Daniela Saenz Shakespeare Final paper PDF

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Final essay for Intro to Shakespeare class...

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Daniela Saenz ENL3334 Final Paper 12/10/2016

Biography When William Shakespeare is brought up to discussion, he is arguably known as the most “famous” writer of the English language, as his name is very known for both his plays and sonnets. He was born in 1564 and died in 1616, yet there are extreme measures of uncertainty about his life, where it begins, and where it ends. As mysterious as it gets when it comes to William Shakespeare’s life, the frustration builds from efforts of multiple generations of literature critics to interpret and understand the author’s works in autobiographical terms. His portrait was shockingly painted way after his death, signifying that the world cannot compose a clear image of what he looked like (Martin, Peter). Although, we can pinpoint some significant events of his actual life from available information from church and court documentation, comments and reports by writers of the Elizabethan era, and his collaboration with other coauthors. Despite the incomplete evidence, the succeeding biography centralizes the most widely accepted facts of Shakespeare’s life. Born to John Shakespeare, his father moved to the picturesque town of Stratford-uponAvon and married his beloved wife, Mary Arden in 1557. His father ended up being successful as he carried prosperous careers in glove-making, landowning, money-lending, and dealing wool and agricultural goods. In the sixteenth century, the British middle class began to increase in size and acquired wealth; granting many individuals to obtain luxuries and freedom. Being influenced

by the social changes, John Shakespeare created the ability to locate a strong voice within himself towards the local government and became a member of the Stratford council. By 1561, his distinguished political career grew into more, as he was elected as a town’s burgesses, and later on served as Constable, the Chamberlain, Alderman, and even became a bailiff, which is equivalent to a modern day mayor in 1567 ("William Shakespeare"). Even though William Shakespeare’s birth was unregistered, exposed town records show that he was John and Mary’s third child. His baptism was certified with the town of Stratford on April 26, 1564, assuming the date of his birth was April 23rd. His childhood remains open to debate as not much is known, other than generally assuming he attended The Kings New School, the local grammar school, where Oxford faculty taught mathematics, logic, natural sciences, Christian ethics, classical languages, and literature. He never attended a University due to the fact education was only granted to sons of the elite and those who were fulfilling a career to be a clergyman. William Shakespeare’s childhood remains scattered until the age of eighteen, where records are indicating his marriage to Anne Hathaway. Church records indicate that they got married in 1582 when she was about three months pregnant. Historians speculate the age of Anne to be twenty-six, which makes her eight years his senior. Despite the age difference, she was pregnant at the time of their wedding. In 1583, they got their first child Susanna. Later in 1585, they got female twins, Judith and Hamnet. However, death records indicate Hamnet dies at the age of eleven. After that, there are no records of any activity in the life of Shakespeare. Historians and critics refer to it as his “lost years” (William Shakespeare, BBC Times). Shakespeare’s lost years contains no records of any literacy publications or church records for about seven years. Some people speculate that he was on the run from refraining an arrest from poaching. Others say it was due to love. To others, they presume the assumption of

fleeing due to love to coincide with some of his later plays such as Macbeth. However, both accounts are mere speculations, and there aren’t further records to prove it. His reappearance came in 1892 after the publication of Richard II. Years later after his “lost years”; Shakespeare becomes a respectable member in the literary world. Shakespeare in 1594 became a member of Lord Chamberlain’s Men, which was a group of actors. However, they later changed their name to King James when King James I ascended the throne. In 1598, the troupe appointed him as the principal comedian of the group and later a principal tragedian in 1603. The appointments made him more famous, and he starts earning more money. With the new status, Shakespeare acquires a second home for his parents, one of the largest estates in Stratford. He also acquires several pieces of land and does other businesses from the money (William Shakespeare, Poetry Foundation). Besides, in 1596, the rise in status allows Shakespeare to request for a coat of arms. The coat of arms was to knight them to allow his daughters to marry into wealthy families. Moreover, the years in Lord Chamberlain’s troupe is among the characteristics of his rise to literary dominance. He writes several plays such as King Lear, Anthony and Cleopatra and Macbeth. However, most of his works’ publications are in 1607 or 1608. Later on, his collection of his plays and sonnets are put together in 1623. Unfortunately, he dies before he can see them. In 1616, Shakespeare’s health starts deteriorating and he has to revise his will. The change of the will takes place a month before his death, and he is sane enough to dwell on it. In the will, he entitles his property and works to his daughter and his wife, and some to a charitable organization in London. He also leaves part of his wealth to his friends at Lord Chamberlain’s Men. He later succumbs to his death on April 23rd, his speculated date birth, in 1952. However, his legacy lived on more after his death than when he was alive (Martin, Peters).

