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William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was a great English playwright,
dramatist and poet who lived during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth
centuries. Shakespeare is considered to be the greatest playwright of all time.
No other writer's plays have been produced so many times or read so widely in so
many countries as his. Shakespeare was born to middle class parents. His father,
John, was a Stratford businessman. He was a glove maker who owned a leather
shop. John Shakespeare was a well-known and respected man in the town. He held
several important local governmental positions. William Shakespeare's mother was
Mary Arden.
Though she was the daughter of a local farmer, she was related to a
wealthy family. Mary Arden and John Shakespeare were married in 1557. William
Shakespeare was born in Stratford in 1564. He was one of eight children. The
Shakespeare's were well-respected prominent people. When William Shakespeare was
about seven years old, he probably began attending the Stratford Grammar School
with other boys of his social class. Students went to school year round
attending school for nine hours a day. The teachers were strict disciplinarians.
Though Shakespeare spent long hours at school, his boyhood was probably
fascinating. Stratford was a lively town and during holidays, it was known to
put on pageants and many popular shows. It also held several large fairs during
the year. Stratford was an exciting place to live. Stratford also had fields and
woods surrounding it giving William the opportunity to hunt and trap small game.
The River Avon, which ran through the town, allowed him to fish also.
Shakespeare's' poems and plays show his love of nature and rural life which
reflects his childhood. On November 28, 1582, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway
of the neighboring village of Shottery. She was twenty-six, and he was only
eighteen at the time. They had three children. Susana was their first and then
they had twins, Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet, Shakespeare's son, died in 1596. In
1607, his daughter Susana got married. Shakespeare's other daughter, Judith, got
married in 1616. In London, Shakespeare's career took off. It is believed that
he may have become well known in London theatrical life by 1592. By that time,
he had joined one of the city's repertory theater companies. These companies
were made up of a permanent cast of actors who presented different plays week
after week. The companies were commercial organizations that depended on
admission from their audience. Scholars know that Shakespeare belonged to one of
the most popular acting companies in London called The Lord Chamberlain's Men.
Shakespeare was a leading member of the group from 1594 for the rest of his
career. 1594 had produced at least six of Shakespeare's plays. During
Shakespeare's life, there were two monarchs who ruled England. They were Henry
the eighth and Elizabeth the first. Both were impressed with Shakespeare which
made his name known. There is evidence that he was a member of a traveling
theater group, and a schoolmaster. In 1594, he became an actor and playwright
for Lord Chamberlain's Men. In 1599, he became a part owner of the prosperous
Globe Theater.
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