Timeless bard lives on in cyberspace
Ellen Whyte Columnist ellenwhyte@lepak.com
Although he wrote for an English audience around 400 years ago, William Shakespeare remains one of the world's most popular dramatists.
His plays and other works have been translated into dozens of languages, incorporated as required reading in many school curricula, performed on stages worldwide and made into numerous musicals and films.
The Swan of Avon
Not much is known of Shakespeare's private life. Official documents detailing his marriage, legal transactions and other administrative details still exist, but there are few letters, contemporary descriptions or stories that describe his personality and character.
The first hint of his existence is a baptism record dated April 26, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. As babies were traditionally baptized within a few days of their birth, April 23 has been designated Shakespeare's birthday.
Shakespeare's parents were wealthy enough to send their son to school. His father, John Shakespeare, was a merchant and held various minor political positions throughout his career, including that of bailiff -- an important job, much like a mayor. His mother, Mary Arden, came from a wealthy family from nearby Warwickshire.
Shakespeare married at the age of 18. Church records reveal his wife, Anne Hathaway of Stratford, gave birth to Susanna, who was baptized on May 26, 1583, and the twins Hamnet and Judith, who were baptized on Feb. 2, 1585. Further records show that Hamnet, Shakespeare's only son, died at the age of 11.
Other surviving documents show that Shakespeare was a shrewd investor, although he was involved from time to time in legal disputes. Shakespeare's will, drawn on March 25, 1616, showed he owned quite a lot of property in London and Stratford and mentioned that Susanna was married to Thomas Quiney and Judith to John Hall, a doctor.
The most peculiar thing in the will, however, is that he left his "second-best bed" to his wife Anne.
Shakespeare's Life and Times at http://web.uvic.ca/shakespeare/Library/SLT discusses what is known of his life and describes the times during which he lived, including the ideas Elizabethan England had about the world, religion, politics and art.
Also informative is The Modern History Sourcebook: William Harrison's Description Of Elizabethan England, 1577, at http://tinyurl.com/yrcze (condensed URL).
Easy to read, this contemporary work gives a glimpse into this lively historic time and is especially useful if you want to study Shakespeare's works in context.
The Globe
Shakespeare was immensely popular in his own lifetime. He became a well-known member of the Lord Chamberlain's Company of Players, the most exclusive group of theater professionals in England, and his plays were performed at The Globe, one of the most popular theaters in London.
The Globe had its ups and downs. It burned down in 1613, was rebuilt in 1614 and then destroyed in 1644 by Puritans who disapproved of theaters -- in fact, any public or private entertainment. Despite these disasters, The Globe lived on.
Concerted efforts in 1989 uncovered the original foundations of the theater, and following this, a team of historians, architects and engineers analyzed the groundwork while referring to existing knowledge about Elizabethan architecture, and redesigned The Globe. This new building is the home of the International Shakespeare Globe Centre, which attracts British and foreign theater fans alike.
To learn more about the original theater as well as the new building, visit the official site at http://www.rdg.ac.uk/globe/Articles/Centre.htm. It has great pictures as well as lots of information about the work that went into its reconstruction.
His Work
Shakespeare's use of language, often called Shakespearean English, is studied by students all over the world, who analyze his use of imagery, rhyme, alliteration and other literary techniques.
Shakespeare seldom invented his own plots, preferring to use older stories as a basis, but the way he brought characters to life is unquestionably masterful. Audiences argue fiercely over the motivations of the heroes and heroines. Was Macbeth coerced into killing Duncan by his wife, or was it mainly his own idea? Why was Othello so convinced of Desdemona's guilt? Was Hamlet really mad?
Shakespeare's complete works are available online at http://www.rhymezone.com/Shakespeare. Browse via Comedies, Tragedies, Histories or Poetry, check out the most popular excerpts from his plays or search the entire collection for a particular soliloquy.
Absolutely Shakespeare at http://absoluteshakespeare.com also has his complete works as well as a biography, list of modern films adapted from his work, images of the bard, an article that discusses the infamous, controversial theory that Shakespeare was not really the author, but merely a front for other writers, and much, much more.
Another great resource for homework with free study guides, summaries, character reviews and theme analyses is Shakespeare Navigators at http://www.clicknotes.com. Fast and easy to navigate, this site is a little gem, especially for first-time Shakespeare initiates.
Find more websites by Googling the keywords Shakespeare, Globe Theater, Elizabethan England.