WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

(1564-1616)
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves”

For all his fame and celebration, William Shakespeare remains a mysterious figure with
regards to personal history. There are just two primary sources for information on the
Bard: his works, and various legal and church documents that have survived from
Elizabethan times. Naturally, there are many gaps in this body of information, which
tells us little about Shakespeare the man.

Though William Shakespeare is recognized as one of literature’s greatest influences, very

little is actually known about him. What we do know about his life comes from registrar
records, court records, wills, marriage certificates and his tombstone. Anecdotes and
criticisms by his rivals also speak of the famous playwright and suggest that he was
indeed a playwright, poet and an actor.
 Biography
Date of Birth

William was born in 1564. We know this from the earliest record we have of his life; his
baptism which happened on Wednesday, April the 26th, 1564. We don’t actually know his
birthday but from this record we assume he was born in 1564. Similarly by knowing the
famous Bard's baptism date, we can guess that he was born three days earlier on St.
George’s day, though we have no conclusive proof of this.

Brothers and Sisters.

William was the third child of John and Mary Shakespeare. The first two were daughters
and William was himself followed by Gilbert who died in 1612 and Richard who died in
1613. Edmund (1580-1607), sixth in the line was baptized on May the third, 1580 and
William's oldest living sister was Joan who outlived her famous playwright brother. Of
William’s seven siblings, only Judith and four of his brothers survived to adulthood.

William's Father.

From baptism records, we know William's father was a John Shakespeare, said to be a
town official of Stratford and a local businessman who dabbled in tanning, leatherwork
and whittawering which is working with white leather to make items like purses and
gloves. John also dealt in grain and sometimes was described as a glover by trade.

John was also a prominent man in Stratford. By 1560, he was one of fourteen burgesses
which formed the town council. Interestingly, William himself is often described as a
keen businessman so we can assume he got his business acumen from his father. In the
Bard's case, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree at all...

William's mother: Mary Arden.

William's mother was Mary Arden who married John Shakespeare in 1557. The youngest
daughter in her family, she inherited much of her father’s landowning and farming estate
when he died.

The Bard's Education.

Very little is known about literature’s most famous playwright. We know that the King’s
New Grammar School taught boys basic reading and writing. We assume William
attended this school since it existed to educate the sons of Stratford but we have no
definite proof. Likewise a lack of evidence suggests that William, whose works are
studied universally at Universities, never attended one himself!
William marries an older woman. (1582)

A bond certificate dated November the 28th, 1582, reveals that an eighteen year old
William married the twenty-six and pregnant Anne Hathaway. Barely seven months
later, they had his first daughter, Susanna. Anne never left Stratford, living there her
entire life.

The Bard's children. (1583 & 1592)

Baptism records show that William’s first child, Susanna was baptized in Stratford
sometime in May, 1583. Baptism records again reveal that twins Hamnet and Judith were
born in February 1592. Hamnet, William's only son died in 1596, just eleven years old.
Hamnet and Judith were named after William’s close friends, Judith and Hamnet Sadler.
William's family was unusually small in a time when families had many children to
ensure parents were cared for in later years despite the very high mortality rates of
children and also their life expectancy in the 1500s.

The Bard as a poet.

Evidence that the great Bard was also a poet comes from his entering his first poem Venus
and Adonis in the Stationers’ Registrar on the 18th of April, 1593. The playwright registered
his second poem The Rape of Lucrece by name on the 9th of May, 1594.

The Bard suffers breech of copyright. (1609)

In 1609, the Bard's sonnets were published without the Bard’s permission. It is considered
unlikely that William wanted many of his deeply personal poems to be revealed to the
outside world. It was not however the first time; in 1599, in a collection entitled "The
Passionate Pilgrim" , two of his poems had been printed without William’s permission.

The Bard's lost years?

Looking for work in London, just four days ride way from Stratford, William is believed
to have left his family back home for some twenty years whilst he pursued his craft. He
only returned back to his family in 1609, having visited only during the forty day period
of Lent when theatres though open well into the start of Lent would later close in
accordance with the traditional banning of all forms of diversionary entertainment
around this important Easter event.

The Bard strikes it rich.

William made his greatest financial gain in 1605 when he purchased leases of real estate
near Stratford. This investment of some four hundred and forty pounds doubled in value
and earned him 60 pounds income each year. Some academics speculate that this
investment gave the Bard the time he needed to write plays uninterrupted and we know
that he was indeed thought of as a businessman in the Stratford area...
The Bard's will and death.

