SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY
SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY
In Shakespeare Books, we hardly get to know much about the bard. But in this article, Shakespeare and company I shall try to give you an idea about William Shakespeare. This includes the life, the little village and works of the great figure in the history of English Literature.
LITTLE VILLAGE WHERE SHAKESPEARE LIVED
SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY
There is hardly any clear fact we get about his childhood or his school life, and what occupation he did. In fact, people are in an atmosphere of guesswork about his life and activity. We can hardly construct his life story out of some historical facts here and there. There is, however, no controversy about the uniqueness of his plays and poems.
SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE, AND HIS LITTLE VILLAGE STRATFORD
From the register of the little village parish church at Stratford, we learn that Shakespeare was baptized there on the twenty-sixth of April, 1564. It was customary to baptize children on the third day after birth. Hence, the twenty-third of April is generally accepted as the poet’s birthday. His father, John Shakespeare, was a farmer’s son. He came to Stratford in about 1551.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE LIVED IN A LITTLE VILLAGE
SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY
Much is not known about Shakespeare’s education. We only know that for a few years he probably attended the endowed grammar school at Stratford. This Stratford is a charming little village in beautiful Warwickshire.
HIS LITTLE VILLAGE STRATFORD
SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY
It is a matter of speculation that what occupation he followed for the next eight years of his life. According to William J. Long, it can be concluded from some strong evidence found in his plays, that he was a country schoolmaster and a lawyer’s clerk.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE LIVED IN A LITTLE VILLAGE
SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY
A sailor, because of his extraordinary facility in quips and compliments and courtly language. Again a clown, because no one else is so dull and foolish. Even a king, since Henry and Richard are very true to life. A woman because he has sounded the depths of a woman’s feelings. And surely a Roman, because in Coriolanus and Julius Caesar he has shown us the Roman spirit. His Roman spirit was better than the Roman writers themselves. Shakespeare was everything, in his imagination. So to form a clear opinion about his early occupation from a study of his scenes and characters is impossible.
SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY – HE LIVED IN A LITTLE VILLAGE
William Shakespeare tied into the nuptial bond with Anne Hathaway in the year 1582. She was eight years older than Shakespeare. He was a mere boy then. But here again, the evidence is entirely untrustworthy.
SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE AND HIS LITTLE VILLAGE
He passed away probably on the anniversary of his birth, April 23, 1616.
WORKS, LIFE AND LITTLE VILLAGE OF SHAKESPEARE
A careful reading of the plays and poems leaves us with an impression of four different periods of work. These probably correspond with the growth and experience of the poet’s life.
THE FIRST PERIOD OF SHAKESPEARE (1588 – 1595):
SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY
During this period, Shakespeare tried his hand at every form of dramatic literature – history, comedy, or tragedy. To this period belong the Henry VI plays, written in collaboration with another playwright. Richard ll and Richard lll, were both inspired by Marlowe. Titus Andronicus, was “a rather rickety undergraduate effort”. A Comedy of Errors, which can be termed rather as a farce comedy. Love’s Labour’s Lost, which is a boisterous farce.
WORKS, LIFE AND LITTLE VILLAGE OF SHAKESPEARE
SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY
More wordy than thoughtful, and inspire of its strong lyrical beauty, altogether lacking the breadth of vision and profundity of thought of his later tragedies.
THE SECOND PERIOD OF SHAKESPEARE (1595 – 1601):
This is a period marked by the absence of tragedy, and is therefore often called the ‘Comic Period’. To this period belongs his greatest comedies and historical plays. The Taming of the Shrew, and The Merry Wives of Cast, are no doubt in the early farcical vein, bear the unmistakable impression of a maturer hand. To this period also belongs Midsummer Night’s Dream, which is “one of the most charming exercises of imagination, ever visualized on the stage. On a higher plane of wit rests Much Ado About Nothing. While in As You Like It and Twelfth Night humour and romance blend in perfect proportion.
SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE AND HIS LITTLE VILLAGE
The Merchant of Venice, in spite of its puerile story, is a tragicomedy. It stands apart from Shakespeare’s other plays. Henry V however is a more showy one.
THE THIRD PERIOD OF SHAKESPEARE (1601 – 1608):
This is preeminently the tragic period. All the four great tragedies – Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth – besides the Roman play, Julius Caesar (also a tragedy), and the other lesser tragedy, Timon of Athens, belong to this period.
THE FOURTH PERIOD OF SHAKESPEARE (1608 – 1612):
Though the last period opens with tragedy in Antony and Cleopatra, which is followed by Coriolanus, another tragedy, they are not generally taken to be the representative productions of this period. Coriolanus is definitely inferior in quality, while Antony and Cleopatra, though quite mature in the point of characterization, are weaker in the dramatic power. Perhaps, these weaker pieces show that Shakespeare was recovering his benignity before his death. A new mood of optimism, of satisfaction in the fact and sight of young and tender love, comes into. Pericles and continues through Cymbeline, A Winter’s Tale, and The Tempest. The only real historical play of this period, Henry Vlll, is, perhaps, Shakespearean only in parts.
SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY
William Shakespeare’s masterly drawn situations life-like characters and enchanting poetry capture all hearts, old and young. His plays have stood the test of time. More than three hundred years have passed since the death of their author. But they have still remained the dearest friends to men. As the wonderful creations of great art, they have retained their appeal to all ages and all people.
LITTLE VILLAGE WHERE SHAKESPEARE LIVED AND OTHER INFORMATION
The universality of Shakespeare’s appeal remarkably comes out in his power of characterization. Secret of the human heart is nowhere studied with so much sincerity and accuracy. With a wonderful mastery, he has revealed the dark corridors of the human mind. He has given life to characters, that have stood the wreck of time and have become immortal.
LITTLE VILLAGE WHERE SHAKESPEARE LIVED AND OTHER INFORMATION
SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY
The charm of his poetry is irresistible. And there is his blank verse. Perhaps, only Milton, has ever been able to bend the bow of the blank verse in a more effective and harmonising manner.
LITTLE VILLAGE WHERE SHAKESPEARE LIVED AND OTHER INFORMATION
The literary genius of Shakespeare, still seems to be a great riddle. It is so vast, comprehensive, and profound that nothing has yet been exactly scrutinized and analyzed about it. In fact, the secret, of his dramatic genius is still a mystery unsolved.
SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE AND HIS LITTLE VILLAGE
Shakespeare passed away probably on the anniversary of his birth, April 23, 1616.
