William Shakespeare 1564-1616

Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, [The “Heart” of] England, in 1564. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep…” –The Tempest Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, [The “Heart” of] England, in 1564. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth Parents: John and Mary Arden Shakespeare. Dad: tanner and glovemaker, Mom’s family was a little wealthier. Attended the local grammar school, and studied mainly Latin there. Little William enjoyed the outdoors and learned a lot about the woods, fields, birds, insects, trades, arts, etc. (Due to his references and settings in plays). Collected information by daily observation of the world around him: naturally intelligent.

At age 18 (1582), he married Anne Hathaway. “They do not love that do not show their love.” –Two Gentlemen of Verona At age 18 (1582), he married Anne Hathaway. She was 7 or 8 years older than him. They may have been unhappy due to difference in age. Kids: Susanna (1583), Hamnet and Judith (twins, 1585) His other love: theatre. Became a well-known actor. By 1592, he was recognized as an actor and a playwright (age 28).  He eventually wrote 38 plays! 1592-1594: The plague kept the London theaters closed, so he wrote sonnets and long narrative poems, which helped establish him as a poet.

Anne Hathaway

Question Time! When was Shakespeare born? Where? Did he go to school? What are the names of his parents? What did he learn outside of school? Who did he marry? How did he begin his career?

“All the World’s a Stage…” –As You Like It Two main playhouses in his early work: the Theatre and the Curtain. Then, he moved across the Thames River to the Bankside district. The playhouses there: the Rose and the Swan. He became a theater manager. In 1598, the Globe Theatre was built. The sign showed the Atlas supporting the world Shakespeare then associated with this theater for the rest of his career (he owned shares in it, which brought income). Only male actors, and the shows had elaborate Elizabethan clothing (costumes). Seating: wealthy playgoers sat on benches around the sides on various levels, and the poor, “groundlings,” watched from the courtyard pit near the stage.

“What is the city but the people?” -Coriolanus When Elizabeth I died in 1603, King James I took the throne. Shakespeare’s theatrical company was taken under the king’s patronage and called “The King’s Company.” The actors were made officers of the royal household! Previously, the group was called Lord Chamberlain’s. Thus, his plays were performed at the Globe, Blackfriars (a smaller theater), the royal court, and castles of the nobles. Ben Jonson was another famous author of the time, and although the two did not always agree, Jonson wrote of Shakespeare, “He was not of an age, but for all time!”

“Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow…” -Macbeth In 1613, the Globe Theatre burned. Shakespeare helped to build a new one. He spelled his name in various ways: Shakspere, Shaxpere, etc. with Shakespeare being the most common. On April 23, 1616, Shakespeare died at the age of 52. Buried in the chancel of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Stratford. In his will, he left most of his property to Susanna, and for his wife, he left “his second best bed.” By law, she was entitled to 1/3 of his estate and the use of their home for life, and she died in 1623.

Question Time! At which playhouses did he begin his work? Then where did he move? What year was the Globe built? When did it burn? Who was allowed to be an actor? Who did Shakespeare work for? What was his company named? When did he die, and what did he leave for those he loved?

Did he really write all of those plays? Some speculate that it is impossible that he wrote them all, and that he could not have understood the nuances of language, culture, and society from his little schooling. But, that is the mystery of genius. Knowledge like his could not be learned in school—he applied a keen intelligence to everyday life. Shakespeare’s style is individual and cannot be imitated. He borrowed some stories from well-known tales, etc. but his words must have been his own. When a playwright sold a play to his company, he lost all rights to it (no copyright laws back then!). So, sometimes his plays were taken down in shorthand and sold, or dismissed actors would write it down from memory and sell it (stage directions would be added later after a company performed it). But REMEMBER: Shakespeare wrote his plays for everyday people about everyday life, and those themes are still alive!

Romeo and Juliet First performed in 1595. Shakespeare used the long narrative poem by Arthur Brooke as a springboard for the plot: the Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet (1562). Setting: Verona, Italy Characters: Others: Prince Escalus Paris Mercutio Friar Lawrence Friar John Apothecary Capulets: Capulet and Lady Capulet Juliet (and Nurse) Tybalt Sampson, Gregory, and Peter Montagues: Montague and Lady Montague Romeo Benvolio Abram and Balthasar

Tragedy A serious drama in which a central character, the protagonist — usually an important, heroic person — meets with disaster either through some personal fault (tragic flaw) or through unavoidable circumstances. In most cases, the protagonist's downfall conveys a sense of human dignity in the face of great conflict. Shakespeare's Tragedies take us on a journey: They confront our greatest hopes and fears, our best and worst of actions. They probe the extremities of what it means to be human. They expose the suffering we inflict and the suffering we bear. Despite being written hundreds of years ago, the dilemmas of Shakespeare's tragedies are dilemmas that still rule our public arena and our private lives; family relations, power struggles, obsessions and betrayals. What can we learn from seeing terrible events played and replayed? How can we uplifted by seeing tragedies on stage? Tragedy explores the human capacity for cruelty but also for endurance. Tragedy heals by showing us what we are capable of.

Quotes Romeo and Juliet "O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?". - (Act II, Scene II). "It is the east, and Juliet is the sun" . - (Act II, Scene II). "Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow." - (Act II, Scene II). "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet". - (Act II, Scene II). "Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast". - (Act II, Scene III). "Tempt not a desperate man". - (Act V, Scene III). "For you and I are past our dancing days" . - (Act I, Scene V). "O! she doth teach the torches to burn bright". - (Act I, Scene V). "It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear" . - (Act I, Scene V). "See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek!". - (Act II, Scene II).