Shakespeare Critical Essay Example
Shakespeare Critical Essay Example

Shakespeare Critical Essay Example

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William Shakespeare, born in April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, was the eldest of three sons and also had four daughters. His father, John Shakespeare, worked as a Glover, while his mother, Mary Arden, came from a wealthy farming family. Despite having only one surviving sister, William Shakespeare grew up in a family with a total of three brothers and four sisters.

After Shakespeare's death, there have been numerous books written about him and his literary achievements. Some notable examples include "Shakespeare in his Brie Lives" by Aurbery in the 17th century and "Shakespeare Truth and Tradition" by Dr J. S. Smart in 1928. There are many other books on this subject, but it would be impractical to list them all.

His upbringing played a significant role in shaping Shakespeare's exceptional language skills.

Shakespeare married A

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nne Hathaway, who came from a farming family like his mother. They had Susanna in 1583 and twins Hamnet and Judith two years later. Some think that Shakespeare moved to London because of his growing family. Shortly after, he published Greene's Attack in a Groat's-worth of Witte as his first work. There is a significant gap between the writing of this play and his next one.

In 1591, Shakespeare began his writing career amidst the closure of theatres due to the plague from 1592 to 1594. During this time, he dedicated himself to writing, producing his erotic poems Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece from 1593 to 1594. These poems were both dedicated to the Earl of Southampton, which surely flattered him. In this initial phase of his writing, Shakespeare honed his skills, though only two of his plays gained widespread recognition.

He authore

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plays and poems such as Titus Andronicus, The Taming of the Shrew, and an earlier version of Hamlet. These productions were showcased in a playhouse owned by Richard Burbage's father until 1597 when their lease expired, resulting in the need to locate a new venue. Eventually, they constructed another playhouse on the south bank of the river, now renowned as the Globe. The tremendous expenses involved in this endeavor led Richard Burbage's father to seek financial support. Thus, he secured partners to help cover the costs, one of whom was William Shakespeare. Richard Burbage himself also gained a position in his father's business as a result of this partnership. This arrangement proved beneficial for Shakespeare as it provided him with funding and allowed him to concentrate on his writing.

Shakespeare experienced a significant change during the period from 1594 to 1616. It was during this time that he wrote some of his most famous works, including Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet (written in 1596), The Tempest, and Henry VIII (which began in 1609 and was completed in 1613). From 1602 to 1606, Shakespeare lived on Silver Street before moving to the south side closer to the Globe Theatre. In 1616, he passed away in Stratford and was buried at the Holy Trinity Church with his gravestone bearing his inscription.

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