Shakespeare: The Man, Shakespeare: The Man, the Myth, the Legendthe Myth, the Legend

““He was not of an age, He was not of an age, but for all time.” (Ben but for all time.” (Ben

Jonson)Jonson)

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Who is Shakespeare?Who is Shakespeare?Today we will look at four different Today we will look at four different

aspects of William Shakespeare’s life aspects of William Shakespeare’s life and workand workWho was Shakespeare?Who was Shakespeare?What are his major works?What are his major works?What is his influence on the English What is his influence on the English

language?language?What are some controversies about him?What are some controversies about him?

Shakespeare’s BeginningsShakespeare’s Beginnings Names: The Bard of Avon; The Names: The Bard of Avon; The

BardBard Bard = writer and performer Bard = writer and performer

of songs & storiesof songs & stories Born Stratford-upon-Avon on April Born Stratford-upon-Avon on April

23, 1564 (Christened April 2623, 1564 (Christened April 26thth)) Died 1616 Died 1616

52 years old to the day52 years old to the day Pickled herring and beerPickled herring and beer

Parents: John, a glover, and Parents: John, a glover, and Mary Arden, the daughter of Mary Arden, the daughter of a landowning farmera landowning farmer Father made $$ money Father made $$ money

lending and wool dealinglending and wool dealing Made high bailiff/constable of Made high bailiff/constable of

StratfordStratford Third child of eight; 2 older Third child of eight; 2 older

sisters died sisters died

Shakespeare’s BeginningsShakespeare’s BeginningsFamily upbringing = Family upbringing =

humblehumbleQuestion of illiteracyQuestion of illiteracy

““Birthplace” = Birthplace” = Henley Street Henley Street (father fined in (father fined in 1552 for illegal 1552 for illegal rubbish disposal)rubbish disposal)

Attended Stratford Attended Stratford Grammar School Grammar School (Latin & classics (Latin & classics only)only)““graduated” at 14 graduated” at 14

years old years old

Daddy ShakespeareDaddy Shakespeare Teen father: married 26 yearTeen father: married 26 year old Anne Hathaway when old Anne Hathaway when

he was 18he was 18 Anne was 3 months pregnantAnne was 3 months pregnant Anne was wealthyAnne was wealthy

Children: Susanna (eldest), twins Children: Susanna (eldest), twins Hamnet and JudithHamnet and Judith Hamnet died at age 11Hamnet died at age 11 James Joyce’sJames Joyce’s Ulysses Ulysses features a chapter in which the features a chapter in which the

characters argue that the play characters argue that the play HamletHamlet is based on Hamnet is based on Hamnet King John referenceKing John reference

Deadbeat dad: Left wife and children for Deadbeat dad: Left wife and children for London stage career (after 10 years of London stage career (after 10 years of marriage)marriage) Joined Lord Chamberlain’s Men (1594-1603)Joined Lord Chamberlain’s Men (1594-1603)

Shakespeare’s CareerShakespeare’s Career The “lost years” = 1585-1592The “lost years” = 1585-1592

Lawyer’s clerk?Lawyer’s clerk? Gloving trade w/father?Gloving trade w/father? Schoolmaster in the country?Schoolmaster in the country?

1592 = surfaced in London 1592 = surfaced in London Lord Chamberlain’s menLord Chamberlain’s men

Patron = wealthy nobleman to sponsor the arts Patron = wealthy nobleman to sponsor the arts (philanthropy)(philanthropy)

Became famousBecame famous 1599 = opened Globe Theater with partners 1599 = opened Globe Theater with partners

across Thames Riveracross Thames River “…“…on the other side of the tracks”on the other side of the tracks” Businessman (authorship controversy)Businessman (authorship controversy)

1603 = joined the King’s Men (after King James I)1603 = joined the King’s Men (after King James I) 1607 = retirement1607 = retirement