Records reveal that the great Bard revised his will on March the 25th, 1616. Less than a
month later, he died on April the 23rd, 1616. Literature's famous Bard is buried at the Holy
Trinity Church in Stratford. He infamously left his second-best bed to his wife Anne
Hathaway and little else, giving most of his estate to his eldest daughter Susanna who has
married a prominent and distinguished physician named John Hall in June 1607. This was
not as callous as it seems; the Bard's best bed was for guests; his second-best bed was his
marriage bed... His will also named actors Richard Burbage, Henry Condell and John
Hemminges, providing proof to academics today that William was involved in theatre.
The Bard's direct line of descendants ended some 54 years later until Susanna’s daughter
Elizabeth died in 1670.

The Bard's last words...

Written upon William Shakespeare’s tombstone is an appeal that he be left to rest in

peace with a curse on those who would move his bones...

Good friend, for Jesus´ sake forbeare

To digg the dust enclosed here!
Blest be ye man that spares thes stones
And curst be he that moues my bones.

Translated this reads as:

Good friend, for Jesus’ sake, forbear

To dig the dust enclosed here;

Blest be the man that spares these stones

And curst he that moves my bones.

 List of his works

Comedy History Tragedy Poetry

All's Well That Ends Well Henry IV, part 1 Antony and Cleopatra The Sonnets
As You Like It Henry IV, part 2 Coriolanus A Lover's Complaint
The Comedy of Errors Henry V Hamlet The Rape of Lucrece
Cymbeline Henry VI, part 1 Julius Caesar Venus and Adonis
Love's Labours Lost Henry VI, part 2 King Lear Funeral Elegy by W.S.
Measure for Measure Henry VI, part 3 Macbeth
The Merry Wives of Windsor Henry VIII Othello
The Merchant of Venice King John Romeo and Juliet
A Midsummer Night's Dream Richard II Timon of Athens
Much Ado About Nothing Richard III Titus Andronicus
Pericles, Prince of Tyre
Taming of the Shrew
The Tempest
Troilus and Cressida
Twelfth Night
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Winter's Tale
 Julius Caesar Summary
Act I.

Shakespeare's famous Roman play opens to the scene of two Tribunes, Marullus and
Flavius scolding Roman citizens for blindly worshipping Caesar. Their conversation
reveals deep-seated fears that Caesar is growing too powerful, too arrogant and must be
stopped. Hoping to reduce the blind hero worship of Caesar, the two men remove
ceremonial decorations off Caesar's "images" (statues) despite the obvious dangers of
doing so...

A little later, we see Caesar leading a procession through the streets of Rome. A
Soothsayer or fortune teller tells Caesar to beware the "ides of March [the 15th of March]"
a warning that Caesar will die on this day. It is ignored. Cassius, who fears Caesar's ever
growing power, begins to recruit Brutus, a close friend of Caesar's, towards his conspiracy
by implying that Caesar is becoming too powerful... We also learn that Marullus and
Flavius, the two tribunes pulling decorations off Caesar's statues have been put to silence
for "pulling scarfs off Caesar's images [statues]." Brutus is suspicious of Cassius' motives
but tells Cassius that he will think it over... Casca, another conspirator, reveals
information to Brutus that suggests Caesar may be getting more ambitious...

Cassius' conspiracy gains momentum when he recruits a suspicious Casca to their cause
against Caesar by pointing out that several recent strange occurrences are omens warning
them against Caesar... To ensure Brutus joins his conspiracy, Cassius has Cinna place
some forged letters where Brutus will find them convincing Brutus to join their cause.
Cinna reveals that Brutus' good name will be an asset to their conspiracy...

Act II.

Brutus cannot sleep, revealing for the first time his own true fears that Caesar may be
growing too powerful. A letter is discovered, which Brutus reads, convincing him to join
the conspiracy. The complete group of conspirators meets at Brutus' house, discussing
Caesar's assassination. Brutus argues against Caesar's right hand man, Mark Antony
being assassinated as well. Cassius and Trebonius have their doubts but go along with
Brutus. Brutus' troubled wife Portia tries to find out what her husband is planning,
worried for him...

Calphurnia, Caesar's wife, wakes Caesar up after herself awakening from a terrible
nightmare. She tells Caesar, that her dream foretells doom and succeeds in convincing
Caesar not go to the Senate (also referred to as The Capitol) on the "ides of March" which
is tomorrow. Decius Brutus arrives and hearing that Caesar will not be at the Senate
tomorrow, flatters Caesar into going so as not to show fear (allowing Brutus and
company to kill him there).
Artemidorus waits in a street with a letter warning Caesar of the conspiracy, hoping to
avert Caesar's assassination...

Portia worries for her husband, hoping his "enterprise" today will succeed. The
Soothsayer who warned Caesar about the "ides of March" in Act I, waits in a narrow
street hoping to warn Caesar of his imminent danger...

Act III.