Theatre and most famous works Shakespeare wrote thirty-eight plays, 154 sonnets, and two narrative poems. One of his earlier publications were Venus and Adonis with its first publication taking place in 1593. Shakespeare dedicates this poem to the third Earl of Southampton Henry Wriothesley. Henry was an eighteen-year-old, and through the works, he received publicity. Shakespeare chose Richard Field to be the publisher of the work. In those days, Sir Richard was a professionally accomplished publisher thus making historians speculate the need of Shakespeare to associate with high-end productions. However, vulgar language and choice of words are evidence in the play, which shows some of its similarities to an eighteen-year-old boy’s character. For instance, in one of the verses “Let worthless stuff excite the admiration of the crowd: as for me, let golden Apollo ply me with full cups from the Castalian spring, that is, the spring of the Muses.” The verse categorically has aspects of its vulgar nature. The verse also indicates an appeal to the public a window to view the world in a different light (William Shakespeare). Moreover, the analysis of the poem shows some of the characters that Shakespeare possess. For instance, Venus and Adonis has a direct patronage, and through the work, one may interpret it as being the goal he was seeking to acquire. However, despite its patronage, the other most important aspect of the poem was his professionalism as an author. Before 1640, Venus and Adonis had been published over fifteen times showing its demand and fame in the literary world. The poem was published well with characteristics of abacc form of writing (William Shakespeare). Furthermore, the poem has characteristics of respect and patronage in which a young poet wrote. It received some of its earlier critics by Sir Arthur Gorges and Sir Edward Dyer. The two gentlemen were renowned poets who praised the poem and its message. The main themes that the poem explored more were sorrow and love. The themes caused its analysis as an

Ovidian Fable. When Adonis passes away, the sorrow is present in the reaction of Venus, “Sorrow on love hereafter shall attend.” The sorrow in the loss of love is characteristic of a mysterious past, which explains a present pain. The poem also employs elements of paradox, where the hero suffers from aspects of love and life. Lastly, through the analysis of the poem the reader forms their perceptions, which helped to increase its fame and publicity (Segurado Nunes). His second publication was the poem of Lucrece, which is in the form of ababbcc. The poem is comprised of 265 stanzas, which is made up love, tragedy, and philosophical reflections. Shakespeare also dedicates the poem to the Earl of Southampton. The style of writing and its message is different from his first work. Therefore, most Elizabethan readers appreciated the poem basing on its usage of its words. For instance, “to shun the blot, she would not blot the letter” uses profound English words. Moreover, the poem contained rhetorical aspects of it. However, the poem had a different approach to its mythical concept. It is set on a violent contemporary world, showing the ability of Shakespeare to change his style of writing from one poem to the other. Additionally, the poem has aspects of both political and contemporary aspects, which provides a deeper analysis of some of its themes such as rape. During that time, rape was interpreted as an outrage and as a form of burglary. Shakespeare writes his first plays when he is at the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Some of his first works include Richard II. His famous plays have aspects of love, tragedy, comedy and other themes such as jealousy and mischief. His most famous play is Romeo and Juliet, which is rewritten in over eight languages. Also, many actors and directors have enacted it many times. The love story ends in tragedy where the hero dies. The same theme is depicted in Antonio and Cleopatra, and some parts of Macbeth. The other works contained political aspects such as