Shakespeare’s LegacyShakespeare’s Legacy

37 plays, 2 epic poems, and 154 sonnets 37 plays, 2 epic poems, and 154 sonnets Wordsmith: 29,066 different words in his Wordsmith: 29,066 different words in his

worksworks More than 2,000 of them were words he coinedMore than 2,000 of them were words he coined Average college grad knows 4,000Average college grad knows 4,000 Most quoted writer in English historyMost quoted writer in English history

responsible for many idioms we still use responsible for many idioms we still use today: today: vanished into thin airvanished into thin air, , foul playfoul play, , dead dead as a doornailas a doornail, , flesh and bloodflesh and blood, , tongue-tiedtongue-tied, , not one winknot one wink, , fool’s paradisefool’s paradise, , in a picklein a pickle, , laughing stocklaughing stock, , it’s Greek to me, etc.it’s Greek to me, etc.

Contribution to the English Contribution to the English LanguageLanguage

Common Common sayings:sayings:

catching a cold

disgraceful conduct

elbow room

fair play

blood-stained

Laughing stock

into thin air

Knock, knock! Who’s there?

Good riddance

Words:

assassination

barefaced

bumps

countless

critical

radical

homicide

hurry

Lonely

majestic

dwindle

exposure

gloomy

monumental

suspicious

Excellent

obscene

Gust

hint

Aerial

Brittle

Submerge

summit

leap-frog

snow-white hoodwink

Shakespeare’s Written WorkShakespeare’s Written Work

Two main categories: plays and poetryTwo main categories: plays and poetry PlaysPlays

Histories: Histories: Richard IIIRichard III, , Henry VHenry V, , Julius CaesarJulius CaesarEarlier works (1590s)Earlier works (1590s)

Comedies: Comedies: Taming of the ShrewTaming of the Shrew, , Twelfth NightTwelfth Night, , A A Midsummer Night’s DreamMidsummer Night’s Dream, , Much Ado About Much Ado About NothingNothing

Early works (late 1590s)Early works (late 1590s) Tragedies: Tragedies: HamletHamlet, , MacbethMacbeth, , King LearKing Lear, , OthelloOthello, ,

R&JR&JLater works (1600s)Later works (1600s)Fascination with death (tomb in R&J, graveyard in Fascination with death (tomb in R&J, graveyard in

Hamlet)Hamlet) Romances: Romances: The TempestThe Tempest, , A Winter’s TaleA Winter’s Tale

Latest works (late 1600s)Latest works (late 1600s)

Shakespeare’s Written WorkShakespeare’s Written Work Sonnets: 14 line poems; specific structureSonnets: 14 line poems; specific structure 154 sonnets – track Shakespeare’s love 154 sonnets – track Shakespeare’s love

affairs, concern with own mortality, conflicts affairs, concern with own mortality, conflicts of lust, paranoia and self-degradationof lust, paranoia and self-degradation

Became famous only after deathBecame famous only after death Controversy over publicationControversy over publication

Subjects:Subjects: Dark LadyDark Lady

MistressMistressDark-skinned JewDark-skinned Jew Inspiration for The Merchant of VeniceInspiration for The Merchant of Venice

Fair YouthFair Youth Rival PoetRival Poet

PlagiarismPlagiarismMost plays based on Most plays based on historical events or playshistorical events or plays

• Pyramus and ThisbePyramus and Thisbe• King LearKing Lear• Richard IIIRichard III

No copyright laws No copyright laws Took ordinary stories and Took ordinary stories and made them made them EXTRAORDINARYEXTRAORDINARY

Elizabethan World ViewElizabethan World View

GOD

Angels

King

Man

Wife

Children

Animals

Great Chain of Being

The cast of “Jersey Shore”

Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603)Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603) Bastard daughter of King Henry Bastard daughter of King Henry

VIII and Ann Boleyn VIII and Ann Boleyn ““Virgin Queen”Virgin Queen” Restored Protestantism and Restored Protestantism and

formalized Church of Englandformalized Church of England Outbreak of the black plague, Outbreak of the black plague,

food riots, Catholic food riots, Catholic conspiracies, threats of conspiracies, threats of invasion, etc.invasion, etc.

