The Bard

William Shakespeare, a towering figure in English language and literature, was born in April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. When William was 5, his father was accused of illegal money lending and wool dealing by monarchical informants. His father’s subsequent decade-long legal troubles precipitated the family’s fall in economic and social circles. Power, class, and the monarchy sound like pillars for some compelling theater productions.

At age 18, William was one-half of a shotgun wedding to 26-year-old Anne Hathaway. They welcomed daughter Susanna six months later. Twins Judith and Hamnet arrived two years hence. After their birth, William’s goings-on seemed to go underground for the next seven years. Many parents of twins can relate.

Some historians believe William’s seven-year silence may have been due to working as a legal clerk or perhaps a lawyer to support his young family, though he never attended university. If true, it would account for his sharp grasp of legal knowledge, as portrayed in various of his future plays.

Tragically, William’s son Hamnet died at age 11. Many historians believe the bubonic plague claimed his life. This sad experience may have influenced the themes of death, disease, and grief threaded through many of William’s plays. It is thought that his most tragic character, Hamlet, was named after his son.  A recent movie based upon Hamnet just won an Academy Award.

During a performance of Henry VIII at the Globe Theatre in 1613, a cannon used for special effects fired a mix of gunpowder and wadding, and the outer roof caught fire; the ensuing conflagration destroyed the theater. It was at this time that William called it a career. Retirement after bringing the house down seems poetic. William Shakespeare passed away on April 23, 1616.