William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564, to his two parents John and Mary Shakespeare in Stratford England where he remained for the rest of his childhood. Shakespeare's date of birth is unknown but April 23 is widely agreed upon because his baptism was performed shortly after. He was the oldest of 5 siblings because his earliest two siblings died young. Shakespeare was the son of a well-off and known family which meant he likely attended a grammar school up until he was 15 years old. Years later, William Shakespeare met his wife Anne Hathaway, and had three children. The couple was often apart since Shakespeare worked primarily in London, while his wife and children remained in Stratford (Folger). Although many aspects of their relationship …show more content…
For example, in the article “Black Death” it is stated that, “A smaller population meant that there was a shortage of workers, especially peasant workers who farmed lands for the nobility in the feudal system” (Gale). Workers had a bigger say in the conditions and pay they received. Since there were so few survivors, nobles were desperate for people to work their land and live on the property. Workers were able to make demands and bargain for better working conditions. Riots broke out across Europe and caused a large shift in the relationship between Nobles and Peasants (Gale). With so many people dying from the Black Death, peoples lookouts on life turned very morbid. This largely affected the art portrayed in this era. Art turned to a more realistic side of interpretation rather than hopeful. Religion was also becoming less of a topic within visual art; after people witnessed so much death and destruction around them, many people began to question their faith in God. A lot of art began to focus on death and the effect it had on people (Bryne). For example, although the cause of death of Shakespeare's son Hamnet is debated; some argue that he perished from the bubonic plague but this was never confirmed. His death later inspired Shakespeare's play Hamlet, where a large focus is the death of Hamlet's father. Shakespeare utilized the pain and loss he experienced, and harnessed it for the powerful stories that he created. This was the case for many other artists who struggled with the loss of people around them. The article, “Effects of the Black Death on art” states that, “Like other memento mori art of the period, these were also meant to warn viewers: time is short and life fleeting” (Bryne). The plague became a reality check for many, people realized that they must savor life and every moment. They used art to share this with people and to spread their message around the