William Shakespeare is one of the most revered playwrights and poets in history.
His works have been translated into numerous languages, adapted into films, and performed on stage countless times. But many people don’t know much about this literary genius’s life.
This William Shakespeare biography spans from the writer’s early years to his notable contributions to literature.
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Shakespeare’s youth
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, in 1564. He was the third child of John and Mary Shakespeare and the first son to survive infancy.
Scholars continue debating if Shakespeare received any formal education. If he did, it was like at the King’s New School in Stratford-upon-Avon. There, Shakespeare would have learned Latin and possibly Greek.
Despite the lack of concrete evidence about his education, Shakespeare’s plays and poetry demonstrate an extensive knowledge of classical literature and history, indicating that he was well-read and self-educated. His association with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a prestigious theatrical company, also provided Shakespeare with ample opportunities to learn from other actors and playwrights.
In 1582, at 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children. We only know a little about Anne’s life before her marriage to Shakespeare, but most believe she was older than him and came from a wealthy family in Stratford-upon-Avon.
To London and the stage
William Shakespeare moved to London in the early 1590s to pursue a career in theater. He joined an acting troupe known as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, which later became the King’s Men after King James I appointed them as his official theatrical company.
Most believe Shakespeare’s first play was “The Comedy of Errors,” written and performed around 1592. Other comedies, such as “The Taming of the Shrew” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” followed.
“The course of true love never did run smooth.”
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Audiences loved Shakespeare’s plays. They praised his comedies, which used witty banter and creative plot twists to deliver powerful messages. And Shakespeare’s unique style earned him recognition as one of England’s leading playwrights.
Shakespeare’s plays were mainly performed at London’s Globe Theater. The Globe opened in 1509, built by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Located on the south bank of the River Thames, the Globe was one of several theaters in the area.
The Globe produced many of William Shakespeare’s plays. His works, including “Hamlet,” “Othello,” and “King Lear,” were first performed at the Globe.
Enter Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare’s best-known play might be “Romeo and Juliet.”
The story follows two young lovers, Romeo and Juliet, from rival families in Verona, Italy. Despite their families’ long-standing feud, the pair quickly fall in love and devise a plan to elope. Unfortunately, complications arise when Romeo is banished from Verona and Juliet is forced to marry another man.
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet debuted in 1595. It became an instant hit with audiences. Its powerful themes of love, tragedy, family feuds, and fate have captivated readers for centuries.
The play has been adapted numerous times over the centuries since its debut on stage. Notable adaptations include Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film version starring Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey and Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 modern adaptation set in contemporary America.
Shakespeare’s work not only inspires storytellers still today, but the playwright’s words continue to be used by English speakers.
Shakespeare’s contributions to modern English
Many words and phrases Shakespeare popularized are still used in modern English today.
Some credit Shakespeare with introducing over 1,700 new words to the English language. Some examples include “arch-villain,” “assassination,” and “cold-blooded.”
Shakespeare also made extensive use of existing English words. He used them in different contexts or combined them in ways that created new meanings. Some examples include the idioms and expressions “eaten out of house and home,” “break the ice,” “faint-hearted,” and “good riddance.”
We can even trace phrases such as “wild goose chase” and “in a pickle” to Shakespeare. He littered his plays with sayings we still use today, such as “love is blind” and “all that glitters is not gold.”
Shakespeare exits the stage.
William Shakespeare was a private individual. He kept his personal life out of the public eye, and we don’t know much about his inner thoughts and feelings.
We know that Shakespeare lived in London for most of his career but spent his last few years in Stratford-upon-Avon. He died there on April 23, 1616.
While we don’t know his exact cause of death, most believe Shakespeare fell ill after a night of heavy drinking with friends. He died a few days later.
Shakespeare was buried in the chancel of the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he remains today.
William Shakespeare’s legacy
William Shakespeare’s legacy is unparalleled.
His influence on literature and theater is immeasurable, and many continue to analyze, perform, and adapt Shakespeare’s works.
It’s almost impossible to overstate William Shakespeare’s extensive influence on English literature and culture. He remains one of the most influential figures in literary history, and rightfully so.
See William Shakespeare’s works on Amazon.
Plays by William Shakespeare
In alphabetical order:
- All’s Well That Ends Well
- Antony and Cleopatra
- As You Like It
- The Comedy of Errors
- Coriolanus
- Cymbeline
- Hamlet
- Henry IV, Part 1
- Henry IV, Part 2
- Henry V
- Henry VI, Part 1
- Henry VI, Part 2
- Henry VI, Part 3
- Henry VIII
- Julius Caesar
- King John
- King Lear
- Love’s Labour’s Lost
- Macbeth
- Measure for Measure
- The Merchant of Venice
- The Merry Wives of Windsor
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- Much Ado About Nothing
- Othello
- Pericles, Prince of Tyre
- Richard II
- Richard III
- Romeo and Juliet
- The Taming of the Shrew
- The Tempest
- Timon of Athens
- Titus Andronicus
- Troilus and Cressida
- Twelfth Night
- The Two Gentlemen of Verona
- The Winter’s Tale