Literary Tribute: William Shakespeare

In this post I would like to bring attention to one of the greatest poets of all time, William Shakespeare. To me his name has always been at the threshold of writing; (whether that be playwright, poet, dramatist, or just great writing in general). I have always known of the name, and appreciated his significance as a writer myself, however have never come to truly understand his work. That is until now, after a recent inspiration from the 1998 film, Shakespeare in Love.

The film is an incredible portrayal of the passionate artist that Shakespeare was; always bursting with words of wonder. Just like any normal artist, he finds blocks, however is able to rise above them through real life experiences. My greatest take away from the film's portrayal, was Shakespeare's natural ease of assembling the most beautiful of words. It's no doubt a rare artistic gift to produce something out of true passion. It is a gift that only few are blessed with. Shakespeare's masterful influence on the art of writing is on par with Mozart's influence on music, or Da Vinci's influence on painting. He was a true master of his art and one of history's most significant persons.

Here is what I have come to understand of Shakespeare up until now. He lived in England at the height of the Elizabethan Age, (late 1500s) the golden age of Queen Elizabeth. It was a time when the theater was beginning to blossom, and Shakespeare quickly rose to fame thru his unique style of play-writing. His style consisted of poetic narratives full of metaphors and rhetorical questions; it's a style that's not always easy to comprehend yet still so delightful on the ears. He wrote sonnets as well as plays of comedy, history, and tragedy. He was best known for his tragedies. Some of his greatest works include Romeo and Juliet, MacBeth, Hamlet, Midsummer Night's Dream, and Othello.  

The Life of William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare lived a short and mysterious life, 52 years from 1564 to 1616. He was born in the English town of Stratford-upon-Avon where he was brought up in a middle class family. Not much is known about his early years, however it can be assumed that he excelled in grammar and Latin. In 1582, at the age of 18 he married Anne Hathaway and had three children with her. That 10 years that followed as a parent and husband, are often referred to as his "lost years", where not much is known about his life. It was not until 1592 when Shakespeare moved to London to begin his theatrical career, that there was recorded evidence of his life.

There is great mystery as to why Shakespeare left his wife and family in Stratford to begin a theater career in London. In 1592 he began as an actor/writer and joined a playing company known as the Lord Chamberlein's Men. He quickly climbed the ranks of the company, and by 1594 he had become one of it's managing partners as a producer and writer. It was during this time that Shakespeare's work began to blossom, and soon his company of players became the most popular in London. Many of his plays were performed for Queen Elizabeth herself. By this point he had established himself as a very successful artist. He bought his wife and family in Stratford a new house, while he continued to work in London.

In 1599 his play company built their own theater near the Thames River, that became known as the Globe. This made Shakespeare a successful business man as well as an artist, and he continued to produce some of the most innovative and popular plays of it's time. In 1603 his company changed their name to the King's Men, in recognition of Elizabeth's successor, King James. Shakespeare wrote 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and 2 narrative poems.Many of his plays became published as literature throughout his lifetime. Towards the end of his career, he lived a very wealthy life traveling back and from from Stratford to London. He died in 1616, the cause is unknown, however it is generally believed that he spent his final years with his family in Stratford.  

The Plays of Shakespeare

• The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1589)
• Shakespeare's first comedy, briefly portrayed in Shakespeare in Love, where the queen hysterically laughs at the clownish servant Proteus and his dog, Crab. There is also a brief mention of Robin Hood in this play. 
• The Taming of the Shrew (1590)
• This comedy was adapted into the 1999 film, Ten Things I Hate About You. A wealthy father, has two daughters; the elder is a grumpy shrew, while the younger is beautiful and has many suitors. The father makes a decree that his younger daughter cannot marry until the elder sister does. 
• Famous Lines:
• "I'll not budge an inch"
• "Out of the jaws of death"
• "For the rain it raineth every day"
• Henry VI: Part 1, 2, 3 (1591-1592)
• This historical play highlights the life of King Henry VI of England. It first deals with his loss of territories to the French, then the conflicts among his nobles which led to the War of Roses, and finally the aftermath of the war. The play was believed to be a collaboration.
• Famous Lines:
• "Delays have dangerous ends"
• "True nobility is exempt from fear"
• Titus Andronicus (1591)
• This was Shakespeare's first tragedy and considered to be on of his most violent and least respected works. It was a fictional tale of a Roman general named Titus on a quest of revenge against Tamora, Queen of the Goths. 
• Famous Lines:
• "These words are razors to my wounded heart"
• Richard III (1592)

