William Shakespeare Biography

Introduction

William Shakespeare was a poet, playwright, and actor from England. On April 26, 1564, he was born in Stratford-upon-Avon. His father was a famous local merchant, and his mother was the daughter of a landowner. Shakespeare is largely recognized as the greatest English-language writer and the finest playwright globally.

He authored around 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two major narrative poems, and a few additional pieces. The plays he wrote have been performed more than any other playwright's, and also they have been translated into every major living language.

Career and marriage

At 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, eight years older than him, and they had three children: Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith. There is not much more information about his life after he got married, as much of the information afterward becomes confidential. However, he is assumed to have spent most of his time in London, where he wrote and performed his plays. He began a successful career in London as an actor, playwright, and part-owner of the Lord Chamberlain's Men. Afterward, he started being known as the King's Men between 1585 and 1592.

Education

His family members most likely raised William, and he got his education from his local grammar school. It was common for boys to begin schooling at seven and be taught a curriculum that included Latin as a core subject during those days. Public leaders' children were given free tuition and were taught language, logic, rhetoric, mathematics, and astronomy. When his father's official status was lost, William was 14 years old. He likely dropped out of school and went into business with his father, producing and selling gloves.

Water was not clean enough to drink when Shakespeare was a youngster. The water would be boiled and placed into a huge barrel or tub. And later it was used to drink.

His outstanding Works

Shakespeare wrote most of his well-known works between the years 1589 and 1613. From approximately 1608 onwards, Shakespeare was mostly known for his tragedies, including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, considered among the finest plays ever written in English. In his later years, he composed tragicomedies, often known as romances, and worked with other authors. Many of his early plays and histories still rank among his finest plays and histories.

In 1623, two friends and fellow performers of Shakespeare, John Heminges and Henry Condell produced the First Folio, a collection of his theatrical works that comprised not all but two of his plays. It was preceded by a sonnet by Ben Jonson, in which Shakespeare is lauded as "not of an era, but for all time," which proved prophetic. His plays are still widely studied, produced, and reinterpreted today in various cultural and political situations worldwide. His work has been continuously taken and rediscovered by new groups in academia and performance in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Titus Andronicus

This is the first tragedy by William Shakespeare. It shows violent and bloody revenge played in the 16th century. Along with a few other members, Anthony Hopkins and Trevor Peacock have acted in this tragedy.

Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare's well-known play in the Elizabethan era is known as a golden age. This is also one of the most beautiful romantic tragedies. It is about an Italian pair of lovers.

Note:- "Terminus Post Quem" means the earliest date in existence, and "Terminus Ante Quem" means lastest.

Julius Caesar

This is also a great tragedy. It is Terminus post quem and terminus ante quem between the years 1599 to 1600. This is the psychological drama of the play that focuses on Brutus written by Shakespeare.

Hamlet

This is also tragedy. It is Terminus post quem and terminus ante quem between 1600 to 1601. It is famous as a medieval Scandinavian legend.

Troilus and Cressida

Trojan War is the subject of this play. It is Terminus post quem and terminus ante quem between the years 1601 to 1602. This play has bawdy comedy and tragic gloom and is difficult to understand. It is called problem play also. 

Othello

It is Terminus post quem and terminus ante quem between the years 1604 to 1605. It was set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

It is Terminus post quem and terminus ante quem between the years 1595 to 1596. It is a comedy, and which most parts consist of lyrical play.

The Merchant of Venice

It is Terminus post quem and terminus ante quem between the years 1596 to 1599. It is a 16th-century comedy, and it is set in Venice.

Much Ado About Nothing

It is Terminus post quem and terminus ante quem between 1598 and 1599. This comedy was published and consisted of First Felio. in 1623. It revolves around two romantic pairings.

As You Like It

It is Terminus post quem and terminus ante quem between 1599 to1600. In 1623, It was a pastoral comedy published in  FirstFelio.

All's Well That Ends Well

It is Terminus post quem and terminus ante quem between 1604 to1605. In 1623, it was a comedy published in the First Folio.

Shakespeare's lost years

Shakespeare's 'lost years' are the years after the birth of Hamnet and Judith. One popular explanation is that he ran away from Stratford to avoid being prosecuted as a poacher. According to some hypotheses, Shakespeare may have traveled with an acting group, presumably in Italy. The theory that Shakespeare was a soldier has also been hotly contested; however, there is no evidence to back this up.

Retirement and death

At 49, Shakespeare retired to Stratford and died three years later. At the age of 52, he died on April 23, 1616. He died about a month after signing his will, which he opens by stating that he was in "excellent health." Shakespeare gave most of his enormous assets to his eldest daughter Susanna in his testament.