The Effectiveness of the Modernization of Shakespeare

1994 Words4 Pages

William Shakespeare was thought to have been born on April 23, 1564. At the time of his birth, babies were not formally registered and birth certificates were not produced but we do know that children were to be baptized three days after their birth and his baptism was the 26th, therefore, that is where the date comes from (Literary Genius). Shakespeare was one of eight children, which was actually quite small for a family of his time since families lived in fear of the child mortality rate (“Shakespeare Facts”). The only one of Shakespeare’s siblings to survive him was Joan II. She was named after her older sister, who died after only two months of life. She loved William wholeheartedly and was proud to see him become even more famous in the years that followed his lifetime. William’s family lived in a subdued market town in Britain, known as Stratford. William, specifically, lived on Henley Street where his father had lived for year’s prior (“Shakespeare Facts”). His childhood home is now restored and transformed into a museum for all to see and enjoy.
John Shakespeare and Mary Arden are the parents of William Shakespeare. John was a maker of gloves and leather goods but also sold wool and barley to make a living. He was also once elected to the council of the town but was voted out because of his debts (BBC News). Mary was the daughter of a wealthy landowner and had numerous children with John. William’s childhood was seemingly ordinary. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School only until the age of 15. He was sent to this school because his parents could afford to not send him out into the real world to help provide for their family (“Shakespeare Facts”). After he left at 15, he didn’t attend college but that didn’t stop hi...

... middle of paper ...

...to be heard by this slowly decaying world.

Works Cited

BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Claybourne, Anna, and Rebecca Treays. The Usborne World of Shakespeare: Internet
Linked. London: Usborne, 2005. Print.
Fox, Levi. The Shakespeare Handbook. Boston, MA: G.K. Hall, 1987. Print.
"Shakespeare's Education and Childhood." Shakespeare's Education and Childhood. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
"Shakespeare Facts: Read Facts About William Shakespeare." No Sweat Shakespeare
RSS2. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2014.
"Shakespeare in Bloom." EBSChost. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Shakespeare, William, and G. Blakemore Evans. Romeo and Juliet. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge UP, 2003. Print.
"When & Where Was William Shakespeare Born?" When & Where Was William Shakespeare
Born. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
"William Shakespeare." EBSCOhost. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.

Show More
Related

  • Troubled Years

    947 Words  | 2 Pages

    William and his family have had problems with fires and other disasters. In 1554, part of Stratford was burned down. Shakespeare's house was almost burnt down but because there was a creek near the house it was saved (Levi 145). In 1555 there was another fire, even though fires were common then many houses and buildings were burnt down, but his house was not harmed (Levi 145). When William was about twelve, his father's fortunes began to take a dive. Though the reason for this is debated, many think that John Shakespeare neglected his family business and was involved in many lawsuits. As a result of their debt, John had to transfer land and mortgage his wife's estate. By 1578, the family became so poor that they didn't have to pay the local taxes. William left school at thirteen to help on the farm (Quennell 133). When he was older and first started writing his plays, many people did not like them, because of this, he became very discouraged and almost stopped (Halliday 158). Once Shakespeare got started his performances nearly doubled. He had trouble keeping up on all the work and he could not write as much as he had before (Halliday 164).

    Read More

  • Fate or Coincidence in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare, an English actor and play write, was born in Stratford upon Avon on April 23, 1564. When he was 18 he married Anne Hathaway, a Stratford woman, who was 26 years old. Shakespeare and Hathaway had three children. The first was Susanna and the twins were Hamnet and Judith. Another of Shakespeare's great works of art, Hamnet, was named after Hamnet. Juliet, in Shakespeare's famous play Romeo and Juliet, was named after Judith. Shakespeare died on April 23, 1601. There are many events that contributed to Romeo and Juliet's deaths. These events are either fate or coincidence.

    Read More

  • Modern-Day Adaptations of Shakespearian Plays

    3255 Words  | 7 Pages

    Adaptation is the process or state of changing to fit new circumstances or conditions, or the resulting change (Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.). When something adapts, or is adapted, it retains the basic content of its former self while taking on new qualities. When a story is adapted, either to a different medium than the one originally used or to a different time or place, the adaptation shows a new interpretation of the story and gives insights into the mindset of the individual that adapted it and the society that created that mind.

    Read More

  • Romeo and Juliet: Shakespeare in Love

    1250 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare was born in Stratford on Avon, England, in April of 1564 to Mary and John Shakespeare. He was the third child and the eldest son. His father was a tanner, glove-maker, and trader in wool and other precious commodities. William attended the Stratford Grammar school where he studied and received substantial training in Latin. He was married on November 27, 1582, to a woman named Anne Hathaway, who was eight years older than he was. In May of 1583, the couple's first daughter, Susanna was born. The couple had twins in February of 1585, Hamnet and Judith. Throughout his life, Shakespeare wrote thirty-seven plays, and several poems and sonnets. He was also an actor for a short while. Several of Shakespears plays were performed at the famous Globe Theater in England. On April 23, 1616 Shakespeare died, he was buried at the church of Stratford on April 25, 1616.

    Read More

  • Macbeth: Gender Sterotypes

    2457 Words  | 5 Pages

    Shakespeare grew up in a family that was considered part of the middle class during the time period in which he lived. His father, John Shakespeare came from a family of farmers. This influenced his father in his work ethic. Growing up with a family of farmers made him a diligent and preserving man (Cousins 18). In his lifetime he held a variety of jobs that made him quite the entrepreneur, “he became a successful glover, landowner, moneylender, and dealer in wool and other agricultural goods” (Greenblatt 42). According to Gewirtz, in Shakespeare’s hometown his father was well known by all the inhabitants, “and in fact at one time held the office corresponding to that of a modern mayor” (5). Lastly, Shakespeare’s mother’s side of the family also earned their living by tending the land that was in close proximity to Stratford called Wilmcote (Bate and Thornton 55). Both sides of his family were alike not only in how they earned their livings but also through the common element of being overall conservative in their lives.