During the During the Elizabethan PeriodElizabethan Period, , hundreds of people were hundreds of people were convicted as witches and convicted as witches and executedexecuted

King James I took over – King James I took over – renamed Shakespeare’s renamed Shakespeare’s company The King’s Mencompany The King’s Men

Political Influence Political Influence Dangerous to write in authoritative Dangerous to write in authoritative

governmentgovernment Marlowe’s deathMarlowe’s death

Spy for QueenSpy for Queen Disfavor after writing Edward IIDisfavor after writing Edward II Sympathized with CatholicsSympathized with Catholics ““What feeds me will destroy me”What feeds me will destroy me”

OthelloOthello All blacks being thrown out of England All blacks being thrown out of England Othello = tragic heroOthello = tragic hero

““My art is tongue-tied by authority”My art is tongue-tied by authority” 11stst theaters close due to plague theaters close due to plague 22ndnd Queen closes b/c she feels threatened by public Queen closes b/c she feels threatened by public Placement of Globe TheaterPlacement of Globe Theater

London 1300-1800London 1300-1800

Conditions in London 1564Conditions in London 1564 EnvironmentEnvironment

Thames River Thames River polluted with raw polluted with raw sewagesewage

Trees used up for fuelTrees used up for fuel HealthHealth

Bathing considered Bathing considered dangerousdangerous

Body odor strongBody odor strong Childhood diseasesChildhood diseases

Children often died Children often died before 5 yearsbefore 5 years

Small pox & Bubonic Small pox & Bubonic PlaguePlague

PovertyPoverty

Controversy Over TheaterControversy Over TheaterTheatre is Immoral!!!Theatre is Immoral!!! People should work in People should work in

shops, not waste their shops, not waste their time in idleness time in idleness watching showswatching shows

People could be People could be injured by falling injured by falling scaffolds or weapons scaffolds or weapons used in showsused in shows

People fight in People fight in theatrestheatres

The mass of people The mass of people could further the could further the spread of the plaguespread of the plague

The People Need Theatre!!!

• Theatre is educational: based on classical antiquity

• Theatre paints a true picture of the good and bad in life, so people can learn how to choose the good

• People should have the opportunity for amusement

Globe TheaterGlobe Theater Globe built in 1599 across the ThamesGlobe built in 1599 across the Thames 1613: the Globe burned to the ground during a 1613: the Globe burned to the ground during a

performance of performance of Henry VIIIHenry VIII Rebuilt; torn down in 1644Rebuilt; torn down in 1644 Reproduction built in 1900sReproduction built in 1900s

Shakespeare 1/5 ownerShakespeare 1/5 owner Statue of Shakespeare as a businessmanStatue of Shakespeare as a businessman He earned 10% of the total profit, approximately He earned 10% of the total profit, approximately ££200-200-

250 a year250 a year Plays performed in afternoon; open topPlays performed in afternoon; open top

Lasted roughly 2 ½ hoursLasted roughly 2 ½ hours People sat around 3 or 4 sides of the stage, People sat around 3 or 4 sides of the stage,

viewed play not just from the front viewed play not just from the front Held about 3,000 peopleHeld about 3,000 people

Costumes elaborateCostumes elaborate Company’s most valuable assetCompany’s most valuable asset Made by the company, bought in London, or donated by Made by the company, bought in London, or donated by

courtierscourtiers

Actors and CrowdActors and Crowd

Actors were all men; effeminate or young men Actors were all men; effeminate or young men played female rolesplayed female roles

No actual kissing on stageNo actual kissing on stage Women not allowed to attend (some dressed up Women not allowed to attend (some dressed up

as men to sneak in)as men to sneak in) Audience would drop admission into a box on way

in (hence “box office”) Vendors offered beer, water, oranges,

gingerbread & apples (often thrown at players) Rowdy crowd Rowdy crowd

5 foot tall stage to protect actors5 foot tall stage to protect actors Injuries Injuries

Performance AttendancePerformance Attendance

• 1 shilling to stand1 shilling to stand• 2 shillings to sit in the balcony2 shillings to sit in the balcony• 1 shilling was 10% of their 1 shilling was 10% of their

weekly incomeweekly income• Broadway Today:Broadway Today:

• $85 Orchestra$85 Orchestra• $60 Balcony$60 Balcony

Current PicsCurrent Pics

The ControversiesThe Controversies

There are three main arguments There are three main arguments people have about Shakespearepeople have about Shakespeare1. Did he have a mistress?1. Did he have a mistress?2. Was he secretly gay?2. Was he secretly gay?3. Was he the author of all his 3. Was he the author of all his

attributed attributed

works?works?

