
William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England as son of John Shakespeare, a glove maker, and Mary Arden. He was a an English poet and playwright known as the most famous English writer.
Biography and Career :
William Shakespeare's father was wealthy on the time he was born, but because he was judged for unclean business he lost his job as local counselor.
William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years older than him, on November 28, 1582, at Stratford-upon-Avon. Their witnesses were Fulk Sandalls and John Richardson. Rumors say that the wedding was made in a hurry because the bride was pregnant.
After the marriage we don't know much about him until his arrival in London, on the literary scene.
On May 26, 1583 at Stratfo
rd, Susannah was baptized as his first child. It was soon followed by another two baptisms: his son's, Hamnet, on February 2, 1585 and his daughter's, Judith.
In 1592 William Shakespeare was already well known and he was remarked by Robert Greene, who accused him of plagiarism.
In 1596 Hamnet passed away and was buried on August 11, 1596. Because his name looked like Hamlet, some say that his passing made William Shakespeare create the tragedy "Hamlet".
In 1598 William Shakespeare moved to the parish St Elena, in Bishopgate and appeared on the list of actors of a play by Ben Johnson.
William Shakespeare became actor, writer and then co-owner of a theatre band, known as "Lord Chamberlain's People". It became very popular and after Queen Elizabeth I passed away and James I was crowned, he adopted the band which would be named "King's People".
He had become an important person in London and could afford to buy a house in Blackfriars neighborhood, and he also had the second house as size in Stratford.
In 1609 he published his sonnets, love stories which were dedicated to a young man and to his mistress "the dark lady".
In 1611 William Shakespeare withdrew and on April 23, 1616 passed away. His wife Anne remarried Dr. John Hall.
On his grave stone it is written "Blest be the man who cast these stones, and cursed be he that moves my bones".
Important Works :
Comedies:
"The Tempest"
"Measure for Measure"
"Much Ado About Nothing"
"A Midsummer Night's Dream"
"The Merchant of Venice"
"The Two Noble Kinsmen"
"Cymbeline"
Tragedies:
"Romeo and Juliet"
"Coriolanus"
"Macbeth"
"Hamlet"
"King Lear"
"Othello"
"Antony and Cleopatra"
Poems:
"Shakespeare's Sonnets"
"The Phoenix and the Turtle"
Histories:
"King John"
"Richard III"
"Henry VIII"
Quotes :
- "Action is eloquence."
- "Assume a virtue, if you have it not."
- "Be great in act, as you have been in thought."
- "For they are yet ear-kissing arguments."
Trivia :
- His baptism was registered on April 26 but it is considered that the real date is 23.
- He was one of the greatest in Western literature.
- He is known as the world's preeminent dramatist.
William Shakespeare Image : classic-literature.co.uk