William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, northwest of London and baptized on April 26, 1564. He was most likely born a few days earlier (his birthdate is given as April 23, the feast day of St. George and the same day he died 52 years later).

He was one of eight children - the son of a glover. It is unknown whether Shakespeare attended the local school (the King's New School), but it is likely that he studied Latin grammar, rhetoric and literature. He later drew on literary works from the likes of Terence, Plautus, Virgil, Ovid and the writings of Caesar.

In November 1582 at the age of eighteen he married Anne Hathaway (age 26) who bore him three children - Suzannah (May, 1583) and twins Hamnet and Judith (1585). The family remained in Stratford throughout Shakespeare's career, though he himself went to London in the late 1580's. By 1590 he was an established playwright (and sometime actor) with the Lord Chamberlain's Men. In 1598, the company tore down their existent venue and built what would remain the principal public theatre for the rest of Shakespeare's career - the Globe Theatre.

Shakespeare became the most popular playwright in London and enjoyed handsome profits from the patronage of the court, particularly when James I took the throne in 1603 and adopted the Chamberlain's Men as his own King's Men.

Shakespeare's accomplishments as a playwright are amazing. Early in his career he wrote two cycles of "history" plays and a range of comedies from The Comedy of Errors and Two Gentlemen of Verona to far more complex works like Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice. He is perhaps most famous for his tragedies including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth. William Shakespeare retired in 1613 and returned to his home in Stratford.

Additional Information on

William Shakespeare...

Shakespeare, William - Literature Online http://longman.awl.com/kennedy/shakespeare/biography.html

Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet http://daphne.palomar.edu/shakespeare/

Shakespeare's Biography http://shakespeare.about.com/arts/shakespeare/msub-biography.htm

Film links:

Macbeth and Star Wars

http://tqd.thinkquest.org/2888

Indian film inspired by Macbeth

http://yellamma.indiaa.com/

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SUNY - Stony Brook

Theater Department, SUNY Stony Brook