Marriage in TurmoilMarriage in Turmoil

Left Anne to raise children aloneLeft Anne to raise children alone Pregnant out of wed-lockPregnant out of wed-lock Age differenceAge difference

The Dark Lady sonnetsThe Dark Lady sonnets 25 sonnets total25 sonnets total Passion, jealousy, shamePassion, jealousy, shame Mary Fitton?Mary Fitton?

Sonnet 145Sonnet 145 Hints of authorship Hints of authorship Mention of Anne’s nameMention of Anne’s name

Sonnet 145Sonnet 145 Those lips that Love's own hand did make Those lips that Love's own hand did make

Breathed forth the sound that said 'I hate'Breathed forth the sound that said 'I hate'To me that languish'd for her sake; To me that languish'd for her sake; But when she saw my woeful state, But when she saw my woeful state, Straight in her heart did mercy come, Straight in her heart did mercy come, Chiding that tongue that ever sweet Chiding that tongue that ever sweet Was used in giving gentle doom, Was used in giving gentle doom, And taught it thus anew to greet: And taught it thus anew to greet: 'I hate' she alter'd with an end, 'I hate' she alter'd with an end, That follow'd it as gentle day That follow'd it as gentle day Doth follow night, who like a fiend Doth follow night, who like a fiend From heaven to hell is flown away; From heaven to hell is flown away; 'I hate' from hate away she threw, 'I hate' from hate away she threw, And saved my life, saying 'not you.' And saved my life, saying 'not you.'

Shakespeare’s SexualityShakespeare’s Sexuality

Fair Youth;1-126Fair Youth;1-126 Beautiful young manBeautiful young man 1-17 = Procreation sonnets1-17 = Procreation sonnets 41 & 42 = mistress has seduced FY41 & 42 = mistress has seduced FY 87-90 = poet’s insecurities87-90 = poet’s insecurities 91-96 = reconciliation 91-96 = reconciliation

Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton Southampton Patron of ShakespearePatron of Shakespeare Financial supportFinancial support Dedications in Dedications in Venus and AdonisVenus and Adonis & &

The Rape of LucreceThe Rape of Lucrece

Authorship ControversyAuthorship Controversy

Look closely at the most famous portrait of Shakespeare.

Look closely at a famous portrait of Queen Elizabeth.

Look at the images of Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth side-by-side.

They are essentially the same face.

Authorship ControversyAuthorship Controversy

Little information about Shakespeare’s lifeLittle information about Shakespeare’s life Different name spellingsDifferent name spellings References in criticisms: Robert GreeneReferences in criticisms: Robert Greene

Humble beginningsHumble beginnings Education – vocabularyEducation – vocabulary Money for travelMoney for travel

Will’s will – no mention of plays or Will’s will – no mention of plays or manuscriptsmanuscripts 18 plays still unpublished at time of death18 plays still unpublished at time of death

Group of writersGroup of writers

The Usual SuspectsThe Usual Suspects

Francis BaconFrancis BaconChristopher Christopher

MarloweMarloweWilliam Stanley, William Stanley,

Earl of DerbyEarl of DerbyQueen ElizabethQueen ElizabethEdward DeVere, Edward DeVere,

Earl of OxfordEarl of Oxford

Concluding ThoughtsConcluding Thoughts

Does it matter if Shakespeare was an Does it matter if Shakespeare was an adulterer, a homosexual, or several adulterer, a homosexual, or several different writers?different writers?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! ABSOLUTELY NOT!

(because Shakespeare is awesome)(because Shakespeare is awesome)