I was born on April in the year of 1564 (I'm unsure about the exact date of my birth) in a house on Henley Street in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. I do, however, know that I was baptized at Holy Trinity Church on April 26th. I am the third out of eight children and also the first son.
My father, John Shakespeare, made and sold leather goods like purses, belts and gloves. My mother, Mary Shakespeare, is the daughter of Robert Arden. My father served in government positions for quite a while until he began to accumulate debt and his status eventually declined by 1586. When he began to have trouble with money, I worked as an apprentice for him.
I went to school at the Stratford Grammar School where I learned Latin grammar and where I began to love Latin authors.
However, I'm not going to tell you how long I stayed in school.
1582: Marriage and Family
1582
I have fallen madly in love with Anne Hathaway, daughter of Richard Hathaway. I know she's eight years older than me, but I don't care.
We got married on November 28 because Anne was already three months pregnant.
1583
Our first daughter, Susanna, was baptised today, May 26. We're so happy!
1584
Anne is pregnant again!
1585
TWINS! We have two new children: Hamnet and Judith. We named them after my two great friends, Hamnet and Judith Sadler.
I have fallen madly in love with Anne Hathaway, daughter of Richard Hathaway. I know she's eight years older than me, but I don't care.
We got married on November 28 because Anne was already three months pregnant.
1583
Our first daughter, Susanna, was baptised today, May 26. We're so happy!
1584
Anne is pregnant again!
1585
TWINS! We have two new children: Hamnet and Judith. We named them after my two great friends, Hamnet and Judith Sadler.
1592: I'm Back!
I'm sorry for being gone so long from 1586-1592 (The Lost Years). But, again, I'm not going to tell you where I've been and what I've been doing. I'll leave all the speculation to you.
Just know that I am now famous in the theater world here in London as a playwright and as a poet.
Just know that I am now famous in the theater world here in London as a playwright and as a poet.
1592-1594: Acting Troupes
So far, I've been acting with some troupes: The Queen's Men, Pembroke's Men, and Lord Strange's Men.But in January 1593, we had to stop all of our productions and plays because of the Plague that ravaged England.
So I've been writing poems. I wrote Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece and dedicated them to Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton and Baron of Titchfield.
In December of 1594, I became the Treasurer of the Queen's Chamber and I performed as part of Lord Chamberlain's Men--in the Theater!
So I've been writing poems. I wrote Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece and dedicated them to Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton and Baron of Titchfield.
In December of 1594, I became the Treasurer of the Queen's Chamber and I performed as part of Lord Chamberlain's Men--in the Theater!
1599: Globe Theater
We, Lord Chamberlain's Men, are now the most famous acting troupe in London! Yes!
Around this time, I wrote three different types of plays:
1) The Classical plays
2) The History plays
3) Experiments in comedy
I have already written the following:
Romeo and Juliet (probably 1595)
Richard II (probably 1595)
Midsummer Night's Dream (probably written in late 1594 or 1595)
King John (probably 1596)
The Merchant of Venice (1596-97)
Henry IV plays (probably 1597-98)
Much Ado About Nothing (1599)
As You Like It (probably 1599)
The Merry Wives of Windsor (probably 1599)
Henry V (probably 1599)
Julius Caesar (probably 1599)
I could've died at this point and still be considered one of the greatest playwrights of all time. But I didn't!
Around this time, I wrote three different types of plays:
1) The Classical plays
2) The History plays
3) Experiments in comedy
I have already written the following:
Romeo and Juliet (probably 1595)
Richard II (probably 1595)
Midsummer Night's Dream (probably written in late 1594 or 1595)
King John (probably 1596)
The Merchant of Venice (1596-97)
Henry IV plays (probably 1597-98)
Much Ado About Nothing (1599)
As You Like It (probably 1599)
The Merry Wives of Windsor (probably 1599)
Henry V (probably 1599)
Julius Caesar (probably 1599)
I could've died at this point and still be considered one of the greatest playwrights of all time. But I didn't!
