burns with bashful shame: she with her tears Doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeks; Then with her windy sighs and golden hairs To fan and blow them dry again she seeks: He saith she is immodest, blames her 'miss; What follows more she murders with a kiss." Later Venus now addicted to the relationship between her and Adonis continually warns Adonis that {...the bore has no appreciation for his beauty...} from this, she prophesizes the fate of Adonis while he hunts bore. It is later revealed that Adonis was killed by the bore '...bloodied body and turns her eyes away, then looks again on his body. The wide wound in his flank has drenched the flowers and grass, which seemed to bleed with him...' she is devastated and disappears into seclusion.

His next work was titled 'The Rape of Lucrece' and along with 'Venus and Adonis' were dedicated to the Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley. This poem told the stories of Collatium where the chaste Lucrece and her husband Collatine live. Collantine is a proud man, whom often speaks highly of his wife's beauty and glamour. This would lead to the plot of rape and suicide. During the 'siege at Ardea' Sextus Tarquinius [son of Lucius Tarquinius a legendary Etruscan king] sneaks away from the battle, aware of Collantine being fully employed and engaged, to visit his wife [Lucrece]. While there, his internal battle whether or not to steal away Lucrece's chastity or to remain under control plays out through the night, when finally his lust rages into a blaze that 'burns down the home and live of Collatine and Lucrece" with his theft of her chastity by forcing her to either commit the act or risk being slayed along with a servant and a story being told to her husband depicting her infidelity. Fully understanding the ramifications and implications she is forced into the act, thus losing her intrinsic value as a woman [of these times]. Once the act is over, Sextus Tarquinius leaves as a satisfied wolf leaving the carcass of its prey, only to leave Lucrece in despair and devastation. Feeling hopeless for losing her chastity, she sends a messenger with a note detailing the events to her husband. Later, her husband and father arrive to her side to find her in unwilling to live in shame. Once her husband and father vow to avenge the crime, she kills herself using a knife.

Shakespeare's next work to