William Shakespeare (/'?e?ksp??r/;[1] 26 April 1564 (baptised) � 3 a! ["#S# 23 April] 1616)[$b 1] %as a$ &$lish pet pla!%riht a$d a*tr %idel! rearded as the reatest %riter i$ the &$lish la$+ae a$d the %rld's pre,emi$e$t dramatist# [2] -e is .te$ *alled &$la$d's $ati$al pet a$d the 0ard . A$#[3][$b 2] -is eta$t %rks i$*l+di$ *llabrati$s *$sist . apprimatel! 3 pla!s[$b 3] 154 s$$ets t% l$ $arratie pems a$d a .e% ther erses sme . +$*ertai$ a+thrship# -is pla!s hae bee$ tra$slated i$t eer! mar lii$ la$+ae a$d are per.rmed mre .te$ tha$ thse . a$! ther pla!%riht#[4] Shakespeare %as br$ a$d br+ht +p i$ Strat.rd,+p$,A$ War%i*kshire# At the ae .-am$et 1 hea$d married A$$e -atha%a! %ith 155 %hm a$d he had three *hildre$ S+sa$$a a$d t%i$s +dith# Smetime bet%ee$ 1572 he bea$ a s+**ess.+l *areer i$ 8$d$ as a$ a*tr %riter a$d part,%$er . a pla!i$ *mpa$! *alled the 8rd 9hamberlai$'s e$ later k$%$ as the :i$'s e$# -e appears t hae retired t Strat.rd ar+$d 1613 at ae 47 %here he died three !ears later# e% re*rds . Shakespeare's priate li.e s+rie %hi*h has stim+lated *$siderable spe*+lati$ ab+t s+*h matters as his ph!si*al appeara$*e se+alit! relii+s belie.s a$d %hether the %rks attrib+ted t him %ere %ritte$ b! thers#[5] Shakespeare prd+*ed mst . his k$%$ %rk bet%ee$ 157 a$d 1613#[6][$b 4] -is earl! pla!s %ere primaril! *medies a$d histries %hi*h are rearded as sme . the best %rk eer prd+*ed i$ these e$res# -e the$ %rte mai$l! traedies +$til ab+t 16< i$*l+di$ -amlet "thell :i$ 8ear a$d a*beth *$sidered sme . the .i$est %rks i$ the &$lish la$+ae#[2] =$ his last phase he %rte trai*medies als k$%$ as rma$*es a$d *llabrated %ith ther pla!%rihts# a$! . his pla!s %ere p+blished i$ editi$s . ar!i$ >+alit! a$d a**+ra*! d+ri$ his li.etime# =$ 1623 h%eer h$ -emi$es a$d -e$r! 9$dell t% .rie$ds a$d .ell% a*trs . Shakespeare p+blished a mre de.i$itie tet k$%$ as the irst li a psth+m+s *lle*ted editi$ . his dramati* %rks that i$*l+ded all b+t t% . the pla!s $% re*$ised as Shakespeare's#[] =t %as pre.a*ed %ith a pem b! 0e$ $s$ i$ %hi*h Shakespeare is hailed pres*ie$tl! as $t . a$ ae b+t .r all time#[] =$ the 2
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h$ Shakespeare's h+se belieed t be Shakespeare's birthpla*e i$ Strat.rd, +p$,A$ Alth+h $ atte$da$*e re*rds .r the perid s+rie mst biraphers aree that Shakespeare %as prbabl! ed+*ated at the :i$'s Ce% S*hl i$ Strat.rd[12] a .ree s*hl *hartered i$ 1553[13] ab+t a >+arter,mile (4<< m) .rm his hme# @rammar s*hls aried i$ >+alit! d+ri$ the &liDabetha$ era b+t rammar s*hl *+rri*+la %ere larel! similar the basi* 8ati$ tet %as sta$dardised b! r!al de*ree[14]
