WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

William Shakespeare represents the highest point of English literature and possibly one of the highest of all world literature, as everybody acknowledges. He was an outstanding poet, playwright, player and theatre shareholder. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire (England) in 1564, Shakespeare was the third son of a quite well-off family. For this reason, and although there are no surviving records of this period, it is thought that he was likely educated at the King’s New School, above all in Latin grammar and the classics.

At the age of eighteen Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was twenty-six. They arranged the ceremony in haste because Ann was three months pregnant. Their first son was a girl called Susanna and less than two years later Ann had twins: Hammet, who died at the age of eleven, and Judith. Unfortunately, nowadays there are no direct living descendants of the genius.

Probably around 1585 Shakespeare moved to London with his family to begin a successful career as an actor, writer and part-owner of the leading company The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later known as The King’s Men. There he produced his best comedies, for example The Comedy of Errors; histories, like Henry IV and also tragedies, such as Hamlet, King Lear and Macbeth, just to mention some of the best-known ones.

It is widely believed that the dramatist retired to his native village some years before his death, although he went on visiting London and had constant contact with the theatre scene. William Shakespeare died in April 1616 and was buried in the chancel of the Holy Trinity Church two days after his death. Beside his grave, his family erected in his memory a bust of him in the act of writing. He was much admired in his own lifetime, and even some of his colleagues considered him a serious rival. Luckily, he lived for and from his work, what was very difficult in his time.

His works have been translated into almost all languages and his plays are continually being performed all throughout the world. This gives an idea of the importance and greatness of this author, who has influenced and still influences many writers of our time with his revolutionary techniques. Shakespeare themes deal with love, honour, respect, revenge, etc. His topics are universal and up-to-date, such as the idea of the never-ending love seen in the well-known Romeo and Juliet. His plots entertain and, what is more, have no expire date because they still interest our teenagers, despite considering him difficult to read or even boring. But if we introduce them to him, they will surely end up enjoying his writings.