Caesar arrogantly tells the Soothsayer that today is the "ides of March", but the
Soothsayer tells him the day is not over yet... Artemidorus nearly warns Caesar but
Decius Brutus prevents this. Popilius wishes the conspirators good luck, scaring them that
Caesar may already know their plans.

Metellus Cimber petitions Caesar to lift his brother's banishment order. Caesar refuses
and the conspirators kill Caesar. Mark Antony flees. Mark Antony pretends to treat
Caesar's murderers as friends. He asks to speak at Caesar's funeral. Cassius thinks this is
dangerous, Brutus, disagreeing, lets Mark Antony speak at the funeral.

Mark Antony reveals his true hatred for the conspirators. Octavius, Mark Antony's ally
is remain safely outside of Rome a little longer... Brutus and Cassius explain to the
citizens of Rome why they killed Caesar, gaining their support.

Using the immortal words, "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;" Mark
Antony turns the citizens of Rome against Brutus and Cassius by making the citizens feel
remorse for Caesar's cruel death and by bribing then with the news that Caesar's will gifts
each citizen money from his will. Mark Antony uses this fact to suggest Caesar was a
great man who should not have been murdered.

The crowd, now an angry, crazed mob, go after the conspirators including Brutus and
Cassius who flee in fear...

A poet called Cinna who bears the same name as one of the conspirators is killed by the
angry mob which shows Shakespeare's insight into the senselessness of the mob
mentality...

Act IV.

The Triumvirs (Octavius, Mark Antony and Lepidus) decide which of the conspirators
shall live and which shall die. Mark Antony assures Octavius that Lepidus does not and
will not ever have any serious power... The two men start planning their attack on Brutus'
and Cassius' forces.

Brutus learns that Cassius has finally arrived. Brutus is angry with Cassius, Cassius
saying he has done his friend no wrong. Brutus wanting privacy from his troops, tells
Cassius to step into his tent where he will discuss the issue further...
Brutus angrily attacks Cassius first for contradicting his order to remove Lucius Pella for
taking bribes and then Cassius himself for his own dishonesty. Cassius is upset by this
but eventually Brutus chooses to forgive his friend. We learn that Portia, Brutus' wife has
died, over one hundred senators have been put to death by the Triumvirs and that a large
army led by Mark Antony and Octavius is approaching their position... Brutus is greeted
by Caesar's Ghost which tells Brutus he will see Caesar again at Philippi.

Act V.

On the Plains of Philippi, Mark Antony's and Octavius' forces face Brutus' and Cassius'
forces. The two sides insult each other, Mark Antony and Octavius then leaving with
their army.

Later in battle with Mark Antony and Octavius, Brutus sends orders via messenger
Messala to Cassius' forces on the other side of the battlefield.

Cassius' forces are losing ground to Mark Antony's forces. Brutus has defeated Octavius'
forces but instead of reinforcing Cassius' forces, have instead sought out spoils or bounty
from the field.

Needing information, Cassius sends Titinius to a nearby hill to report if it is friendly or

not. Cassius instructs Pindarus to go atop a hill to report Titinius' progress to him.

Pindarus sees Titinius pulled off his horse and fears Titinius has been captured. This
would mean Brutus' forces have been beaten so Cassius kills himself on Pindarus' sword.
Titinius now returns realizing that Titinius was not captured but was greeted by Brutus'
victorious forces. Brutus learns of Cassius' death. Titinius, mourning Cassius, kills
commits suicide.

Brutus inspires his men to keep fighting. Lucilius who is mistaken for Brutus is captured.
Eventually Mark Antony realizes this. The battle rages on and Antony issues orders for
Brutus to be captured, dead or alive...

Tired, weary, but still alive, Brutus finds a place to catch his breath with his few
remaining followers. One by one, Brutus asks first Clitius, Dardanius and Volumnius to
kill him but each refuses. Finally Brutus gets his wish by falling on his sword, killing
himself.

Octavius, Mark Antony, Messala and Lucilius now arrive. Strato explains how Brutus
died. Mark Antony pays tribute to Brutus' noble spirit by famously saying, "This was the
noblest Roman of them all...." Octavius tells his soldiers to stand down, the battle now
over...
 Famous Quotes
Shakespeare's first plays were written in the conventional style of the day. He wrote
them in a stylised language that does not always spring naturally from the needs of the
characters or the drama. The poetry depends on extended, sometimes elaborate metaphors
and conceits, and the language is often rhetorical—written for actors to declaim rather
than speak.

Some of his best quotes from some of his works are…

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet."
Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so".

Hamlet (Act II, Scene II)

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date".

Sonnet 18

"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have
greatness thrust upon them".

Twelfth Night (Act II, Scene V).

"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted
blind".

A Midsummer Night's Dream (Act I, Scene I).