William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

### Birthdate

believed to have been born on April 23, 1564. His exact birthdate is unknown, but he was baptized at Holy Trinity Church three days later on April 26, so it is assumed he was born just days before.

### Family

Father - John Shakespeare
Mother - Mary Arden

Siblings - Gilbert (1566-1612), Joan (1569-1646), Anne (1571-1579), Richard (1574-1613), and Edmund (1580-1607)

Children - Susanna and twins Hamnet and Judith

### Best Known For

his plays, which include comedies, histories, and tragedies

## About

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is considered the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England on April 23, 1564, to John Shakespeare, a well-to-do general storekeeper. He went to a good school where he studied Latin and Greek and became familiar with Greek and Roman plays and poetry. Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories, and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth. Shakespeare's works continue to be studied and reinterpreted. Shakespeare died on his birthday, April 23, in 1616, at the age of fifty-two. His only son, Hamnet, had died at the age of eleven, and his wife died seven years after her son's death. Although his two daughters married and had children, the line died out, so there aren't any descendants of Shakespeare alive today.

## Early Life and Education

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, on April 23, 1564, and was baptized three days later on April 26. His father, John Shakespeare, was an alderman and a successful glove-maker, and his mother, Mary Arden, was the daughter of an affluent landowning family. Although no attendance records for the period survive, most biographers agree that Shakespeare was probably educated at the King's New School in Stratford. In 1576, John Shakespeare resigned from the town council in disgrace, and William had to leave his education behind. After leaving his education incomplete, William most likely had to help within the family business in order to keep the family home. At the age of 18, William was married to the 26-year-old Anne Hathaway.

## Controversies

There are several controversies surrounding William Shakespeare (1564-1616). One of the most debated topics is the identity of the writer of the plays and poems attributed to him, which has been a matter of debate for nearly two centuries. Some scholars argue that Shakespeare did not write all the works attributed to him, while others believe that he did. Other controversies include Shakespeare's physical appearance, his sexuality, and his religious beliefs. Despite these controversies, Shakespeare is generally acknowledged to be the greatest of English writers, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.

## Filmography

There are many films based on the works and life of William Shakespeare. Some of the best movies based on his plays include Romeo + Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello, Hamlet, and The Lion King. There are also movies about Shakespeare's life, such as All is True, Anonymous, Bill, Shakespeare in Love, and A Waste of Shame. Many of Shakespeare's plays have been adapted into films, and some of the most famous adaptations include Laurence Olivier's Hamlet, Akira Kurosawa's Throne of Blood, and Ran.

## Litigation

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was involved in some legal proceedings during his lifetime. On August 17, 1608, Shakespeare or his family or agents acting on his behalf began an action in the Stratford court of record to recover a debt of £6. However, there is no evidence that Shakespeare was ever involved in any other litigation. While Shakespeare can, at times, wield legal language in his works, he approached the relationship between law and liberty as a dramatist rather than a legal theorist.

## Quotes

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is known for his many famous quotes, which are often used in everyday language. Some of his most well-known quotes include “To be, or not to be: that is the question” from Hamlet, “All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players” from As You Like It, and “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” from Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare's quotes cover a wide range of topics, including love, life, death, and human nature, and are still studied and quoted today.