a$d the s*hl %+ld hae prided a$ i$te$sie ed+*ati$ i$ rammar based +p$ 8ati$ *lassi*al a+thrs#[15] At the ae . 1 Shakespeare married 26,!ear,ld A$$e -atha%a!# Bhe *$sistr! *+rt . the i*ese . Wr*ester iss+ed a marriae li*e$*e $ 2 Cember 152# Bhe $et da! t% . -atha%a!'s $eihb+rs psted b$ds +ara$teei$ that $ la%.+l *laims impeded the marriae#[16] Bhe *erem$! ma! hae bee$ arra$ed i$ sme haste si$*e the Wr*ester *ha$*ellr all%ed the marriae ba$$s t be read $*e i$stead . the +s+al three times[1] a$d si m$ths a.ter the marriae A$$e ae birth t a da+hter S+sa$$a baptised 26 a! 153#[1] B%i$s s$ -am$et a$d da+hter +dith .ll%ed almst*a+ses t% !ears later baptised 2 ebr+ar! 155#[17] -am$et died . +$k$%$ at the aea$d . %ere 11 a$d %as b+ried 11 A++st 1576#[2<]
Shakespeare's *at . arms as it appears $ the r+h dra.t . the appli*ati$ t ra$t a *at,.,arms t h$ Shakespeare# =t .eat+res a spear as a p+$ $ the .amil! $ame#[$b 5] A.ter the birth . the t%i$s Shakespeare le.t .e% histri*al tra*es +$til he is me$ti$ed as part . the 8$d$ theatre s*e$e i$ 1572# Bhe e*epti$ is the appeara$*e . his $ame i$ the *mplai$ts bill . a la% *ase be.re the E+ee$'s 0e$*h *+rt at Westmi$ster dated i*haelmas Berm 15 a$d 7 "*tber 157#[21] S*hlars re.er t the !ears bet%ee$ 155 a$d 1572 as Shakespeare's lst !ears# [22] 0iraphers attempti$ t a**+$t .r this perid hae reprted ma$! ap*r!phal stries# Ci*hlas F%e Shakespeare's .irst birapher re*+$ted a Strat.rd lee$d that Shakespeare .led the t%$ .r 8$d$ t es*ape prse*+ti$ .r deer pa*hi$ i$ the estate . l*al s>+ire Bhmas 8+*!# Shakespeare is als s+ppsed t hae take$ his ree$e $ 8+*! b! %riti$ a s*+rril+s ballad ab+t him#[23] A$ther 1th,*e$t+r! str! has Shakespeare starti$ his theatri*al *areer mi$di$ the hrses . theatre patr$s i$ 8$d$#[24] h$ A+bre! reprted that Shakespeare had bee$ a *+$tr! s*hlmaster#[25] Sme 2
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I+ 8ike =t A*t == S*e$e 137 �42[36] =$ 1577 a part$ership . members . the *mpa$! b+ilt their %$ theatre $ the s+th ba$k . the Fier Bhames %hi*h the! $amed the @lbe# =$ 16< the part$ership als tk er the 0la*k.riars i$dr theatre# &ta$t re*rds . Shakespeare's prpert! p+r*hases a$d i$estme$ts i$di*ate that his ass*iati$ %ith the *mpa$! made him a %ealth! ma$[3] a$d i$ 157 he b+ht the se*$d,larest h+se i$ Strat.rd Ce% Gla*e a$d i$ 16<5 i$ested i$ a share . the parish tithes i$ Strat.rd#[3] Sme . Shakespeare's pla!s %ere p+blished i$ >+art editi$s bei$$i$ i$ 1574 a$d b! 157 his $ame had be*me a selli$ pi$t a$d bea$ t appear $ the title paes#[37] Shakespeare *$ti$+ed t a*t i$ his %$ a$d ther pla!s a.ter his s+**ess as a pla!%riht# Bhe 1616 editi$ . 0e$ $s$'s Wrks $ames him $ the *ast lists .r &er! a$ i$ -is -+m+r (157) a$d Sea$+s -is all (16<3)#[4<] Bhe abse$*e . his $ame .rm the 16<5 *ast list .r $s$'s Hlp$e is take$ b! sme s*hlars as a si$ that his a*ti$ *areer %as $eari$ its e$d#[41] Bhe irst li . 