William Shakespeare

Essay by EssaySwap ContributorHigh School, 12th grade February 2008

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William Shakespeare is one of the most famous playwrights in the history of time, but not only was he a playwright, he was also an actor and a poet. Many people know of his name from the famous plays Romeo and Juliet and The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Shakespeare wrote a total of 37 plays and 154 poems that are known of. Two of his poems are Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece.("Shakespeare Biography"…) William Shakespeare was born in April of 1564 but, there is much controversy on what day he was actually conceived. Many people believe he was born on the 24th of April but, most believe his actual birth is the 23rd. People nowadays celebrate the birth of Shakespeare on the 23rd. There is proof of baptismal records that he was christened April 26th of 1564 at Stratford-Upon-Avon, Worchester.("The Early…") Historians came to the conclusion his birth is the 23rd because children were customarily baptized three days after their birth.

April 23rd is also St. George's Day and the possible date of birth of the patron saint of England.("The Early…") Shakespeare was born to a middle class parents who lived in Henley Street, Stratford.("The Early…") His father, John Shakespeare, and his mother, Mary Arden married in 1557. John Shakespeare was a well respected man who held several important local government positions including that of Borough ale-taster and bailiff, the highest public office in Stratford.("The Early..") Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden, was the daughter of s local farmer with considerable wealth and social standing. Although there are many dates of John Shakespeare's activities that survive, only the date of Mary Arden's burial (September, 9 1608) was recorded which was typical of the time.("The Early…") William was the third born of eight children. Two of which died before...