William Shakespeare is rightfully not only one of the most popular playwrights in England, but also the most studied writer (according to the Guinness Book of Records). Translated from English, his last name means "stunning spear." Shakespeare did not happen to become a warrior, but he pierced the hearts of readers perfectly, thanks to his plays and sensual sonnets.
Childhood and getting to know the theater
William was born April 23, 1647 in the small English city of Stretford in a fairly wealthy family. His father has come a long way to success: he managed to become the mayor of the city from the glover. Under his auspices, actors from London came to Stretford and gave performances. So Shakespeare and got acquainted with the theater.
However, the prosperous family was not long: when William was in school, his father lost his post. Therefore, I had to forget about the university. Many researchers say that the playwright was a very uneducated person who did not know foreign languages, which means he could not read any of those historical chronicles on which he relied when he wrote the next play.
Personal life and moving to the capital
At 18, he married Anne Hathaway. They had three children (two girls - Susan and Judith, and a boy Hemnet). Shakespeare did not have money, and he could not support his family. Then William decides to leave his wife with small children and leaves for London to fulfill his dream of becoming an actor. In addition, the author was already a real debtor, so he had to hide from creditors.
There is also preserved evidence that the writer did not get along with his wife, because the marriage was, rather, by design. She was older than him, the couple often quarreled. In addition, the grumpy nature of women did not leave the author the strength for creativity.
Thorny creative path
In London, he gets a job at the People’s Theater. However, William does not succeed in becoming a successful actor. He plays only the shadow of Hamlet's father backstage. Then Shakespeare discovers the talent of a playwright.
Admittedly, Shakespeare himself came up with almost nothing. He took material for his works from historical chronicles. William only developed the storylines and paid attention to the psychology of heroes. The result was an arrangement of legends in a new way. The plays were staged at the folk theater for free. Thus, Shakespeare was able to attract the public and gain popularity among the townspeople.
In 1599, Shakespeare with friends bought a house where he arranged his own Globus Theater, which still exists. The author led all affairs and led the institution. He was both a playwright, and a director, and kept records. Most of his plays were staged in this theater. William soon became rich and bought the largest house in Stretford for his family.
However, his success quickly attracted envious people. Representatives of the literary elite declared war on an upstart from the province. They intended to go far, destroying the competitor and accusing him of all sins. It is even known about an attempt to set fire to the theater before the premiere. But the queen herself stood up for the young talent. She was an ardent fan of Shakespeare’s drama.
Death
In 1613 he stopped writing, and was forced to return to his homeland. The playwright had serious health problems. The author spent the last 2 years of his life in Stretford and died on his birthday, April 23, 1616.
Interesting Facts: The Shakespeare Question
There is no doubt that William Shakespeare really existed. But whether he was the author of his plays, the question is completely different.
From the fact that William took historical chronicles as the basis of his plays, we can conclude that Shakespeare knew history well. However, he did not have a university education. There is also evidence that the playwright wrote with errors.
The most mysterious fact is that after the death of William, no draft plays were found in his house. Only documents were found on the economic part of the Globus Theater. However, there is evidence that the writer was self-educating. A library with many books in Latin was discovered in Shakespeare's house.
So who is the author?
Assumptions were very different. The authorship was attributed to Elizabeth Tudor, who allegedly released plays under a pseudonym. They also considered Christopher Marlowe, who allegedly sent his plays to William to publish them. He himself was in disgrace and could not print under his real name.
Little is known about Shakespeare's life. His personality is shrouded in numerous legends and conjectures. Whether William was the author of his works is a question that cannot be answered unequivocally, even four centuries after the death of the great playwright.
Important years
