“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” This popular quote came from none other than the legendary William Shakespeare, who is known for his brilliantly written plays and unrivaled literary masterpieces. Born around four-hundred years ago, Shakespeare was one of the first of his kind, using techniques and language far beyond anything possible at that time. However, as stated in his own quote, some individuals believe that “the lady” Shakespeare writes about is right to protest. Some believe that his works were too advanced to be created from someone of his origins, and the rich depth of intellect and story is too beyond his work capacity. The surrounding controversy behind Shakespeare’s name, leading many to believe the Shakespeare we …show more content…
Although Shakespeare’s exact date of birth is unknown, it is rumored to be a few days before he was baptized on April 26, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon. He was born to John and Mary Shakespeare on April 23, 1564, as their oldest child, and he was the first of their first three children to survive infancy. William Shakespeare grew up with three younger brothers, including Gilbert, Rich, and Edmund, and two younger sisters, Anne (who died at seven years old) and Joan. Their father was a leatherworker who created soft white leather used for materials such as gloves, while their mother was a locally landed heiress. Their father John Shakespeare became an alderman and rose to the role of the town bailiff, but later left the local offices and declined several fortunes. Until age fifteen, William Shakespeare attended Stratford’s grammar school, where he focused on writing, memorizing, and acting classic Latin plays. In late 1582, when Shakespeare was around eighteen years, old, he married Anne Hathaway, a twenty-six-year-old woman who grew up in Shottery (a village outside of Stratford). They were already expecting their first child, Susanna, and had twins, Judith and Hamnet just three years later. William’s only son Hamnet died in 1596 at the age of 11,