William Shakespeare

The English poet and playwright William Shakespeare is regarded by many to be the greatest playwright of all time. His plays have been almost continually performed and read in countless countries since his death, and they are quoted more often than the works of any other author.

Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Aven. In 1582, at the age of 18, Shakespeare married the eight years older Anne Hathaway. They had three children together: a daughter, Susanna, born in 1583, and twins, Hamnet and Judith, born in 1585. There is not much known about Shakespeare’s school years because no records were preserved, but his literary works and knowledge of Latin indicate that he most likely attended the grammar school in Stratford. He became an actor and playwright for the theater group “The Lord Chamberlain's Men” in 1594, later named “The King’s men.” He also became a partner in the ownership of Globe Theatre in 1599 and as well a part owner of the Blackfriars Theatre in 1608. After his retirement, Shakespeare returned to Stratford where he died on April 23, 1616.

Shakespeare’s works can be divided into about four different periods.

The first period consists of the early historical plays such as Richard III and Henry VI.

The second period includes more historical plays and comedies, such as The Comedy of Errors, the tragedy Romeo and Juliet, written around 1595, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The period is his great tragedies and the “problem plays,” including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth and several others.

Lastly follows the fourth group, tragicomedies such as The Winter's Tale and The Tempest, both written in 1611.

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