William Shakespeare Life of William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

Life of William Shakespeare • Known as the world’s most performed & admired playwright • Born approximately on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England

Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • Father: John Shakespeare – Whittawer: maker, worker and seller of leather goods such as purses, belts & gloves – Also was a dealer of agricultural commodities such as wool, grain, malt and other farm produce – Active in Stratford-upon-Avon government until financial difficulties began – Illiterate – Died 1601 (60 years old)

Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • Mother: Mary Arden – Married John Shakespeare in 1557 – Had eight children • William was the 3 rd child and first son – Her role in the family was to bring up the Shakespeare family – Died September 9 th, 1608 of unknown causes (68 years old)

Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • Education – Attended the “Free School” Elementary School • Motivation = Parents’ Illiteracy • Studied Latin, Latin Grammar, ancient writers, and mythology • Learned to write and recite Latin

Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • Education (cont’d) – At age 13 or 14, Shakespeare was withdrawn from school by his father so that he could help father run his business – Also received education from his mandatory attendance at church, where he was influenced by the Bible, The Book of Common Prayer, & Foxe’s Acts & Monuments

Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • Married Anne Hathaway – November 28, 1582 – William was 18; Anne was 26 – Anne 3 months pregnant when they married – Marriage done in haste

Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • Children – 1 st child: Susanna • Born 6 months after William & Anne married • May 26, 1583 – 2 years later: • Twins born: Hamnet & Judith – Hamnet died @ age 11 for unknown causes

Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • The “Lost” Years – 1586 to 1592 – Shakespeare moved to London • Believed that Shakespeare moved to London to avoid prosecution for poaching deer • Leaves wife and children in Stratford – Became involved in theatre • Lord Chamberlain’s Men – Began writing poetry and plays – No record of Shakespeare’s activities until 1592 when Shakespeare is criticized by a rival playwright

Life of William Shakespeare (cont’d) • Career – Gained fame about age 21 – Member and part owner of Lord Chamberlain’s Men (later became known as King’s Men) – Was an actor for about 20 years, which is where he earned most of his money – Wrote 37 plays • Was paid approximately $40 to write a play – Wrote 154 sonnets

Shakespeare’s Works • Shakespeare’s Early Works can be divided into 4 groups: 1. The Classical Plays 2. The History Plays 3. The Narrative Poems and Sonnets 4. Experiments in comedy

Shakespeare’s Works (cont’d) • 4 Major Works – Romeo & Juliet – Julius Caesar – Hamlet – Macbeth

Shakespeare’s Death • Died April 23, 1616 – 52 years old – Died of unknown causes

The Globe Theatre

Facts about the Globe Theatre • Built in 1599 • Where most of Shakespeare’s plays were performed • Built of the wood • London’s most magnificent theatre ever seen • Located across the Thames River • Shakespeare was co-owner of “The Globe Theatre” • Motto: “All the world’s a stage” • Also known as the “Wooden O”

Facts about the Globe Theatre (cont’d) • June 1613 – Theatre burned to the ground • Rebuilt in 1613 • 1642 – Closed by the Puritans

Layout of “The Globe Theatre” • Could hold approximately 3, 000 spectators • To advertise a play, a colored flag was flown indicating the type of play that would be performed • Large, circular or octagonal design, 3 stories high • At the base of the stage, was the “pit” for the groundlings to stand watch the play – Cost to stand: one penny • Around the base was 3 levels of seating – First 2 levels = Twopenny Rooms – Third Level = Penny Gallery

Layout of “The Globe Theatre”

Facts about Performances • Minimum scenery, natural lightning, words in play gave time & day of play • NO female actresses • Minimum furniture props • Pig bladders filled with blood were used in death/stabbing scenes • No curtains

Actors • Had to be able to fence, tumble, dance, sing, and play two roles in one play • Had to have strong voices with good elocution (no microphones) • Lord Chamberlain’s Men – Acting company of “The Globe Theatre” – Company consisted of 10 -12 adults, 6 boy apprentices & 2 -3 stage hands

Costumes • Authentic to the actor’s times • Received by buying costumes cheaply from servants who inherited them • Color of Costumes was symbolic

Women • Theatre was not appropriate for women • Only the extremely wealthy women were allowed in theatre but had to be escorted by a Lord • In the “Pit, ” the Ladies of the Evening often solicited business from the groundlings before performance