• This historic play depicts the cunning rise to power of King Richard III of England. It can also be considered a tragedy as the protagonist is slayed at the War of Roses by Henry VII.
• Famous Lines:
• "Now is the winter of our discontent"
• "Off with his head"
• Edward III (1593)
• This historic play depicts the life of King Edward III of England, and is most notably for it's negative portrayal of the Scottish people. It was a collaboration, that is often considered one of Shakespeare's least involved works. 
• The Comedy of Errors (1594)
• This is Shakespeare's shortest play and considered one of his most slapstick of comedies. The comedy revolves around two sets of identical twins and their constant mistaken identities.
• Love's Labour's Lost (1595)
• This comedy revolves around a king and his three companions as they swear off love to focus on their studies. Yet they are rather subdued by a princess and her three ladies, and thus their oath is broken. This play was adapted into a musical film of the same name, released in 2000, and directed by Kenneth Branagh.  
• Famous Lines:
• "There is no angel but love"
• Richard II (1595)
• This historic play was based on the life of King Richard II of England, who ruled England from 1377 until he was overthrown in 1399 by his successor, King Henry IV. Therefore this play can also be considered a tragedy, similar to his play about Richard III. It also is considered the first part of his Henriad tetralogy (which would pave the way for three other historic plays; Henry IV parts 1 and 2, and Henry V) 
• Famous Lines:
• "Live in thy shame, but die not shame with thee"

• Romeo and Juliet (1595)
  
• This romantic tragedy is perhaps one of Shakespeare's most well known plays. It should be noted that Shakespeare did not create it's original content however expanded the story with new supporting characters. It's basis consists of two young lovers, from opposing families, who defy their parent's to be married. However it ultimately ends in tragedy as Romeo takes his life with poision when he mistakes Juliet for dead. She then stabs herself at the sight of her dying lover, and the two die in one another's arms. However their deaths bring peace to the feuding families. This drama became quite groundbreaking during it's time for it's unusual mixtures of comedy and tragedy. To this day it has been regarded as one of Shakespeare's finest works, and has been adapted many times into popular films such as Baz Luhrmann's 1996 adaptation, Romeo + Juliet.
• Famous Lines:
• "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?"
• "It is the east, and Juliet is the sun"
• Good Night, good night! Parting in such sweet sorrow, that i Shall say goodnight till it be morrow."
• "See how she leans her cheek upon her hand. O that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek."
• "What light through yonder window breaks"

• A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595)  

• This was yet another popular comedy of it's time, which became one of Shakespeare's widespread classics. The basis is one of Greek mythology and Athenian tradition. It revolves around two sets of lovers who escape into the woods so that they can be with one another. They also come across 6 actors, who are rehearsing in the forest. The entire group is mistakenly and magically transformed by two arguing fairies. When they are returned to normal, they declare it was a midsummer night's dream and the lovers are properly united. It is perhaps one of my personal favorites of Shakespeare, of which I still intend to grow more familiar with. 
• Famous Lines:
• "The course of true love never did run smooth"
• "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind"
• "Lord what fools these mortals be"
• "It's not enough to speak, but to speak true"

• King John (1596)
• This was a historic play based on the life of King John of England who reigned from 1199 to 1216. King John is often associated as unpopular with the people, which led to the sealing of the Magna Carta. He is also often associated as a villain in the Robin Hood tales, however the character is not included in this play. 
• Famous Lines:
• "Strong reasons make strong actions"
• The Merchant of Venice (1597)
  
