Erford gage biography of william shakespeare

John Shakespeare 's house, believed to be Shakespeare's birthplace , in Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare was the son of John Shakespeare , an alderman and a successful glover glove-maker originally from Snitterfield in Warwickshire , and Mary Arden , the daughter of an affluent landowning family. His date of birth is unknown but is traditionally observed on 23 April, Saint George's Day.

Grammar schools varied in quality during the Elizabethan era, but grammar school curricula were largely similar: the basic Latin text was standardised by royal decree, [22] [23] and the school would have provided an intensive education in grammar based upon Latin classical authors. The consistory court of the Diocese of Worcester issued a marriage licence on 27 November The next day, two of Hathaway's neighbours posted bonds guaranteeing that no lawful claims impeded the marriage.

Promptuarium armorum. It features spears as a pun on the family name. The next documented event in Shakespeare's life is his marriage to Anne Hathaway on November 28, William was 18 at the time, and Anne was 26—and pregnant. Their first daughter, Susanna, was born on May 26, Hamnet died in childhood at the age of 11, on August 11, For the seven years following the birth of his twins, William Shakespeare disappears from all records, finally turning up again in London some time in This period, known as the " Lost Years ," has sparked as much controversy about Shakespeare's life as any period.

Rowe notes that young Shakespeare was quite fond of poaching, and may have had to flee Stratford after an incident with Sir Thomas Lucy, whose deer and rabbits he allegedly poached. There is also rumor of Shakespeare working as an assistant schoolmaster in Lancashire for a time, though this is circumstantial at best. It is estimated that Shakespeare arrived in London around and began to establish himself as an actor and playwright.

Evidently Shakespeare garnered some envy early on, as related by the critical attack of Robert Greene, a London playwright, in " John and Mary lost two daughters as infants, so William became their eldest child. John Shakespeare worked as a glove-maker, but he also became an important figure in the town of Stratford by fulfilling civic positions.

His elevated status meant that he was even more likely to have sent his children, including William, to the local grammar school. William Shakespeare would have lived with his family in their house on Henley Street until he turned eighteen. When he was eighteen, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway , who was twenty-six. It was a rushed marriage because Anne was already pregnant at the time of the ceremony.

Together they had three children.

Erford gage biography of william shakespeare

Their first daughter, Susanna , was born six months after the wedding and was later followed by twins Hamnet and Judith. The marriage was arranged quickly, as their first child, Susanna, was born just six months later on May 26, Life for the growing family in Stratford-upon-Avon must have been both busy and challenging, particularly with Shakespeare balancing his family duties while nurturing his developing talents.

The cause of his death is not clearly documented, though it is believed to have been the result of the frequent outbreaks of disease that occurred during the period. The loss of Hamnet is thought to have deeply affected Shakespeare and gave the budding playwright a first-hand personal experience of suffering and grief. Such themes would later appear in many of his works, such as Hamlet and King Lear.

The lack of detail has birthed various conspiracies and theories about what Shakespeare was doing during this time. Some believe he worked as a schoolteacher, while others think he spent some time extensively traveling around Europe. Whatever the case may be, sometime in the late s, William Shakespeare left Stratford-upon-Avon and moved to London, leaving behind his wife, Anne Hathaway, and their children.

His family life, rural upbringing, and experiences during this unknown period offered him themes of relationships, power, and society, which would become central to his future works. His ability to transform these observations into art is what ultimately set him apart from many of his contemporaries. The exact reasons for his departure from Stratford remain uncertain, but many scholars believe the move was driven by a combination of ambition and necessity.

As he prepared for the next chapter of his life in London, the stage was set for Shakespeare to leave behind his family in Stratford and pursue his ambitions in the world of theater. Ready to discover how he conquered the stage in London? Continue reading this William Shakespeare biography to explore the rise as one of the most celebrated playwrights of all time!

In , the Globe Theater was built, with Shakespeare as one of the shareholders.