William Shakespeare

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William Shakespeare

Born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England. His father John
Shakespeare and his mother Mary Arden. W.S. was able to attend grammer school and learned Greek and Latin classics (this is comparable to college education today). At age 14 his father lost the family fortune and remained poor until his death

At 18 he married Anne Hathaway in 1582. She was 26 years old. They had three children Suzanne(1583) and the twins Hamnet and Judith(1585).

In his mid-twenties he left Stratford(supposedly because of poaching on the
Queen's land) for London. His first job with Richard Burbage's men was as an osler; next an actor.

No one knows what he was doing during 1585-1592.

By 1592 he had become known in London as an actor and playwright; his rise was rapid. Queen Elizabeth 1 supported the arts and the theater.

In 1592 a plague closed the theaters(Shakespeare wrote poetry during this time to support himself). In 1593 a brief reopening of the theater happened. In 1594 theaters reopened.

The troupe became the Lord Chamberlain's Men set up on a servant co-op structure.

Requirements for actors:

1. loud voice 2. sing and play instruments 3. good swordsman 4. good memories

During this time he wrote many comedies: Comedy of Errors first of any status.

Histories were written in support of the gov't. This is where they were receiving much of the financial support so they wanted to keep the gov't (Queen) happy. W.S. was a major stockholder in the theater.

1597-bought New Place in Stratford(2nd largest house)

1599-Lord Chamberlain's Men bought land and built the Globe Theater in
Southwark(South Bank of the Thames River). W.S. owned 1/10th

1603-Queen Elizabeth died. King James took reign of England. He loved the arts more than the queen. The name was changed from Lord Chamberlain's Men to the King's Men.

1608-Added to the Globe Theater by buying the Black Friars Theater and giving performances there also. W.S. owned 1/7th

1613-Fire at the Globe during a performance of Henry 8th; rebuilt within a year.
Left comedies and histories to write tragedies soon after the Globe reopened.

Sonnets-published in 1610 but circulated earlier.

First Tragedy: The Tragedy of Hamlet

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