The LifeThe LifeofofWilliam William ShakespeareShakespeare

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The Beginning of The Beginning of ShakespeareShakespeare

He was born in He was born in April 1564 April 1564 in in Stratford-Stratford-upon-Avon.upon-Avon. His actual birthday was not His actual birthday was not recorded.recorded.

He was baptized within days of birth like He was baptized within days of birth like most of the other infants.most of the other infants.

His parents were John and Mary Arden His parents were John and Mary Arden Shakespeare. John was a farm produce Shakespeare. John was a farm produce dealer and a glove maker who had a dealer and a glove maker who had a brief stint as a city official.brief stint as a city official.

Saw his first play at the age of 4Saw his first play at the age of 4

EducationEducation Attended The King’s New School Attended The King’s New School

which was Dedicated by Edward VIwhich was Dedicated by Edward VI

Studied Latin Grammar and began Studied Latin Grammar and began reading and writing poetry.reading and writing poetry.

He was inspired by John Lyly, an He was inspired by John Lyly, an English writer in the mid 16English writer in the mid 16thth Century, Century, and began to read books by Roman and began to read books by Roman authors.authors.

He was educated in the grammar He was educated in the grammar school until 14 and later apprenticed school until 14 and later apprenticed to a butcher.to a butcher.

MarriageMarriage

When Shakespeare was When Shakespeare was 1818, he , he married married Anne HathawayAnne Hathaway. .

She was 8 years older than William.She was 8 years older than William.

Some think the marriage happened Some think the marriage happened by force because she was 3 months by force because she was 3 months pregnant pregnant when they married.when they married.

ChildrenChildren

May 26, 1583 their May 26, 1583 their first child, Susannafirst child, Susanna, was , was baptized.baptized.

Two years later Anne gave birth to Two years later Anne gave birth to twins named twins named Hamnet and JudithHamnet and Judith, named after two of William’s , named after two of William’s life long friends.life long friends.

Not much is recorded about Shakespeare’s life Not much is recorded about Shakespeare’s life during this time. The time that has not been during this time. The time that has not been recorded is known as “the lost yearsrecorded is known as “the lost years.”.”

Around 1590, he left his family behind and Around 1590, he left his family behind and traveled to London to work as an actor and traveled to London to work as an actor and playwright. playwright.

Entering the StageEntering the Stage

Shakespeare gained a reputation for acting and Shakespeare gained a reputation for acting and writing by 1592 and was termed “an upstart writing by 1592 and was termed “an upstart crow” in a publication circulated at the time.crow” in a publication circulated at the time.

He was first a member of and acted in The Rose He was first a member of and acted in The Rose Theater in Southwark, London.Theater in Southwark, London.

His playwriting was interrupted by a bout of the His playwriting was interrupted by a bout of the plague in London because theatres were closed plague in London because theatres were closed by authorities.by authorities.

By 1594, he was back in the world of theater as By 1594, he was back in the world of theater as part of part of The Lord Chamberlains MenThe Lord Chamberlains Men, which , which later became later became The King’s Men, The King’s Men, who built who built The The Globe Theatre in 1599Globe Theatre in 1599

Public and critical success quickly followed, and Public and critical success quickly followed, and Shakespeare eventually became the most Shakespeare eventually became the most popular playwright in England and part-owner of popular playwright in England and part-owner of the Globe Theater. the Globe Theater.

Serving RoyaltyServing Royalty

His career bridged the reigns of Elizabeth I His career bridged the reigns of Elizabeth I (ruled 1558–1603) and James I (ruled 1603–(ruled 1558–1603) and James I (ruled 1603–1625), and he was a favorite of both 1625), and he was a favorite of both monarchs. monarchs.

King James granted Shakespeare’s company King James granted Shakespeare’s company the greatest possible compliment by the greatest possible compliment by bestowing upon its members the title of King’s bestowing upon its members the title of King’s Men. Men.

No company performed before the king more No company performed before the king more than the King’s Men.than the King’s Men.

From Nov 1, 1604 to Oct 31,1605, there were From Nov 1, 1604 to Oct 31,1605, there were 11 performances before the king. Seven of 11 performances before the king. Seven of them were plays written by William them were plays written by William Shakespeare.Shakespeare.

His Literary WorksHis Literary Works Shakespeare’s works were collected and printed Shakespeare’s works were collected and printed

in various editions in the century following his in various editions in the century following his death, and by the early eighteenth century his death, and by the early eighteenth century his reputation as the greatest poet ever to write in reputation as the greatest poet ever to write in English was well established. English was well established.

Shakespeare, despite the claim that someone Shakespeare, despite the claim that someone else (namely Francis Bacon and the Earl of else (namely Francis Bacon and the Earl of Oxford) authored parts of his work, penned 37 Oxford) authored parts of his work, penned 37 plays and 154 sonnets. plays and 154 sonnets.

A number of Shakespeare’s plays are so brilliant A number of Shakespeare’s plays are so brilliant that they forever affected the course of Western that they forever affected the course of Western literature and culture, literature and culture, Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet being being one of them.one of them.

His Literary WorksHis Literary Works

William Shakespeare. First FolioLONDON: WILLIAM AND ISAAC JAGGARD AND EDWARD BLOUNT, 1623

William Shakespeare. First Folio.

Few would dispute the claim that the first collected edition of Shakespeare's plays – commonly known as the First Folio – is the most highly prized book in English literature. Because none of the manuscripts for Shakespeare's plays has survived, we must rely on the printed texts as our earliest sources. Of the thirty-six plays contained in the First Folio, eighteen (including such masterpieces as Macbeth, Julius Caesar, As You Like It, Twelfth Night and The Tempest) had not appeared in print before. Others, such as Henry V and The Merry Wives of Windsor, were previously available only in truncated, somewhat garbled versions.

