“To be or not to be” wrote William Shakespeare in his play Hamlet. Or did he? For years intellectuals have debated whether Shakespeare really wrote his 154 sonnets and 37 plays (Pruitt). Despite the present-day lack of evidence to prove Shakespeare’s authorship and the myriad theories to the contrary, the balance tips toward concluding that Shakespeare is the one true author of his impactful collection of works. When people start to question the authorship of Shakespeare’s plays they immediately turn to his education and lower class lifestyle. How could a poor man from Stratford write such insightful and politically complex plays? (Pruitt). With regards to the argument that Shakespeare wasn’t educated enough to know about politics, have an
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Some posit that Queen Elizabeth may have been the author, but used Shakespeare’s name as an alias. It is widely accepted that social taboos against female writers may have forced her to lie despite her strong grasp of politics, the classics, rhetoric and languages that would have allowed her to compose Shakespeare’s works (Fowler). Wheeler, however, points out that Queen Elizabeth wrote quite a bit of poetry under her own name (Wheeler). Furthermore, the “stigma of print” that many “anti-Stratfordians” argue was the reason many aristocratic authors used fake names simply did not exist in the Elizabethan England. In reference to a well-known book about Shakespeare’s authorship entitled Contested Will, James Shapiro suggests that, if a nervous aristocratic author did not wish to be identified, they he could have done nothing and let their play reach London’s bookstalls without a name where it would go unnoticed (Knapp). In addition, Knapp establishes Shakespeare’s popularity in the Elizabethan era by referencing to works where Shakespeare is praised by his peers. In 1592, Robert Greene refers to Shakespeare as an “upstart crow.” In 1594 and 1595, Shakespeare’s Lucrece is praised. By 1598, publishers began adding his name to works because of his fame. Shakespeare was even named one …show more content…
Stanley Wells explained that there are gaps in the records, but because Shakespeare wasn’t an aristocrat it is very logical to have missing pieces in his story (Gore-Langton). In addition, Wells emphasizes that there is a lot of posthumous evidence, especially in the First Folio (Gore-Langton). Shakespeare was also involved in a number of theatre companies, such as Lord Chamberlain’s Men (1594-1596 and 1597-1603), in addition to Lord Hudson’s Men (1596-1597) and the King’s Men (1603- 1642). In John Davies’ poem, “The Scourge,” (1610) William Shakespeare is identified as a playwright, “To our English Terence, Mr. Will. Shake-speare” (Fowler). In addition, Shakespeare’s name appears on deeds for the Globe Theatre and in the Baptismal record of 1564 of Stratford-upon- Avon (Fowler). Most scholars accept that William Shakespeare was married to Anne Hathaway with children, born in Stratford-upon-Avon, and had a three-page will and some business papers unrelated to writing
Some posit that Queen Elizabeth may have been the author, but used Shakespeare’s name as an alias. It is widely accepted that social taboos against female writers may have forced her to lie despite her strong grasp of politics, the classics, rhetoric and languages that would have allowed her to compose Shakespeare’s works (Fowler). Wheeler, however, points out that Queen Elizabeth wrote quite a bit of poetry under her own name (Wheeler). Furthermore, the “stigma of print” that many “anti-Stratfordians” argue was the reason many aristocratic authors used fake names simply did not exist in the Elizabethan England. In reference to a well-known book about Shakespeare’s authorship entitled Contested Will, James Shapiro suggests that, if a nervous aristocratic author did not wish to be identified, they he could have done nothing and let their play reach London’s bookstalls without a name where it would go unnoticed (Knapp). In addition, Knapp establishes Shakespeare’s popularity in the Elizabethan era by referencing to works where Shakespeare is praised by his peers. In 1592, Robert Greene refers to Shakespeare as an “upstart crow.” In 1594 and 1595, Shakespeare’s Lucrece is praised. By 1598, publishers began adding his name to works because of his fame. Shakespeare was even named one …show more content…
Stanley Wells explained that there are gaps in the records, but because Shakespeare wasn’t an aristocrat it is very logical to have missing pieces in his story (Gore-Langton). In addition, Wells emphasizes that there is a lot of posthumous evidence, especially in the First Folio (Gore-Langton). Shakespeare was also involved in a number of theatre companies, such as Lord Chamberlain’s Men (1594-1596 and 1597-1603), in addition to Lord Hudson’s Men (1596-1597) and the King’s Men (1603- 1642). In John Davies’ poem, “The Scourge,” (1610) William Shakespeare is identified as a playwright, “To our English Terence, Mr. Will. Shake-speare” (Fowler). In addition, Shakespeare’s name appears on deeds for the Globe Theatre and in the Baptismal record of 1564 of Stratford-upon- Avon (Fowler). Most scholars accept that William Shakespeare was married to Anne Hathaway with children, born in Stratford-upon-Avon, and had a three-page will and some business papers unrelated to writing