• This popular comedy depicts an Italian lover, who takes out a loan from a Jewish banker named Shylock, to woo a woman. However when he is unable to repay the loan, the Jewish banker, becomes the antagonist and demands a piece of Antonio's flesh. Shylock is eventually accused of intent to kill and must forfeit his fortune as well as convert to Christianity. This play is quite famous for it's anti-Semitic portrayals of it's time.  
• Famous Lines: 
• "If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?"
• "But Love is blind, and lovers cannot see"
• "You speak an infinite deal of nothing"
• "If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men's cottage princes' palaces."

• Henry IV Part 1 and 2 (1596-1598)
• This was a historic play about the life and reign of King Henry IV of England who ruled from 1399-1413. The first part of the play deals with the King's military campaigns against the Scottish and English rebels. The 2nd part of the play is a detailed extension of the scenes from the 1st play, also introducing a comical knight named Falstaff. Both plays served as the 2nd and 3rd part of his Henriad tertalogy, concerning the consecutive reigns of Richard II, Henry IV, and Henry V.

• Famous Lines:
• "He will give the devil his due"
• "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown"
• "A man can die but once"
• The Merry Wives of Windsor (1597)
• This comedy is set during the reign of Henry IV and revolves around Shakespeare's fictional character of Sir John Falstaff. He was a fat knight who foolishly chased two married women. This comedic character appeared in several of Shakespeare's plays concerning the Henriad. 
• Famous Lines:
• "Why then the world's mine oyster."
• Much Ado about Nothing (1598)
• This romantic comedy has often been considered one of Shakespeare's best comedies as it is a joyful topic without any violence. It subtly combines serious themes of infidelity and deception into a lighthearted and funny play. It deals with two couples as they gossip and argue among one another, and then are reunited. 
• Famous Lines:
• "Everyone can master a grief but he that has it"
• "Friendship is constant in all other things"
• Henry V (1599)
• This historic play concerns the life of King Henry V of England who reigned from 1413 to 1422. It is the final part in Shakespeare's Henriad tertalogy. It depicts several battles against the French during the Hundred Years War. specifically the Battle of Agincourt. This play is also notable as it details the death of the popular fictional character Falstaff.
• Famous Lines:
•  "Men of few words are the best men"
• Julius Caesar (1599)
  
• This historic-tragedy is quite notable since it's Shakespeare's first break from English history to focus on Roman history. The subject matter is on the tragic assassination of Julius Caesar, and the after affect it brings to his close friend, Brutus. The play has many notable famous lines in it, and I remember studying it in my grade school literature class.
• Famous Lines: 
• "Beware the Ides of March"
• "Et tu, Brute?"
• "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him."
• "Cry Havoc, and let slip the dogs of war"
• Men at some time are masters of their fates; Their fault dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings"
• "Not I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more"
• "Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste death but once"

• As You Like It (1599)
• This comedy depicts a fleeing character named Rosalind, who escapes from persecution into the Forest of Arden. There she meets many rural characters, most notably a melancholy traveler known as Jaques. This is another one of Shakespeare's most famous characters, best known for his wise monologue that "all the world's a stage." This popular phrase categorizes a man's life into seven ages; infancy, schoolboy, lover, soldier, justice, old age, and incapacity.
• Famous Lines:
• "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts."
• "Can one desire too much of a good thing."
• "How bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes."
• "The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool."
• "Whoever loved that loved not at first sight?"

