Shakespeare, an enigma wrapped in a mystery. High school students tend to not be intrigued by William Shakespeare or his works. The main reason can be due to his word usage. However, I’m not like most high school students (in this aspect). Shakespeare has been a requirement to study every year beginning freshman year. Throughout this time frame, it has become easier and easier to uncover modern meanings to his plays. One must just dig a little deeper to get a better understanding. Although, some of background is missing so there are holes to his story.
Not everything about William Shakespeare’s background is known. His birthdate is an estimate based on his baptism, April 26, 1564 (Barnet vii). On the other hand, there are official records of his death, April 25,161. He is the 3rd child but the eldest son (Barnet viii).
…show more content…
More facts are known about Shakespeare than any other playwright of the period except Ben Jonson. Shakespeare not only was a playwright, but an actor as well. The first eight plays he wrote did not have his name on them (Barnet x). However, in 1598, his name was on many plays (some of which weren’t his). Publishers used his name to attract potential buyers. The Shakespeare Canon is composed of 37 plays/poems (Barnet xv). Macbeth was written around 1605-1606 (Barnet xvii). Yet it was not published until 1623. In 1769, people started questioning whether Shakespeare’s works were his (Barnet xii). Anti-Stratfordians did not believe that they were his since he was a country fellow without a university and access to high society. “Most people understand that with sufficient ingenuity one can torture any test and find in it what one wishes,” (Barnet xiii). I find this to be true in many ways. Everyone can have a different perspective. This means that people will see what they want to see. This is even more true for the stubborn, close-minded