Othello, Hamlet, and Julius Caesar. Some of his other works that provide comedy are the most celebrated Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice, All’s Well that Ends Well, The Comedy of Errors and among others. The different plays have their aspects of the unique English language that showed the author as a scholar. Much of the words have been adapted into the English Dictionary and some of the phrases such as “all’s well that ends well.” The works of Shakespeare also shows the adaptation of some of the aspects of the Renaissance era in which most of his works were written. Considering he was born six years later after Elizabeth I took the throne, some of her influence is visible in the works. For instance, his style of writing adopts mostly from the Elizabethan Era. Modern influence of Shakespeare and his works After his death, most of the works started becoming famous, especially with the publications of his collection of his works in 1923. Additionally, his works gained more critics 150 years later where groups of individuals were trying to determine the authenticity of the plays and poems. In one instance, Shakespeare Oxford Society’s members argued that Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, was the original author of those works. The arguments still exist at present, and members of the society still believe, and the Earl wrote argument most of Shakespeare's works. In other parts of England and the world, people believe that they are originally the works of Shakespeare. The supporters believe that the grammar school in which Shakespeare attended was adequate to provide him with the relevant background to produce high literary work. Moreover, the sketchy history of his life has remained to be relevant, and most people contend

with it. However, there remains some form of skepticism of the history collected of the English man. With the continual praise and critics of the works of Shakespeare, the gradual fame of his works continued. The works of Shakespeare is currently part of culture, which is studied extensively across the world. In most works, critics and scholars have categorically placed Shakespeare to be part of high culture. The placement has been derived from different arguments and critics of the cultural implication of Shakespeare and his works. When the publication of the folio of his works was released, they were sold for one pound each, which was only accessible to the wealthy and elite. The purchasing price of the book created an assumption of high culture in which Shakespeare and his works exist in the society (Segurado Nunes). Moreover, Shakespeare’s plays and poems are found in most classrooms and are requirements for most students. Since 1841, schools across the Empire has taught Shakespeare as part of their curriculum. The main reason for doing so was to encourage patriotism and most importantly, cultural patriotism. Therefore, many students who have studied his works are familiar with his works. The interesting aspect of it was when some students were interviewed; they categorically placed his works to be of a higher culture. Their arguments are founded on the hard nature of studying his works and interpreting them. Most of his works are written using the Shakespearean English, which contains many phrases and style of writing that makes it harder to be easily understood. The difficulty in studying it makes it be part of the higher culture. In a study on Australian students, they identified Shakespeare’s works to be difficult. They also argued that his works are part of their culture, which further asserts the placement of his works in a higher culture.

One of the most important aspects of Shakespeare’s work is in its popular culture. According to the book Popular Shakespeare, Shakespeare’s works has led to its formation of its form culture (Gillespie, Stuart and Neil Rhodes). The works have been adapted in various aspects of the lives of human beings. It is present in Hollywood, classrooms and other parts of the modern culture. Since the reconstruction of the theater, there has been mass productions and plays of most of his works. Additionally, in school’s children and young adults are taught Shakespearian English. For instance, in the study of some of the students in Australia, it was established that the works of Shakespeare form part of the English language. Most importantly, all students know about it when they are studying (Segurado Nunes, Livia). Additionally, the mass productions of Shakespeare’s works came in the nineteenth century where broadways directors and actors acted the plays. Plays like Othello and Macbeth have continued to enacted due to its timeless relevance. On the contrary, the plays represent the rot within the society such as incest, betrayal, and political tyranny. The theme within the plays has continuously made them famous for mass productions. Its mass productions are also present in Hollywood where plays like Romeo and Juliet has found its ways to the film companies. The movie Romeo and Juliet represent the presentation of the play to a larger audience who watch the Hollywood films. The first film productions of Shakespeare were in 1899 with a small photographic part in King John. A century later, Guinness Book of Records indicates that there are 400 films by William Shakespeare. This number of films has made him the most famous author in filmmaking industry (William Shakespeare, BBC Times). In the theater, Shakespeare’s works had led to the creation of many. In 1879, the creation of Shakespeare Memorial Theatre began. The building of the theater was on the grounds of holding the plays of Shakespeare. Unfortunately, the theater burnt down in 1926, which had an

