William Shakespeare

Born April 23, 1564(baptized April 26, 1564)

Died April 23, 1616

Early Life

Not much is factually known about Shakespeare’s childhood and early family life. Much is pieced together from public records and assumptions.It is known that he was born in Stratford, England (Stratford-upon-Avon), and that his family was relatively comfortable, upper-middle class for his very early childhood.His father, John, was a leather worker, trader, and local politician. He seems to have found himself in some trouble with the law for illegal trading and/or price fixing and eventually lost much of his business and political clout.

Married Life•A little more is known factually about his married life. He was married at 18 to Anne Hathaway whose family was also fairly comfortable. She was 26 and pregnant. Probably a forced marriage and also one of social convenience.•They had three children, Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. •Hamnet died in 1596, which seems to point to a change in Shakespeare’s professional demeanor and literary theme—begins a period of Tragedies including Hamlet, Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet.

Anne Hathaway’s family cottage

Professional career

•Not much is known about Shakespeare’s life between his marriage/children’s birth and when he was already publishing and performing in London. •Most historians believe he was working on poetry, the beginnings of his playwriting, and his acting skills.•He was first mentioned in a professional critique in 1592. He was not a critical success in his early playwriting nor his performing, but he was evidently very popular.

Professional Career

Most of the London plays were produced as part of professional theater groups. Shakespeare was no different.With no copyright laws, plays could be “stolen” and performed at other theaters before or during performances at other (intended) theaters. Therefore, Shakespeare most likely kept his plays from public view and rarely if ever published them while they were being performed. The theater arts came in and out of favor with the English monarchy. Queen Elizabeth was a patron and during her time his popularity and fortunes flourished.

The Globe Theater

•Shakespeare's theater troop was very popular and commercially successful; so much so, he was able to build his own theater– The Globe Theater, built in 1599. •During its heyday, it was destroyed at least once by fire and also moved once. Also during Shakespeare’s life, the plague struck and the government shut down the theater district at least once. The Globe was destroyed again by fire and after his death never rebuilt.•Performances usually cost a penny for floor patrons and a nickel for balcony. •There was little room for intricate, detailed scenery and props were kept to a minimum although costumes were probably fairly elaborate as was the action (sword fights/dances).

Shakespeare’s Productions

• His plays were usually performed during the day time when light was plentiful.

• Action was over emphasized and speaking parts moved quickly. Most plays were performed within a two hour time limit or so.

• At least in the 1500s, all parts were played by men. Women’s roles were normally played by teenagers, especially those whose voices hadn’t broken. Women actors slowly became more prevalent in the 1600s. Shakespeare may have been at the forefront of this movement.

• Crowds loved the wordplay, swordplay, and bawdy behavior. Romantic scenes were almost non-existent because there was little action (vocally referenced and close proximity) and they moved slowly.

• Even Shakespeare’s competitors had to admit his popularity and writing ability. By the time of his death, he was legendary throughout London.

Shakespeare’sCareer

Shakespeare’s career in the theater lasted until approximately 1613. He wrote 37 plays which were all performed.His plays can be categorized as comedies, tragedies, and histories. Julius Caesar was first presented in 1599. It was influenced by Plutarch’s Lives of Famous Greeks and Romans.As much as it is based in historical facts, it is one of the tragedies that were produced following the death of his son, Hamnet.Shakespeare was known almost as much for his poetry as his plays. He created what is called the Shakespearean Sonnet, a fourteen-line poem. His love poems and odes were popular and eventually legendary. The first official publications of his work first came after his death in 1623 in The First Folio.Several competitors during Shakespeare’s life contributed to the publishing of his work. The authenticity of his work has come into question somewhat because of that. But most historians agree that for the most part everything attributed to Shakespeare is his own work.

Shakespeare’s Death

• He supposedly died on his birthday April 23, 1616. • After “retirement” he returned to his family in Stratford.• Although in his will he bequeaths almost everything of value to

his daughter (many historians point to this as showing the distance between him and his wife), it would not have been uncommon because he had no male heir; Susanna’s children then would eventually inherit his fortune. Un-fortune-ately, he had no surviving male heirs, so much of fortune eventually dissipated after his death and the death of his immediate family.

• Shakespeare’s daughter Judith was caught in much controversy as her first husband was unfaithful and was publicly rebuked.

Julius Caesar• First performed in 1599 or 1600

and one of Shakespeare’s first major Tragedies.

• Inspired by Plutarch.• May have been a condemnation

of contemporary political unrest at the end of Queen Elizabeth’s life.

• It speaks of the aftermath of a very powerful political leader and the downfall of great leaders, all of whom seem to suffer from personal faults such as egotism and lack of foresight.

• Major themes: Fate vs. Action; Public vs. Private Self; What makes a hero? What is Ambition?

