William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born at Stratford-on-Avon in April, 1564. William was bap­tized on April 26. April 23 is St. George's Day and England's National Day. It is also the date of Shake­speare's death. Many people believe that he was born and died on the same date. But the date of his birth­day is unknown. He was the third of 8 children of John Shakespeare and his wife, Mary Arden. She mar­ried John when she was about 17, in 1557.

His family was gentle on both sides. William's father had lands received from Henry VII. He was a glover and the local policeman. Will's mother was a daughter of a gentleman of honourable family. 11 years William attended a free grammar school. But the days of study ended when he married at 18 Anna Hathaway, 26. Before 21 he was father of 3 children, daughter Susanna, and a twin son and daughter, Hamnet and Judith /1585/.

It made him seek a fortune in London. He went to the great city in 1586. While he was in London he fell in love with a «dark lady» whom he wrote about in his sonnets. He became known in London theat­rical life. William went back home to his family only when the theatre season ended. For 25 years he lived so.

In 1593 appeared his first poem «Venus and Adonis» In 1594 he was able to purchase a share in the acting company Men. From 1594 to 1608 Shakespeare was fully involved in the London theatre life. He wrote two plays a year for the Men. In 1595 he wrote his first tragedy «Romeo and Juliet».

In 1596, a great sorrow fell upon the poet: his only son Hamnet died at 11. In 1597, Shakespeare purchased New Place, one of the two largest houses in Stratford. He helped his parents. In 1599, Shake­speare and 6 associates became owners of the outdoor theatre Globe. King James I supported the theatre; the company became King's Men. The actors entertained the king at the court.

From 1599 to 1608 was a period of extraordinary literary activity for Shakespeare. During these years he wrote the comedies and tragedies that made him famous: «Much Ado About Nothing», «Hamlet», «King Lear», «Othello».

Family events must have called him back to Stratford. In 1607, his daughter Susanna, 24, got mar­ried; in 1608 Shakespeare's mother died.

In 1609, Thomas Thorpe published «Shakespeare's Sonnets». The volume contained 154 sonnets written in his youth. In 1612 A Funeral Elegy was printed in honour of William Peter.

On February 19, 1616, Shakespeare's daughter Judith, 30, got married. Six weeks later, Shake­speare revised his will. Within a month, on April 26, he died at 52. He was buried inside the Stratford church, and a monument was erected to his memory. In 125 years, in 1741, another monument was erected in the Westminster Abbey.

His wife Anna Hathaway survived her husband 8 years. His favourite daughter Susanna gave birth to only child, Elizabeth, who was married twice but childless in 1670. She was Shakespeare's last direct descendant. Judith had three sons all of whom died in childhood.

Various ages have found various things in Shakespeare. The Romantics admitted his freedom. The 19^th century admired his delicate psychological insight of his characterization. All ages have admired his command of language. He is presented by modern critics as deeply concerned with the moral basis of life. «Nature», «right», «order», «truth», the key concepts, created and tested in the conflicts which form the plays.