impact on the productions there. However, the rebuilding of the theater was in 1932, and it's reopening occurred on 1932 by the Prince of Wales. Moreover, the works of Shakespeare also prompted the building of the Royal Shakespeare Company in the Royal Theater. Through history, there is an argument that the theater has led to many productions of the works of Shakespeare. The globe is another theater that the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and William Shakespeare built in 1599. Shakespeare owned 12.5% of the building and its revenue, which helped him to acquire the largest piece of land. The theater encouraged many people to take parts of the plays and share some of their works. However, in 1644 Puritans closed down the theater. They argued that it did not fulfill their Christianity values and the plays and poems were against the government’s wishes. Approximately two centuries later, the Globe was rebuilt in 1997. The architecture utilized the same concept and created a replication of the first theater. Queen Elizabeth II reopened it, and in 2014, the theater sold 368,000 tickets, which indicate the works of Shakespeare is still alive (William Shakespeare). One of the most notable influences of Shakespeare and his works have contributed to the Elizabethan Dictionary. His plays and poems contain words and phrases that have been added to the dictionary. Phrases like “alls well that ends well has” found its adaptation in current English dictionaries. Therefore, Shakespeare had an influence in the English language. Although, most of the words are not present in modern dictionaries, the words influenced the language a great deal. Currently, Shakespeare remains to be an influence to the society and some cultures. Children in schools are introduced to his works at a tender age. There are simpler publications of some of his plays such as Romeo and Juliet. Additionally, university students also learn of his plays during their literature classes. The studies present the classical understanding of some of the greatest works of a playwright. Moreover, it shows the unique characteristics and his form of

style (“Modern Theatre: 20Th-Century Shakespeare - Victoria and Albert Museum”). Therefore, it will continue to be present in many schools and be part of the curriculum. Moreover, its adaptation into film continues to be present as well. The different interpretations of his works and plays present a unique approach in the directing of the films. Lastly, the plays in Broadways and classroom theaters will gradually continue. The above analysis also present the infinite influence that his works have in society and in years to come. Conclusion In conclusion, William Shakespeare will continue to be an influence on the society and many people for years to come. The biography of Shakespeare shows the ordinary man who wrote extraordinary plays and poems. Brought up in a humble home and possibly attending a grammar school, his upbringing helped influence the author, poet, and playwright that he became. Additionally, his marriage and his children may have an influence in some of his plays. However, this assumption remains to be unapproved like most of his mysterious life. His works, however, remain to be the most influential aspect of his life. Four hundred years later, his works speak louder than when he was alive. His contributions to the world around him also make his works to be more famous. For instance, the building of the Globe contributed to some of his success. Besides, the Globe contributed to other actors and playwrights to be inspired to make their tales. Interestingly, the Globe has continued to represent Shakespeare with selling over 300,000 tickets in 2014. The unique style of writing and the themes in most of his plays has made the plays to remain timeless. Despite its hard grammar and understanding, it remains to be a necessary study in schools. Moreover, his works have influenced the creation of a popular culture among various people in the society.

Lastly, the influence of Shakespeare is still present in modern society. Theatres and filmmakers continue to use his works for their productions. The revenue and fame of the works continue to uplift Shakespeare and his works. Therefore, despite the many centuries after his death, he remains to be alive in all his books and productions.

Works cited Gillespie, Stuart and Neil Rhodes. Shakespeare and Elizabethan Popular Culture. 1st ed., New York, Cengage Learning EMEA, 2006,. Martin, Peter. Edmond Malone, Shakespearean Scholar. 1st ed., Cambridge [England], Cambridge University Press, 1995,. "Modern Theatre: 20Th-Century Shakespeare - Victoria and Albert Museum". Vam.Ac.Uk, 2016, http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/m/20th-century-shakespeare/....