•  Hamlet (1599)
  
• This tragedy is arguably one of Shakespeare's most famous plays, that achieved massive success during and after his lifetime. It is set in the kingdom of Denmark, where the prince Hamlet seeks revenge for the murder of his father. The antagonist is Hamlet's uncle, Claudius, who killed his brother and married his widow to become king. In his mad scheme for revenge, Hamlet falls for the noble daughter, Ophelia, however mistakenly kills her father thinking it is Claudius. This drives Ophelia into a suicidal rage as she eventually drowns herself. This infuriates her brother Laertes, who challenges Hamlet to a duel, while the scheming Claudius looks upon. In the final scene of classic Shakespearean tragedy, Laertes and Hamlet stab each other with a poisoned tip, yet in his final bit of strength Hamlet is able to kill Claudius. 
• Famous Lines:
• "To be or not to be, that is the question"
• "Though this be madness, yet there is method in it"
• "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so"
• "Brevity is the soul of wit"
• "Doubt that the sun doth move, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love."
• "To thine own self be true"
• "We know what we are, but know not what we may be"

• Twelfth Night (1601)
  
• This comedy gives homage to the English Christian tradition of the Twelfth Night Holiday, the eve of the Epiphany which is the closing of Christmas. In the film Shakespeare in Love, it is suggested that the play was commissioned by Queen Elizabeth and the heroine Viola, was a muse of his. The story revolves around the twins, Viola and Sebastian who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola disguises herself as a boy for security, and wins the love of the Countess Olivia, whilst in turn her brother falls for Olivia, making for an unusual love triangle.
• Famous Lines: 
• "Some are born great, others achieve greatness"
• "Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit"
• "Be not afraid of greatness; some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them"
• "If music be the food love then play on"

• Troilus and Cressida (1602)
• This tragedy once again returns to Greek Mythology as it is set during the Trojan War. Troilus is the youngest son of King Priam, who falls for the priestess daughter Cressida. However this romance is only a minor sub-plot of the epic Trojan War and it's many heroes. This play has often been considered one of Shakespeare's weakest for it's lack of direction and resolve. 
• Famous Lines:
• "The common curse of manking; folly and ignorance."
• "Things won are done; joy's soul lies in the doing"
• Measure for Measure (1603)
• This comedy from Shakespeare is another of his least popular ones. It once again lacks direction and confuses the audience with light themes of comedy yet heavy themes of justice and mercy. The play does not end tragically, and is best known for its clever line that "some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall".
• Famous Lines:
• "Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall"
• The miserable have no other medicine but only hope"
•  Othello (1603)
  
• This tragedy is another Shakespeare classic and deals with heavy themes of racism, infidelity, jealousy, betrayal, revenge, and sheer manipulation. The basis revolves around Othello, a dark skinned Moorish General in the Venetian Army. He is married to the beautiful Venetian Desdemona in secret. The conflict arises when Othello gives a promotion to his officer, Cassio and not to Iago, his 2nd officer. Feeling undervalued, Iago takes revenge on Othello, through a carefully planned scheme of deception. He attempts to stage an affair between Cassio and the General's wife, Desdemona, which succeeds on incurring the General's jealousy. In an argument over the affair Othello tragically strangles his wife to death. Meanwhile Iago is discovered by his wife, for having schemed the entire affair and is arrested. Othello realizes the affair was a total ploy and that his wife was innocent, he thus kills himself from shame. A terrible tragedy of sheer manipulation.  
• Famous Lines:
• "Tis neither here nor there"
• "I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at"
• "The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief"
• "I am one who loved not wisely but too well"

• All's Well that Ends Well (1604)
• This comedy is one of Shakespeare's less known play's, often considered a problem play because of its unclear blend of comedy and tragedy. The dark comedy is most significant for introducing the comedic "bed trick" to literature; where a character goes to bed with a person they mistake as someone else. 
• Famous Lines:
• "Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none"
• King Lear (1605)
  
• This tragic play is an adaptation of the old British folktale of the Celtic King Leir. It depicts an ancient King who splits his kingdom among his three daughters based on their flattery. He later falls into a madness due to his poor judgement of his three daughters. He discovers that it is his youngest daughter, who is the most truthful and sincere to him. However before he realizes this all parties are slain or commit suicide in a classic Shakespearean tragedy. 
• Famous Lines:
• "How sharper than a serpent's tooth is it to have a thankless child."
• "I am a man more sinned against than sinning"
• "Nothing will come of nothing"
• "Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest, lend less than thou owest"

