Shakespeare: Life and Works Overview

William Shakespeare: Life and Legacy

• Renowned actor and dramatist, famous in his hometown of Warwickshire.
• Major works incorporate historical facts and personal opinions about events.
• Recorded baptism and marriage at age 28; little known about early life.
• Known for strong opening lines in his plays; his works remain popular today.
• Lived during the reign of Elizabeth I from 1558-1603, a period marked by commercial growth and cultural flourishing, dubbed the "golden age."

Personal Background

• Born and raised in Warwickshire; his mother, Mary Arden, belonged to a higher social class than his father, John Shakespeare.
• Born and died on St. George’s Day; mother experienced the plague during his childhood.
• Disliked school with long hours; gaps in his biography from ages 13 to 26 remain unexplained.
• Married Anne Hathaway at age 19, later moved in with extended family.

Career Highlights

• Gained recognition as a playwright by 1592; favored by contemporaries despite skepticism due to his background.
• Wrote six plays before purchasing part of an expedition; plays lack specific performance dates.
• Member of the King's Men theater group throughout his career; incorporated personal experiences and possibly his love interests in works.
• Utilized comedy to engage audiences, preventing actors from being pelted with food; added humor after theater incidents.

Financial Success and Lifestyle

• Achieved substantial wealth; purchased the largest house in Stratford as a display of success.
• Faced rent challenges with the King's Men and contributed to relocating the Globe Theater across the Thames.
• Maintained a reputation as a heavy drinker and enjoyed a lifestyle of affluence.
• Experienced personal tragedy with the death of his son at age 11.

Literary Contributions and Trends

• Shakespeare’s plays varied in genre, with comedies often featuring happy endings and tragedies leading to dark conclusions.
• Gained favor by appealing to Queen Elizabeth’s tastes and later King James I; created works to challenge and please royalty.
• Used his plays as a platform for expressing political views, intertwined with rich storytelling and character complexity.

Final Years and Legacy

• Stopped writing in 1613; retired to a new, extensive residence.
• Daughter married a man known for infidelity; Shakespeare died in 1616, on St. George’s Day.
• Wrote a will that varied based on his daughter's marriage, leaving most assets to his eldest daughter, Susanna, and bequeathing his wife only the second-best bed.
• Tombstone inscription requested solitude, reflecting his desire for peace after a full, complex life.