    Read More

  • The World Of Shakespeare In The 1600's And Today

    405 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Shakespearean world of the late 1500's and early 1600's was very, very different from our own. Though there are differences, there are also some similarities. The world of Shakespeare is a unique, and again, is much different than our own.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare Essay

    535 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare, the myth, the man, the legend. Shakespeare was born April 23rd, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare lived a favorable life during the Elizabeth era. William was the fourth child of eight children. His parents were a wealthy business family and they could afford Shakespeare an exceptional education. . Shakespeare’s father worked as an alderman and which attained the family’s income because it was worthy job. Rather less what’s the story behind this splendid man?

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Influence on the English Language

    575 Words  | 2 Pages

    The English language has been in constant transition throughout its history, but the most significant transformation in modern English can be credited to William Shakespeare. With Shakespeare’s invention of commonly used expressions, his creation of new words, and his use of iambic pentameter, he was able to affect the language in a way that no person since has. Shakespeare’s influence on modern English is not only visible in everyday speech, but also in the fact that his work has survived over four hundred years and it continues to be performed and read worldwide.

    Read More

  • Why Is Shakespeare Outdated?

    1593 Words  | 4 Pages

    Is Shakespeare old? Outdated? Shakespeare is something that is taught all across the country in many classes at a variety of ages.Books like “A Midnight Summer’s Dream” and “Romeo and Juliet” and just a few of the examples that are taught. There are some controversies as to whether it should actually be taught or if it is simply a waste of time. Many classes all around the world teach Shakespeare for a number of reasons. As a student who has been taught Shakespeare is an advanced fashion, I have come to the conclusion and strongly believe that it should be taught everywhere. Shakespeare should most certainly be taught because it teaches children important life lessons, it provide a different education, and shows people what the word “love” really means.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Biography

    1390 Words  | 3 Pages

    From baptism records, we know William's father was a John Shakespeare, said to be a town official of Stratford and a local businessman who dabbled in tanning, leatherwork and whittawering which is working with white leather to make items like purses and gloves. John also dealt in grain and sometimes was described as a glover by trade.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare

    2754 Words  | 6 Pages

    Since the records of the Stratford grammar school have not survived, we cannot prove that Shakespeare attended school. In all actuality, we have no evidence that he was even literate. His father had no educational training, so it is quite possible that he also lacked in schooling, but that’s only guesswork. The next piece of hard information that we come across in our search is a register entry showing a Wm. Shaxpere being granted a license to marry Anne Whateley on November 27, 1582. The very next day this same register records a marriage bond issued to William Shagspere and Anne Hathwey. Six months later Anne gave birth to their first child, daughter Susanna Shakspere, and then in February 1585 she gave birth to twins, Hamnet and Judith.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare Research Paper

    1468 Words  | 3 Pages

    “William Shakespeare (26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was and English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s preeminent dramatist” (vodppl.upm.edu 2). He was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK, he also passed away in his hometown. “When Shakespeare died in 1616 the event was barely noticed” (Epstein 7). “Shakespeare’s family was initially prosperous but began having financial difficulties in the 1570’s” (Allen 325). “Shakespeare gained his education by attending the local grammar school, King’s New School, where the curriculum stressed a classic education of Greek mythology and roman comedy”(shakespeareinamericancomunites.org 1). He never carried his educational career to a higher level as in a university. “William Shakespeare was not recognized as an actor, poet, and playwright until 1592” (Allen 346).

    Read More

  • The Influence of Shakespeare

    683 Words  | 2 Pages

    Across the Universe of Time: Shakespeare’s influence on 21st century society. It is harder to imagine a more universal writer than William Shakespeare. Rarely, if ever, is one of his many plays not being performed anywhere in the world and similarly rare is the tertiary English student who has not examined his work at length. His plays, sonnets and poems are common fodder for high school English departments across the globe.

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Influence: The Impact Of The Renaissance By William Shakespeare

    1092 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Renaissance has been a diverse period and had people who held dear to the art and literature, which have developed over the period. Starting with literature, was well known and popular in forms of plays, which have been presented out to people in that era and even today. One of the writers that have been noticed and presented in different styles in our time is William Shakespeare. William was known for writing most of the popular plays in the 1600’s and for interpreting language which was known for being ‘Shakespearean Language’. These languages in his plays are used from the renaissance era and are more likely seen with in the other writer’s stories as well. Though William was not the only one, there are others before him that has studied

    Read More

  • The Life of William Shakespeare

    1331 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shakespeare’s childhood impacted him greatly into becoming who he was. Shakespeare’s childhood was neither exceptional nor dreadful; therefore, he had an uneventful childhood. William Shakespeare was evidently born on April 23, 1564, which is commonly known as St. George’s Day. The records from Holy Trinity Church attested that he was baptized there on April 26, 1564 (Pressley). Traditionally in the Elizabethan era, three days after birth of a child it would be baptized. This led many people to believe that Shakespeare was born on the 23 of April due to his baptism date. Shakespeare was born to Mary Arden and John Shakespeare in the quaint yet wealthy town of Stratford. His father was a glove maker, and Mary was from a higher social class; she was a daughter of a landowner (“Shakespeare, William.” 197-207). Shakespeare’s parents were well respected in the town, even though the family was not royalty. Shakespeare’s home in Stratford was no...

    Read More

More about The Effectiveness of the Modernization of Shakespeare

Open Document