William Shakespeare

“What’s in a name? Would not a rose by any other name smell as sweet?” William Shakespeare, a name we have all heard at some point, but who is he? William Shakespeare, the man who has influenced our culture through his various literary works. What is the truth behind the brilliant man whom penned the renowned words filling the pages of the ever significant Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, or The Tempest?

William Shakespeare was born William Shakspere. Aside from contemporary and popular belief, it is a common misconception that his last name included the “e” after the “k” and the “a” after the “pe”. Spelling was incredibly disorganized during the Elizabethan time period (Whalen 31). Families could have the same last name, but their family name would vary depending upon how the writer thought it should have been spelled.

It is also speculated that Shakespeare was a fabricated pseudonym, because approximately half of the time Shakespeare was hyphenated and written as Shake-speare (Whalen 32). His last name is just yet another part of the mystery shrouding this extraordinary playwright.

Will Shakspere was the son of John Shakspere and Mary Arden. It is unknown the specific date of his birth, but he was born in the town Stratford-upon-Avon supposedly on the 23rd of April in 1564, St. George’s Day and the date of his death fifty-two years later. St. George’s Day, a commemoration which occurred on April 23rd, was a magnificent day of feast celebrating the patron saint of England. Due to the proximity of his birth date, historians have used that day to mark an approximate day of William’s birth. Disappointingly, there has been no birth certificate ever found. On April 26, 1564, William was baptized in the great church of...

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