1623 h%eer lists Shakespeare as $e . the Gri$*ipal A*trs i$ all these Gla!s sme . %hi*h %ere .irst staed a.ter Hlp$e alth+h %e *a$$t k$% .r *ertai$ %hi*h rles he pla!ed#[42] =$ 161< h$ aies . -ere.rd %rte that d Will pla!ed ki$l! rles#[43] =$ 1<7 F%e passed d%$ a traditi$ that Shakespeare pla!ed the hst . -amlet's .ather#[44] 8ater traditi$s mai$tai$ that he als pla!ed Adam i$ As I+ 8ike =t a$d the 9hr+s i$ -e$r! H[45] th+h s*hlars d+bt the s+r*es . that i$.rmati$#[46] Bhr+h+t his *areer Shakespeare diided his time bet%ee$ 8$d$ a$d Strat.rd# =$ 1576 the !ear be.re he b+ht Ce% Gla*e as his .amil! hme i$ Strat.rd Shakespeare %as lii$ i$ the parish . St# -ele$'s 0ishpsate $rth . the Fier Bhames#[4][4] -e med a*rss the rier t S+th%ark b! 1577 the same !ear his *mpa$! *$str+*ted the @lbe Bheatre there#[4][47] 0! 16<4 he had med $rth . the rier aai$ t a$ area $rth . St Ga+l's 9athedral %ith ma$! .i$e h+ses# Bhere he re$ted rms .rm a re$*h -++e$t $amed 9hristpher +$t! a maker . ladies' %is a$d ther headear#[5<] 8ater !ears a$d death Shakespeare's .+$erar! m$+me$t i$ Strat.rd,+p$,A$ F%e %as the .irst birapher t re*rd the traditi$ repeated b! h$s$ that Shakespeare retired t Strat.rd sme !ears be.re his death#[51][52] -e %as still %rki$ as a$ a*tr i$ 8$d$ i$ 16<; i$ a$ a$s%er t the sharers' petiti$ i$ 1635 9+thbert 0+rbae stated that a.ter p+r*hasi$ the lease . the 0la*k.riars Bheatre i$ 16< .rm -e$r! &a$s the :i$'s e$ pla*ed me$ pla!ers there %hi*h %ere -emi$es 9$dell Shakespeare et*##[53] -%eer it is perhaps relea$t that the b+b$i* pla+e raed i$ 8$d$ thr+h+t 16<7#[54][55] Bhe 8$d$ p+bli* pla!h+ses %ere repeatedl! *lsed d+ri$ ete$ded +tbreaks . the pla+e (a ttal . er 6< m$ths *ls+re bet%ee$ a! 16<3 a$d ebr+ar! 161<)[56] %hi*h mea$t there %as .te$ $ a*ti$ %rk# Fetireme$t .rm all %rk %as +$*mm$ at that time# [5] Shakespeare *$ti$+ed t isit 8$d$ d+ri$ the !ears 1611 �1614#[51] =$ 1612 he %as *alled as a %it$ess i$ 0elltt # +$t! a *+rt *ase *$*er$i$ the
marriae settleme$t . +$t!'s da+hter ar!#[5] =$ ar*h 1613 he b+ht a ateh+se i$ the .rmer 0la*k.riars prir!;[57] a$d .rm Cember 1614 he %as i$ 8$d$ .r seeral %eeks %ith his s$,i$,la% h$ -all#[6<] A.ter 161< Shakespeare %rte .e%er pla!s a$d $$e are attrib+ted t him a.ter 1613#[61] -is last three pla!s %ere *llabrati$s prbabl! %ith h$ let*her[62] %h s+**eeded him as the h+se pla!%riht . the :i$'s e$#[63] Shakespeare died $ 23 April 1616 at the ae . 52#[64] -e died %ithi$ a m$th . si$i$ his %ill a d*+me$t %hi*h he bei$s b! des*ribi$ himsel. as bei$ i$ per.e*t health# C eta$t *$temprar! s+r*e eplai$s h% r %h! he died# -al. a *e$t+r! laterra!t$ h$ Ward .had Strat.rd i$a$d his it $tebk Shakespeare a$dthe 0e$i*ar $s$ a merr! %rte meeti$ seems dra$k t hard .r Shakespeare died . a .eer there *$tra*ted[65][66] $t a$ impssible s*e$ari si$*e Shakespeare k$e% $s$ a$d ra!t$# ". the trib+tes .rm .ell% a+thrs $e re.ers t his relatiel! s+dde$ death We %$dered Shakespeare that th+ %e$t'st s s$/rm the %rld's stae t the rae's tiri$ rm#[6]
