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¶ … prolific playwright of all time. William Shakespeare wrote some of the most widely performed and adapted plays in England in the early 1600's, or did he? The idea that William Shakespeare never existed was introduced in the mid-1700's and there are many theories that support the idea that he never did exist. When examining these theories, it seems as though William Shakespeare was a fictional character himself.
William Shakespeare grew up in Stratford-Upon-Avon in the 16th and 17th Centuries as a child in a large, poor family. The town he grew up in was one of the most illiterate towns in all of England, as evidenced by the fact that 90% of the people who governed the town could not even write their own name. Furthermore, records show that Shakespeare himself received only a brief grammar school education. Many of Shakespeare's plays are set in Italy and/or revolve around the Monarchy. As a poor commoner with no means to travel or learn about the inner-workings of the Monarchy, how could Shakespeare write on these subjects in such great detail?
The person William Shakespeare did in fact exist. There are records of his baptism and marriage as well as some credits as a performer. His parents and children are in the town registry and records of Stratford. However, his writing credits and overall life timeline have many holes. There have been many questions raised about the authenticity of Shakespeare's writings. Some deduce that the content of Shakespeare's plays may have gotten the true writer in trouble at the time, so he had to create a pseudonym. Some even say that a member of the royal family or possibly a woman, people for whom it would have been taboo to write plays at the time, may have been the writer. Whether Shakespeare actually wrote the plays or not may be debatable. However, the genius of his work is unquestioned.
And while it may seem silly upon first reading or seeing the play, it is clear that a Midsummer Night's Dream also has quite serious ideas. Scholars have noted that the play includes a cultural critique of the Elizabethan era in which it is set (Lamb 93-124). Other critics have noted that the play may contain quite subversive ideas regarding the fluid nature of sexual identity (Green 369-370). Whatever
While Shakespeare attracted his fair share of criticism during his day, it is also clear that many of his contemporaries as well as the general public viewed Shakespeare's work in a positive light. For example, Callaghan (2004) points out that, "While we do not know how much Shakespeare was paid for the plays he furnished his company, it is clear that the greatest part of the handsome fortune Shakespeare had
Moreover, and this is where the tone takes its turn, the poet derides summer for its temporary nature. In all of its delighted qualities, the poet suggests, it is a fleeting sensation compared to the lasting statement of her loveliness. Again, we find that exaggeration is a common feature of the love poem. In this instance, there is an overly grand sentiment in the characterization of the subject and, likewise,
Introduction William Shakespeare and Robert Burns are both iconic figures in the UK. Also known as the Bard of Avon, Shakespeare is often regarded as England’s national poet. Shakespeare is also considered the world’s greatest English writer and dramatist. During his time, Shakespeare authored tens of plays, over a hundred sonnets, and several narrative poems and verses (Marche, 2012). Shakespeare’s work has been translated into virtually all major languages of the
Marlowe's Faustus An Examination of Christopher's Doctor Faustus The Play in its Period The Play Personal Evaluation The Play in its Period Christopher Marlowe's play The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus is a frightening adaptation of the German narrative of Johann Faust who traded his soul for knowledge and power. With its emphasis on intellectual pursuits, this play illustrates Marlowe's contribution to the Elizabethan drama. While much of Marlowe's life is
Oscar Wilde "a man of genius makes no mistakes; his errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery." James Joyce Genius is based on many elements, human and circumstantial. Nothing enables genius to evolve from some internal inchoate spark into a staggering, illuminating flare as the capacity to be external to social norms. The public expects artists to move well beyond the quotidian in artistic form. The funny lines in a play