The Stolen Plays
William Shakespeare is a fraud. Whoever wrote the plays Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and many more plays was a phenomenal writer. He or she was able to rhyme, use iambic pentameter, use puns, and was able to contribute 1,200 at minimum of the English language in one play itself. Which Williams Shakespeare was clearly unable to write these plays. Many people believe he wrote the plays that are in his name but as research shows he did not have the right education, he did not have the means, motive, or opportunity, and he did not publish any of his plays while he was alive.
Since William Shakespeare did not have the right education it is impossible for him to write these plays the way they were written. For example, according to Amanda Mabillard’s article “Shakespeare likely had some lessons in English, Latin, composition and the study of Latin authors like Seneca, Cicero, Ovid, Virgil, and Horace which would have been the focus of his literary training” (Mabillard para. 3). Even though he had basic education in elementary teachings, the education he had is not enough to write these plays so strategically, and with words so advanced. Besides, most students do not have a good grasp at writing until they hit junior high. Since William Shakespeare never went to junior high, his education was not good enough to be able to be such an advanced writer/author. Additionally, Amanda Mabillard claims that “the author of these plays had an impressive familiarity with the stories by Latin authors…” (Mabillard para. 3). Considering that William Shakespeare only went to elementary school he would not have been able to learn about Latin authors without further training. Furthermore, these plays all...
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... Shakespeare did not have the right education for such an advanced writer, he did not have the means, motive, and opportunity to write these plays, and also never published his own plays before his death. William Shakespeare is a well know and a very popular author and as the research showed he did not write these plays.
Work Cited
Alchin, Linda. "William Shakespeare Plays." WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE PLAYS. N.p., 1 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. .
Dutch, Steven. "Who Wrote Shakespeare's Plays?" Who Wrote Shakespeare's Plays? N.p., 5 Feb. 1998. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. .
Mabillard, Amanda. Shakespeare's Education and Childhood. Shakespeare Online. N.p.,` 12 Sept. 2000. Web. 28 April 2014. < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/shakespeareeducation.html>.
Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet: Entire Play." Hamlet: Entire Play. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2014. .
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as on the of the best playwrights and poets to have ever existed. “It is a widely speculated topic that William Shakespeare did not write the poems and that up to about 50 other poets could have writen them.”("Shakespeare facts: Read," 2011) “William Shakespeare is the second most quoted writer in the english language.” ("Shakespeare facts: Read," 2011) It is widely speculated that the true Shakespeare is actually Edward De Vere. I firmlybelieve Shakespeare was not the true playwright because of his lack of education, lack of upper class etiquette, and the different penmanship over time.
Over the past few decades, there's been controversy over whether or not Shakespeare is the real author of his plays. Shakespeare is famously known for his work including, Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar. Throughout his work it is clear to see his originality and his extensive education. Some people may use this against him and say that it is impossible for someone of his status to write so greatly about politics and be able to use such character. Through stylometry, proof of his education, the actors, and the death of one of the alleged authors, it is proven that Shakespeare is, in fact, the real and rightful owner of his work.
Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare. Ed Stephen Greenblatt, et al. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1997.
How could such a marvelous person like Shakespeare be called a fraud, how could that make any sense? Many people known about Shakespeare and how well known he was in writing his famous plays. There is evidence to show whether or not that Shakespeare even wrote the plays. However based on theories, there are many reasons why only Shakespeare could write the plays that he supposable did not write.
Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare. Edited Stephen Greenblatt et al. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1997.
Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare. Edited Stephen Greenblatt et al. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1997.
“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).
Wikipedia contributors. "William Shakespeare." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 23 Mar 2012. Web. 27 Mar 2012.
Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare. Edited Stephen Greenblatt et al. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1997.
Due to the confusion of a minor mistake from Shakespeare’s time, his true birth date, along with where his education took place remains a mystery. The only things that biographers have to hold onto are suspicions as to where these events could’ve been observed. His suspected is birthday is observed by the public as Saint George’s Day, April 23rd. With only a day given, his exact birth year remains a questionable theory. It is believed that Shakespeare actually attended the school closest to his home in Stratford, known as the “King’s New School”, where he studies grammar. He didn’t choose to continue his studies by going forward into a university. Since there is hardly any factual information about Shakespeare, due to a slight “error”, suspicion arises. ...
Shakespeare’s plays are a product of the Elizabethan theatrical context in which they were first performed. A lot of pressure was put on Shakespeare as he wrote his plays because he was not allowed to upset the royal family. His style would have been different than others in those times and a lot more thought has gone into his writing than people listening would think. Usually, the audience take for granted the cleverness and thought of Shakespeare’s writing, however, now we have studied and gone into great detail about Shakespeare’s writing, we can appreciate it more than they did:
Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." The Norton Shakespeare. Stephen Greenblatt, Ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1996. 1668-1756
“William Shakespeare." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2nd ed. Vol. 14. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 142-145. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 5 Nov. 2013.
In his time, Shakespeare was the most popular playwright of London. As time passed, his smartness covers all others of his age; Jonson, Marlowe, Kyd, Greene, Dekker, Heywood—none had the craft or the kindness of character. He was the master of poetry writing and he did it well. He created the most vivid characters of the Elizabethan stage. His usage of language, both high and low, shows a remarkable fun and insight. His themes fit all generation even to this day.