“No legacy is as rich as honesty.” William Shakespeare wrote this famous saying; however, did he apply these wise words to his life? William Shakespeare, an English playwright and poet, is considered the greatest dramatist of all time (Biography). However, a great deal of controversy circulates as to whether Shakespeare actually authored all of the work that under his name. Many believe he acted as a pseudonym for other authors and did not write his own literature, plays, or poetry, nevertheless not enough reliable evidence exists to support this theory. Some do not believe William Shakespeare originally composed his work because some of his creations contain possible plagiarism, his compositions remain extremely advanced for his education …show more content…
Firstly, no known record of William attending school as a boy exists. Even if he did attend grammar school, Shakespeare did not have a university education, yet his literature shows a deep knowledge of the great classics that he would have to know in order to write about them (The Week). Secondly, most of the great writers have libraries filled with thousands of books, so they can constantly learn new things, but no known traces of books from Shakespeare’s libraries exist (The Week). Maybe Shakespeare did not own any books, but how then would he learn all the information he needed to know in order to write his books? Though not enough evidence subsists to fully support this theory, it still raises many eyebrows as to how Shakespeare knew so …show more content…
Numerous times, throughout some of Shakespeare’s sonnets it is hinted he would often battle with a drinking and drug problem (The Week). Shakespeare drank a lot of ale, beer, and wine and it remains very possible this could distract him from the more important things he needed to accomplish. Shakespeare’s father tasted ale for a living, so this might have made Shakespeare subject to drinking at a young age, which would later influence his life (Mabillard). Not much evidence exists to back up this claim, however in 2001 scientists conducted a study and discovered cannabis and cocaine residue on Shakespeare’s pipes in his garden (The Week). If Shakespeare really smoked these drugs and drank constantly, how would he have time to write all of his famous compositions? Though there is not much proof to back up this theory, it makes many suspicious as to whether or not Shakespeare really authored his
It is thought that since everyone in Shakespeare’s family was uneducated that he also would not have had proper schooling and would be uneducated. If shakespeare was uneducated he could not have written 198 pieces of work ranging from sonnets, poems, and plays. With a vocabulary of over 13,000 words used overall in all of his pieces of work combined, if he was uneducated it is completely impossible for him to have written all of the plays, poems, and sonnets.
Although there are some pieces of evidence that prove otherwise, it is clear to see that Shakespeare wrote his plays.
Abstract: The debate over the legitimacy of the authorship of Shakespearean works has been disputed for centuries. While many scholars have held beliefs that Shakespeare's works have been written by figures such as Christopher Marlowe, Francis Bacon, William Stanley, and others, the most heated debate today is between William Shakespeare and Edward DeVere, the Earl of Oxford. Each side of this debate has many followers, the Stratfordians, or those who claim Shakespeare to be the true author, and the Oxfordians who believe that true credit should go to DeVere. My paper, far from being a complete analysis of the possibilities of Shakespearean authorship, attempts to summarize and rationalize the arguments of these two groups. It would be impossible to include all arguments and evidence in a paper such as this. Full books have been written on aspects of the debate I will not even mention, or may just barely touch on. Hopefully after reading this paper, however, you will have a little better understanding of the debate of authorship. As I am not in any respect a scholar on the subject I shall not attempt to make a conclusion as to which of these men is the author, but rather to inform and explain the many arguments on both sides of this debate in the hopes that the reader can learn a little more about the ongoing debate and form an opinion of his or her own.
The works of Shakespeare are some of the most respected in English literature. They have set the standard for all the great writers who followed. Although these works have been attributed to William Shakespeare of Stratford, they could have been written by anyone. The definite authorship of a work is always uncertain, but these works are particularly contested. There are those who believe someone besides Shakespeare of Stratford wrote the works, while others believe his identity, as a whole, is a conspiracy. Clearly the author of a work is important, but some wonder if knowing the author’s identity is really worth all the fuss. The works of Shakespeare will still reign at the top of English literature no matter who wrote them. Therefore, the question of authorship may not even be relevant.
Wheeler, Kip L. “Did Shakespeare Really Write Shakespeare?” Http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/shake_did_Write_plays.html. N.p. 14 Mar. 2014. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. .
In 1564, a man was born by the name of William Shakespeare. He was born to a poor family, was given little education, and had no interaction with sophisticated society. Thirty-eight plays and over 150 sonnets are not attributed to this ignorant man. Those who believe that Shakespeare was the author have no definitive proof but instead point to Hamlet’s declaration: "The play’s the thing(Satchell 71)." The true author, however, lies hidden behind he name of Shakespeare. Edward de Vere the premier Earl of Oxford is not only considered a great poet in history, but he may also be the great playwright who concocted the sonnets and plays which are now attributed to William Shakespeare of Stratford, England.
“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).
One of the largest mysteries of current time is the debate over who the author of the plays commonly attributed to William Shakespeare really is. Commonly termed as the “authorship problem,” many skeptics believe that the William Shaksper of Stratford (the spelling of his name originally) could not have been the true composer of the plays he is traditionally attributed with. Although the thought of someone besides Shakespeare composing the plays is not popular with the American and European world, there are excessive theories concerning the truth behind the possibility of the works being authentically his.
“Oxford Authorship Argument.” Absolute Shakespeare. 2000-2005. The Oxford arguments: Why Shakespeare could not have authored his works. http://absoluteshakespeare.com/trivia/authorship/authorship_oxford_arguments.htm
This set of attitudes prevents scholars, students, and average citizens alike from understanding Shakespeare's play as dramatic
Ever since the author's background has been questioned, scholars and other people have debated over who wrote the famous plays and sonnets that have the name William Shakespeare signed on them. Many alternative candidates have been presented, such as Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford. However, these people do not have strong or valid arguments to support their theories. Based on biographical evidence, Shakespeare, not Edward de Vere, most likely wrote Shakespearean works. The arguments for other candidates like de Vere are not strong enough to show that Shakespeare did not write Shakespearean works.
So to conclude, we can safely agree with most academics that William Shakespeare did exist and that he did indeed write the 37 plays and 154 sonnets credited to him.
Many of the stories we read, movies and Television we watch pull some inspiration from the well known playwright, William Shakespeare. But, what if Shakespeare didn’t write his plays or, what if Shakespeare wasn’t even real? Most people if not everyone know who William Shakespeare is. We all know his works.
Over the past 20 or so years, there has been a lot of questions who the true author is of the Shakespeare plays. I side with the Oxfordians, who believe that Shakespeare is not the true author of the plays and other literary works that he receives credit for. The opposite side of the argument is the Stratfordians, who believe that Shakespeare was the one man who wrote over 30 plays and over 150 sonnets. The Stratfordian side of the argument says that Shakespeare is the true author of all the works attributed to him.
He was born in Stratford-on-Avon on April 23rd, 1564. Shakespeare never attended a university and was thought to have been educated at a local school in Stratford. The purpose of this minor school was to prepare scholars for the hard toil of the grammar school. No history, geography, music, handicrafts or physical training was taught. It is evident no doubt that William gained something from the Latin texts he read at school. He loved Ovid and was overjoyed when towards the end of the century Francis Meres wrote: ‘As the soule of Euphorbus was thought to live in Pythagoras: so the sweete wittie soule of Ovis lives in mellifluous an...