• Timon of Athens (1606)
• This was one of Shakespeare's collaborative plays, also conisdered a problem play for it's misdirection of tragedy and character development. The protagonist is based off a historic Athenian citizen, known as Timon, who became infamous for his hate of others. The play depicts how Timon starts off as an extremely generous person, to such a fault, that he gives away all his money, and becomes broke on debt. He thus denounces mankind as a whole, and spends the rest of his life until death as a hermit.   
• Famous Lines:
• "We have seen better days"

• MacBeth (1606)
  
• This tragedy is considered one of Shakespeare's darkest and most masterful works. The story is of a Scottish general, MacBeth, who receives a prophecy that he shall be king. He is then driven by mad ambition from this prophecy, as well as encouraged by his wife to lay claim to the throne. And so he kills the standing king, to become a tyrannical ruler. He and his wife however become tormented by guilt and paranoia for their wrongful actions. The more they defend their stolen throne, the further madness they fall into until their inevitable deaths. The play is highly regarded for it's themes on the evils of power hunger. It is to this day one of Shakespeare's most popular plays, adapted frequently by all forms of entertainment (movies, musicals, operas, songs, books, etc). However it has also brought about a superstitious association to it's name, perhaps due to it's dark subject matter. 
• Famous Lines:
• "There's daggers in men's smiles"
• "What's done is done"
• ""Will all great Neptune's oceans wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red"
• "Double, double toil and trouble; fire, burn, and cauldron bubble"
• "Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent underneath"
• "Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it; he died as one that had studied in his death to throw away the dearest thing he owed, as it were a careless trifle"
• "Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?"

• Antony and Cleopatra (1606)
  
• This popular play is often categorized as a sensational mixture of history, tragedy, romance, and comedy. It is based on the historical romance between Queen Cleopatra of Egypt and the Roman general and traitor, Mark Antony. Together they form an alliance against Octavius Caesar. The Roman Senate thus declares war on Egypt which leads to the Final War of the Roman Republic. The outcome is decided at the Battle of Actium, with the Romans victorious. With their defeat both Mark Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide. Shakespeare's play is most notable for the portrayal of Cleopatra. Her character is depicted as very seductive, proud, and overly dramatic. 
• Famous Lines:
• "If I lose mine honor, I lose myself"
• Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1607)
• This play was one of Shakespeare's collaborative works often categorized as a late romance. Prince Pericles discovers a terrible secret, that the king is involved in an incestuous affair, and rather then make it public he flees his kingdom. This is one of Shakespeare's rare plays that has a happy ending for it's protagonist.
• Coriolanus (1608)
• This historic tragedy depicts the legendary Roman General Caius Marcius Coriolanus. He achieved great success on the battlefield, however was not so fortunate in the field of politics. Following his banishment, he attempts to regain power through force however is tragically defeated. This play was recently adapted into a modern film, released in 2011 starring Ralph Fiennes and Gerard Butler. 
• Famous Lines:
• "Nature teaches beasts to know their friends"  
• The Winter's Tale (1609)
  
• This popular comedy is often categorized as one of Shakespeare's late romances. It begins with jealousy, suspicion of adultery, however happily ends with resolve for all it's main character. This play is often criticized for it's sharp contract, of a dramatic beginning to a comedic closing. It's one of the few Shakespeare plays that have a happy ending. It is also remembered for it's portrayal of the comedic thief, Autolycus. 
• Famous Lines:
• "What's gone and what's past help should be past grief"
• "You pay a great deal too dear to what's given freely"