Julius Caesar’s Major Characters• Julius Caesar: even though he is the title character, he is dead before the

end of the third act (not uncommon for the “climax” of a Shakespearean drama to occur about half-way through and then the fallout take up the latter half).

• Marcus Brutus: Really the main character. He is modest but certainly shows the fault of egotism and a lack of foresight, far too trusting and unable to really judge the character or intentions of those around him. He could be the most tragic figure as he seems to be selfless.

• Marc Anthony: Becomes the central focus of the play following Act III. Although he seems to be benign throughout much of the play by Act IV we see a much different and aggressive character, ruthless and egotistical.

• Cassius: An unfortunate leader who doesn’t seem capable of leading. Although his ideas seem good, he is helpless to act on them without Brutus. He needs Brutus’ popularity but also seems to cave to Brutus’ influence.

• Octavius: Doesn’t even appear until Act IV, but given that he is the eventual leader of the Roman Empire quickly ascends the hierarchy of characters. He seems willing to work with Mark Anthony until Act V, when a new and more self-assured Octavius appears.

Who Is the Hero?• Interestingly Julius Caesar himself is dead and gone by the scene 2 of Act III

(although his ghost lives on with Brutus). He really doesn’t help himself though, publically and privately appearing very arrogant. (Compares himself to fear and a lion and being more fearful, more powerful than all). “I rather tell thee what is to be feared/ Than what I fear; for always I am Caesar.”

• For most, Brutus is the hero because he is really the focal point of almost every Act. He is also the tragic hero because he is the last to die, and with his death the play comes to an end. He makes several errors in judgment that bring about his ultimate demise.

• Cassius who dominates the first two Acts takes a secondary role to Brutus, either willingly or fatalistically. He reluctantly then goes along with Brutus’ decisions. His only and final response to his own giving in comes in Act V—”Now, Brutus, thank yourself!/ This tongue had not offended so today/ If Cassius might have ruled”. He references killing himself often and finally does so after a grievous error in judgment.

Who Is the Hero• Anthony seems to dominate the events of the play from the middle of

Act III scene 1 to the end, but Shakespeare gives many clues that he doesn’t think much of Anthony and give his audience a clue that Octavius eventually is the first emperor of Rome, as he is the last to speak. No one, including Caesar and Brutus, thinks much of him given his reputation of partying “long a nights”. At one point he and Octavius subtly disagree on strategy. He does give a kind eulogy of Brutus in the end as “the most noble Roman of them all”.

• Octavius has little said about him and is actually given little as far as speaking parts. Given his age and inexperience, just about everybody looks down on him. Antony finds humor in his speedy arrival in Act III and seems to dominate the 2nd Triumvirate in Act IV. Yet, he is the last to speak in the Shakespearean summary monologue in Act V and eventually becomes Rome’s first true Emperor Augustus.

Minor Characters• Portia/Calphurnia: Brutus’ and Caesar’s wives respectively. Strong

women whose ideas are unfortunately shunned by their strong willed husband. The relationship between Brutus and Portia at first seems close and loving but it doesn’t take him long to forget about her. Calphurnia at first is heeded by Caesar but she too is quickly forgotten. The women’s roles are fairly minor overall.

• Soothsayer: Foretold of Caesar’s demise but because of his social class/reputation he was disregarded

• Marullus/Flavius: Tribunes who scold townspeople for rejoicing at Caesar’s triumph. Later were “put to silence”

• Artemidorous: Like the Soothsayer he was disregarded because he was a commoner.

• Titinius: Cassius’ aide who kills himself over Cassius’ death. Cassius did not take the time to note that he was safe. No one seemed to care.

• Plebians: They are mistreated and disregarded by most characters in the play. Tribunes scold them, they are easily swayed by the main characters, their allegiances are fickle in that they shift from one character to another. Shakespeare doesn’t seem to give them any credit.

Shakespeare’s Language• Words: "arch-villain," "bedazzle," "cheap" (as in vulgar or flimsy), "dauntless,"

"embrace" (as a noun), "fashionable," "go-between," "honey-tongued," "inauspicious," "lustrous," "nimble-footed," "outbreak," "pander," "sanctimonious," "time-honored," "unearthly," "vulnerable," and "well-bred."

• Phrases: “Eaten out of house and home”; Pomp and circumstance; Foregone conclusion; Full circle; The makings of; Method in the madness; Neither rhyme nor reason; One fell swoop; Seen better days; It smells to heaven; A sorry sight; A spotless reputation; Strange bedfellows; The world's (my) oyster

• “All that glisters (glistens) is not gold”; To knit one's brow ; Cold comfort; (To) give the devil his due; To play fast and loose; Till the last gasp; Laughing stock; Fool's paradise; In a pickle; Out of the question; The long and the short of it; It's Greek to me; It's high time; The naked truth

• I’th = in the; is’t = is it; tis = it is, contracts syllable; answer’ed = adds syllable; numer’ed = adds syllable