The Role of Plagiarism in Shakespeare

Shakespeare and Plagiarism

William Shakespeare is one of the world’s most prominent playwrights; however, some say that he does not fully deserve the credit for his work because he plagiarized the works of others. Shakespeare, who was born in Stratford upon Avon in 1564, is also known as the “Bard” and has written countless plays and poems which have given rise to countless novels and movie plots (Chandy). It is said that he found a great deal of his inspiration from nature, as he mentions birds in his works more than any other author (Mabillard). Shakespeare supporters might say that he found inspiration from the works of others such as Holinshed and other English historians (Mabillard) rather than plagiarizing.

There is an insufficient amount of information to prove that Shakespeare did not plagiarize, as well as there is not enough to prove that he did. However, from what is known, he did nothing that could actually get him the knowledge needed to be such a great playwright. Shakespeare had never traveled abroad or been to a university, so where he got his ample amount of knowledge about such varied subject matter is unknown (Did Shakespeare actually write all his plays). He knew so much detail about so many different places in Europe such as the River Thames, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster, and the Tower, where several of his characters meet their deaths (Andrews). Shakespeare knew the Greek and Latin languages quite well, although, it is often forgotten that he attended the Stratford Free School where the curriculum was heavy on Greek and Latin as well as several other foreign languages (Wheeler). Some people still like to argue the fact that Shakespeare was not wealthy and had a significant lack of education and would...

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...n of his life of a writer, written on it however is appeal that he be left alone to rest in peace and that anyone who shall try to disturb his bones would be cursed (Chandy).

William Shakespeare is one of the world’s most prominent playwrights; however, some say that he does not fully deserve the credit for his work because he plagiarized from the works of others. He has significant amounts of facts and evidence that point both ways – whether or not her plagiarized – in the argument. The truth about whether William Shakespeare actually did write all of his poems and plays will most likely never be known. There are just simply too many facts to support both sides, therefore meaning that Shakespeare might not ever receive the full credit which he might deserve for all of the hard work which was put into composing each and every one of his elaborate plays and poems.