His Literary WorksHis Literary WorksOut of his 37 plays, these are the top 6 most popular:Out of his 37 plays, these are the top 6 most popular:

Hamlet Hamlet – a play about the murder of a king and his son’s tragic – a play about the murder of a king and his son’s tragic attempt to discover his father’s murdererattempt to discover his father’s murderer

Othello Othello – a play about love, jealousy, racism, and betrayal– a play about love, jealousy, racism, and betrayal

Macbeth – Macbeth – a play about the usurping of a king because of a lust a play about the usurping of a king because of a lust for power and a struggle with fatefor power and a struggle with fate

Romeo and Juliet – Romeo and Juliet – a play about two young “star-crossed a play about two young “star-crossed lovers” whose deaths bring feuding families togetherlovers” whose deaths bring feuding families together

The Tempest – The Tempest – a play about stormy magic that regains what a play about stormy magic that regains what was once lostwas once lost

Julius Caesar – Julius Caesar – a play about political power and murdera play about political power and murder

Final momentsFinal moments

Shakespeare’s last play was.Shakespeare’s last play was. King Henry VIII King Henry VIII

It was during a performance of this play at It was during a performance of this play at The Globe in 1613 that fire broke out and The Globe in 1613 that fire broke out and destroyed the theatre. The Globe was rebuilt destroyed the theatre. The Globe was rebuilt and operating a year later.and operating a year later.

Wealthy and renowned, Shakespeare retired Wealthy and renowned, Shakespeare retired to Stratford and died April 23, 1616 at the to Stratford and died April 23, 1616 at the age of 52. age of 52.

At the time of Shakespeare’s death, literary At the time of Shakespeare’s death, literary luminaries hailed his works as timeless.luminaries hailed his works as timeless.

Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet Original?Original?

Shakespeare did not invent the story of Shakespeare did not invent the story of Romeo and Romeo and JulietJuliet. He did not, in fact, even introduce the story . He did not, in fact, even introduce the story into the English language.into the English language.

A poet named Arthur Brooks first brought the story A poet named Arthur Brooks first brought the story of of Romeus and JulietRomeus and Juliet to an English-speaking to an English-speaking audience in a long and plodding poem that was itself audience in a long and plodding poem that was itself not original, but rather an adaptation of adaptations not original, but rather an adaptation of adaptations that stretched across nearly a hundred years and that stretched across nearly a hundred years and two languages. two languages.

Many of the details of Shakespeare’s plot are lifted Many of the details of Shakespeare’s plot are lifted directly from Brooks’s poem, including the meeting directly from Brooks’s poem, including the meeting of Romeo and Juliet at the ball, their secret marriage, of Romeo and Juliet at the ball, their secret marriage, Romeo’s fight with Tybalt, the sleeping potion, and Romeo’s fight with Tybalt, the sleeping potion, and the timing of the lover’s eventual suicides.the timing of the lover’s eventual suicides.

Such appropriation of other stories is characteristic Such appropriation of other stories is characteristic of Shakespeare, who often wrote plays based on of Shakespeare, who often wrote plays based on earlier works.earlier works.

Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet Original?Original?

Shakespeare’s use of existing material as fodder for Shakespeare’s use of existing material as fodder for his plays should not, however, be taken as a lack of his plays should not, however, be taken as a lack of originality. Instead, readers should note how originality. Instead, readers should note how Shakespeare crafts his sources in new ways while Shakespeare crafts his sources in new ways while displaying a remarkable understanding of the literary displaying a remarkable understanding of the literary tradition in which he is working. tradition in which he is working.

Shakespeare’s version of Shakespeare’s version of Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet is no is no exception. The play distinguishes itself from its exception. The play distinguishes itself from its predecessors in several important aspects:predecessors in several important aspects: the subtlety and originality of its characterization the subtlety and originality of its characterization

(Shakespeare almost wholly created Mercutio); (Shakespeare almost wholly created Mercutio); the intense pace of its action, which is compressed from the intense pace of its action, which is compressed from

nine months into four frenetic days; nine months into four frenetic days; a powerful enrichment of the story’s thematic aspects; a powerful enrichment of the story’s thematic aspects;

and, above all,and, above all, an extraordinary use of language.an extraordinary use of language.

Is Is Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet familiar?familiar?

Romeo & Juliet is also quite similar in Romeo & Juliet is also quite similar in plot, theme, and dramatic ending to plot, theme, and dramatic ending to the story of “Pyramus and Thisbe,” the story of “Pyramus and Thisbe,” told by the great Roman poet Ovid.told by the great Roman poet Ovid.

Pyramus and Thisbe are the two Pyramus and Thisbe are the two lovers who grew up side by side, fell lovers who grew up side by side, fell in love, experienced a tragic in love, experienced a tragic misunderstanding, and consequently misunderstanding, and consequently killed themselves and whose blood killed themselves and whose blood colored the snow-white mulberries colored the snow-white mulberries red.red.

Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet ForeverForever

In writing In writing Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, , Shakespeare, then, implicitly set himself the task of telling then, implicitly set himself the task of telling a love story despite the considerable forces a love story despite the considerable forces he knew were stacked against its success. he knew were stacked against its success.

Through the incomparable intensity of his Through the incomparable intensity of his language Shakespeare succeeded in this language Shakespeare succeeded in this effort, writing a play that is universally effort, writing a play that is universally accepted in Western culture as the accepted in Western culture as the preeminent, archetypal love story.preeminent, archetypal love story.