-l! Bri$it! 9h+r*h Strat.rd,+p$,A$ %here Shakespeare %as baptised a$d is b+ried -e %as s+ried b! his %i.e a$d t% da+hters# S+sa$$a had married a ph!si*ia$ h$ -all i$ 16<[6] a$d +dith had married Bhmas E+i$e! a i$t$er t% m$ths be.re Shakespeare's death#[67] Shakespeare si$ed his last %ill a$d testame$t $ 25 ar*h 1616; the .ll%i$ da! his $e% s$,i$,la% Bhmas E+i$e! %as .+$d +ilt! . .atheri$ a$ illeitimate s$ b! araret Wheeler %h had died d+ri$ *hildbirth# Bhmas %as rdered b! the *h+r*h *+rt t d p+bli* pe$a$*e %hi*h %+ld hae *a+sed m+*h shame a$d embarrassme$t .r the Shakespeare .amil!#[<] Shakespeare be>+eathed the b+lk . his lare estate t his elder da+hter S+sa$$a[1] +$der stip+lati$s that she pass it d%$ i$ta*t t the .irst s$ . her bd!#[2] Bhe E+i$e!s had three *hildre$ all . %hm died %ith+t marr!i$# [3] Bhe -alls had $e *hild &liDabeth %h married t%i*e b+t died %ith+t *hildre$ i$ 16< e$di$ Shakespeare's dire*t li$e#[4] Shakespeare's %ill s*ar*el! me$ti$s his %i.e A$$e %h %as prbabl! e$titled t $e,third . his estate a+tmati*all!#[5] -e did make a pi$t h%eer . leai$ her m! se*$d best bed a be>+est that has led t m+*h spe*+lati$#[6] Sme s*hlars see the be>+est as a$ i$s+lt t A$$e %hereas thers beliee that the se*$d,best bed %+ld hae bee$ the matrim$ial bed a$d there.re ri*h i$ si$i.i*a$*e#[]
Shakespeare's rae $et t thse . A$$e Shakespeare his %i.e a$d Bhmas Cash the h+sba$d . his ra$dda+hter Shakespeare %as b+ried i$ the *ha$*el . the -l! Bri$it! 9h+r*h t% da!s a.ter his death#[] Bhe epitaph *ared i$t the st$e slab *eri$ his rae i$*l+des a *+rse aai$st mi$ his b$es %hi*h %as *are.+ll! aided d+ri$ restrati$ . the *h+r*h i$ 2<<[7] @d .re$d .r =ess sake .rbeare B di the dst e$*lased heare# 0leste be iddle &$lish the#s ma$ iddle &$lish that#s spares thes st$es A$d *rst be he iddle &$lish that#s mes m! b$es#[<][$b 6] (der$ spelli$ @d .rie$d .r es+s' sake .rbear / B di the d+st e$*lsed here# / 0lessed be the ma$ that spares these st$es / A$d *+rsed be he that mes m! b$es#) Smetime be.re 1623 a .+$erar! m$+me$t %as ere*ted i$ his memr! $ the $rth %all %ith a hal.,e..i! . him i$ the a*t . %riti$# =ts pla>+e *mpares him t Cestr S*rates a$d Hiril#[1] =$ 1623 i$ *$+$*ti$ %ith the p+bli*ati$ .
the irst li the resh+t e$rai$ %as p+blished#[2] Shakespeare has bee$ *mmemrated i$ ma$! stat+es a$d memrials ar+$d the %rld i$*l+di$ .+$eral m$+me$ts i$ S+th%ark 9athedral a$d Gets' 9r$er i$ Westmi$ster Abbe!#
