William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Life and TimesLife and Times

Family BackgroundFamily Background Parents: John and Parents: John and

MaryMary Dad was a Glover – Dad was a Glover –

considered a skilled considered a skilled craftsmancraftsman

Served as Bailiff of Served as Bailiff of Stratford – the town’s Stratford – the town’s chief officer and local chief officer and local agent of the gov’t in agent of the gov’t in LondonLondon

Born in 1564, William Born in 1564, William was 3was 3rdrd of 8 children of 8 children (oldest son)(oldest son)

Bed where William was bornBed where William was born

Early LifeEarly Life Best schooling available as the son Best schooling available as the son

of a well-to-do Burgessof a well-to-do BurgessGrammar, logic, rhetoric, LatinGrammar, logic, rhetoric, Latin

Lived in Stratford-Upon-AvonLived in Stratford-Upon-AvonSmall town with 200 homes, orchards, Small town with 200 homes, orchards,

gardensgardensImportant crossing point over Important crossing point over

Avon RiverAvon River

Marriage and FamilyMarriage and Family Married Anne Married Anne

Hathaway – 8 years Hathaway – 8 years older than he, and older than he, and pregnantpregnant

A very common A very common woman of the day - woman of the day - illiterateilliterate

Susanna - 1583Susanna - 1583 Twins - Hamnet and Twins - Hamnet and

Judith - 1585Judith - 1585 Hamnet died at age 11 Hamnet died at age 11

probably of The Plagueprobably of The Plague

William goes to LondonWilliam goes to London

Probably in search of more money than Probably in search of more money than he could make in Stratford, William left he could make in Stratford, William left Anne and the kids Anne and the kids

and went to Londonand went to London Joined a company of actors (players) – Joined a company of actors (players) –

all men – sometime all men – sometime in the mid in the mid 1580’s1580’s

Became involved in a theatre called Became involved in a theatre called “The Theatre”“The Theatre”

Burst of Theatre Activity Burst of Theatre Activity Lyly, Peele, Greene, Kyd – popular Lyly, Peele, Greene, Kyd – popular

writerswritersChristopher Marlowe was a peer Christopher Marlowe was a peer

of William’sof William’sMost playwrights were university Most playwrights were university

trained gentleman trained gentleman Many theatres were built: The Many theatres were built: The

Theatre, The Curtain, The Rose, The Theatre, The Curtain, The Rose, The Swan – all before Shakespeare’s Swan – all before Shakespeare’s famous theatrefamous theatre

THE GLOBETHE GLOBE

The Globe is Shakespeare’s The Globe is Shakespeare’s TheatreTheatre

Built in 1599Built in 1599Managed by a company of men called Managed by a company of men called

“sharers” because they shared the “sharers” because they shared the expenses and profitsexpenses and profits

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men ran The The Lord Chamberlain’s Men ran The Globe – Shakespeare was one of themGlobe – Shakespeare was one of them

There were 8 Sharers in 1596There were 8 Sharers in 1596Hired men were paid weekly – Hired men were paid weekly –

did not share the profitsdid not share the profits

The Globe – Open Top The Globe – Open Top StructureStructure

Strangely BuiltStrangely BuiltTimbers used from tearing down The Timbers used from tearing down The

Theatre because their landlord was Theatre because their landlord was not renewing their leasenot renewing their lease

Not really circular – had 20 sidesNot really circular – had 20 sidesWas 100 feet across Was 100 feet across Held about 2000 peopleHeld about 2000 peopleThe Yard – where people stood The Yard – where people stood

around the stagearound the stage3 Galleries where people sat on 3 Galleries where people sat on

benchesbenches

The GlobeThe Globe

1599-16131599-1613

Fire destroyed The Globe during a Fire destroyed The Globe during a performance of performance of Henry VIIIHenry VIII

A cannon shot off thru the open roof ignited A cannon shot off thru the open roof ignited the thatch roof on firethe thatch roof on fire

It kindled inwardly and consumed the It kindled inwardly and consumed the building in less than an hourbuilding in less than an hour

Only one man had his breeches set on fireOnly one man had his breeches set on fire The 2The 2ndnd Globe Theatre had a tiled roof Globe Theatre had a tiled roof

Life Back at HomeLife Back at HomeWilliam seems to have been an William seems to have been an

“absent” husband and father, “absent” husband and father, sending money home occasionally sending money home occasionally but not visiting oftenbut not visiting often

Both daughters married and stayed Both daughters married and stayed in Stratfordin Stratford

His granddaughter Elizabeth lived His granddaughter Elizabeth lived from 1626-1670 and was his last from 1626-1670 and was his last direct descendentdirect descendent

The Last YearsThe Last YearsQueen Elizabeth died in 1603 and Queen Elizabeth died in 1603 and

was succeeded by King James Iwas succeeded by King James IThe Lord Chamberlain’s Men were The Lord Chamberlain’s Men were

recognized as The King’s Menrecognized as The King’s MenShakespeare was seen as a member Shakespeare was seen as a member

of the Royal Household of the Royal Household 1613 Shakespeare retired to New 1613 Shakespeare retired to New

Place in Stratford (the home of Place in Stratford (the home of Susanna and her husband, a doctor)Susanna and her husband, a doctor)

Shakespeare DiedShakespeare Died23 April 161623 April 1616

37 works live on37 works live on1590: Henry VI, part 11590: Henry VI, part 1

Henry VI, part 2Henry VI, part 2Henry VI, part 3Henry VI, part 3

1592: Richard III1592: Richard IIITitus AndronicusTitus Andronicus

1593: The Comedy of Errors1593: The Comedy of ErrorsThe Taming of the ShrewThe Taming of the Shrew

1594 : The Two Gentlemen of Verona1594 : The Two Gentlemen of VeronaLove’s Labour’s LostLove’s Labour’s Lost

1595: Romeo and Juliet1595: Romeo and JulietRichard IIRichard II

1596: A Midsummer Night’s Dream1596: A Midsummer Night’s DreamKing JohnKing John

1597: The Merchant of Venice1597: The Merchant of VeniceHenry IV, part 1Henry IV, part 1

1598: Henry IV, part 21598: Henry IV, part 2The Merry Wives of WindsorThe Merry Wives of Windsor

1599: Henry V1599: Henry VMuch Ado About NothingMuch Ado About Nothing

Julius CaesarJulius Caesar1600 : As You Like It1600 : As You Like It

Twelfth NightTwelfth Night1601: Hamlet1601: Hamlet

1602: Troilus and Cressida1602: Troilus and Cressida1603: All’s Well That Ends Well1603: All’s Well That Ends Well

Measure for MeasureMeasure for Measure1604: Othello1604: Othello

1605: Timon of Athens1605: Timon of Athens1606: King Lear1606: King Lear

MacbethMacbeth1607: Antony and Cleopatra1607: Antony and Cleopatra

CoriolanusCoriolanus1608: Pericles1608: Pericles

1609: Cymbeline1609: Cymbeline1610: A Winter’s Tale1610: A Winter’s Tale1611: The Tempest1611: The Tempest

1612: Henry VIII1612: Henry VIII

BibliographyBibliography

Morley, Jacqueline and John James. Morley, Jacqueline and John James. Shakespeare’s TheaterShakespeare’s Theater. New York: . New York: Peter Bedrick Books, 1999.Peter Bedrick Books, 1999.

Parker, Michael St. John. Parker, Michael St. John. WilliamWilliam Shakespeare – The Pitkin GuideShakespeare – The Pitkin Guide. . Hampshire UK: Pitkin Unichrome, Hampshire UK: Pitkin Unichrome, 2000.2000.