• Cymbeline (1610)
• This was yet another of Shakespeare's late romances, quite similar in themes to the Winter's Tale. It is an adaptation from old British folklore, concerning the ancient Celtic king Cunobeline. The king is under the influence of his wicked 2nd wife, who forbids the marriage of their daughter, Imogen, to a man of low-class, Posthumus. The manipulation eventually leads to war between Rome and Britain. In the end however justice prevails, as the war is reconciled, the king is free of his wicked wife, and his daughter Imogen is able to marry her lover Posthumus.   
• The Tempest (1610)
  
• This is considered Shakespeare's last play of which he wrote without collaboration, and another of his late romances. It is a tale of fantasy as it deals with a sorcerer, Prospero who is able to conjure storms. He seeks revenge against his brother, Antonio who has taken his place as the Duke of Milan. Prospero is able to conjure a storm and lure his brother as well as the King of Naples to make things right, whilst securing love and happiness for his daughter, Miranda. This popular play was adapted into a 2012 film, by Julie Taymor of which I still intend to see.
• Famous Lines:
• "We are such stuff as dreams are mad on, round with a little sleep"

• Henry VIII (1612)
• This was one of Shakespeare's final historic plays, yet also a collaborative effort with the playwright, John Fletcher. It concerns the life of King Henry VIII of England, his numerous marriages and his separation from the Catholic Church. The play is notable for it's closing that gives glorious homage to the king's daughter and future Queen of a golden era, Elizabeth. 
• The Two Noble Kinsman (1613)
• This was considered one of Shakespeare's final works, yet another collaboration with John Fletcher. It is an adaptation from an old Canterbury Tale of Geoffrey Chaucer known as the Knight's Tale. Two knights and kinsmen, Arcite and Palamon, are captured by the Athenians, and both fall for the duke's daughter, Emilia. The duke decides that he will have the two prisoners fight for her hand in marriage. Whilst Arcite prays for victory, Palamon prays for her hand in marriage, and Emilia prays that the best lover be her husband. Arcite wins the combat, however falls from his horse and dies, thus leaving Emilia to marry Palamon, and everyone's prayer answered. 

The Sonnets and Poems of Shakespeare

Although he is best known for his playwrighting, Shakespeare also published a collection of 154 sonnets as well as two narrative poems. His two narrative poems were published in 1593 and 1594, while the theatres were closed during a great plague. Each deal with erotic themes on the nature of love.

•  Venus and Adonis (1593)
• This poem is based off of old passages from Ovid's Metamorphosis, a classic poem of Roman Mythology. Shakespeare's two young characters Venus and Adonis engage in a sexual act, while hunting. Whilst the female wants more, the male is more interested in his hunt, and tradgedy befalls him in the end. 
• The Rape of Lucrece (1594)
• This poem is based off the Roman legend of Lucretia, who was raped by a king and committed a suicide which caused the overthrowing of the Roman Kingdom. The poem is praised for it's metaphoric themes of the wrongful act, and justice prevailing in the end. 

His sonnets were published in 1609 dealing with themes of love, time, beauty, and mortality. Here are some of my favorites;

• "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day" (Sonnet 18)
• "To me my fair friend, you can never be old" (Sonnet 104)
• "When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see" (Sonnet 43)
• "When my Love Swears that she is made of truth" (Sonnet 138)
• "Full many a glorious morning have I seen" (Sonnet 33)

The Question of Authorship

I first heard of this conspiracy, that William Shakespeare did not write his material, in the film 2011 Anonymous. The basis of the claim is that his name was used as an pseudonym for authors of the time who did not want the credit. Although I've yet to see the film, I can only imagine that it has a hint of truth to it.

One thing I myself have been very intrigued by in this general study is the mysterious life that Shakespeare lived. Another very curious question I have is how such a low class person, with a basic education, could write with such an immense vocabulary and highly intellectual knowledge. I'm sure there's cases on both sides of the argument, and perhaps worth another look some day. However I don't intend to make a case for the doubters in this post. Instead I'd rather acknowledge the brilliance that was the name William Shakespeare.