1603-1608: Tragedies
A coupled of years ago (1603), Queen Elizabeth died and James VI of Scotland became James I of England. So instead of the Queen's Men, we are now the King's Men.
From November 1, 1604 to October 31, 1605, we did a total 11 performances!
And I wrote the six plays for seven of these performances!
The Comedy of Errors
Love's Labour's Lost
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Othello
Measure for Measure
The Merchant of Venice (we performed this twice!)
People have noticed, though, that my plays have been very cynical lately.
Well I guess you could say that it was because my father died in 1601. Or maybe it was the death of Queen Elizabeth. Or maybe it was because tragedies became more popular and they brought in more money. It also could be because I was just really depressed after writing Hamlet (it was super stressful!). Who really knows? I don't even know myself!
Despite all of this "sadness," however, I managed to buy a cottage opposite my house, New Place!
From November 1, 1604 to October 31, 1605, we did a total 11 performances!
And I wrote the six plays for seven of these performances!
The Comedy of Errors
Love's Labour's Lost
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Othello
Measure for Measure
The Merchant of Venice (we performed this twice!)
People have noticed, though, that my plays have been very cynical lately.
I have also already written Hamlet (1599-1601).
But the comedies that I wrote during these period were comedies that were "distinctly un-funny, and have been called 'problem plays'."
Troilus and Cressida (probably 1602) All's Well That Ends Well (probably 1603-1604)
Measure for Measure (probably 1603-1604)
Then I moved on to more tragic plays.
Othello (probably 1604)
King Lear (probably 1605)
Macbeth (probably 1605)
Antony and Cleopatra (probably 1607)
Coriolanus (probably 1606-1608)*
Timon of Athens (probably 1606-1608)*
*Out of all my plays, these two were the "worst" ones--not many people liked them and they weren't performed a lot.
Why exactly did I switch from awesome comedies to sad tragedies?But the comedies that I wrote during these period were comedies that were "distinctly un-funny, and have been called 'problem plays'."
Troilus and Cressida (probably 1602) All's Well That Ends Well (probably 1603-1604)
Measure for Measure (probably 1603-1604)
Then I moved on to more tragic plays.
Othello (probably 1604)
King Lear (probably 1605)
Macbeth (probably 1605)
Antony and Cleopatra (probably 1607)
Coriolanus (probably 1606-1608)*
Timon of Athens (probably 1606-1608)*
*Out of all my plays, these two were the "worst" ones--not many people liked them and they weren't performed a lot.
Well I guess you could say that it was because my father died in 1601. Or maybe it was the death of Queen Elizabeth. Or maybe it was because tragedies became more popular and they brought in more money. It also could be because I was just really depressed after writing Hamlet (it was super stressful!). Who really knows? I don't even know myself!
Despite all of this "sadness," however, I managed to buy a cottage opposite my house, New Place!
1608: Romances
Susanna, my first child, just married Dr. John Hall last year (1607).
We're now allowed to perform in the indoor thater at Blackfriars! Now we can use artificial lighting, music and stage effects. We also got to increase admissions fees and perform plays specifically for more sophisticated audiences.
So I just began writing some plays that are, I guess, romances? Anyway, they're lighter and more fun than my previous plays, which were tragic.
Pericles, Prince of Tyre (probably 1607-1608)
Cymbeline
The Winter's Tale
The Tempest
These are probably the most mature ones I've ever written.
(By the way, The Tempest was probably my last great play.)
We're now allowed to perform in the indoor thater at Blackfriars! Now we can use artificial lighting, music and stage effects. We also got to increase admissions fees and perform plays specifically for more sophisticated audiences.
So I just began writing some plays that are, I guess, romances? Anyway, they're lighter and more fun than my previous plays, which were tragic.
Pericles, Prince of Tyre (probably 1607-1608)
Cymbeline
The Winter's Tale
The Tempest
These are probably the most mature ones I've ever written.
(By the way, The Tempest was probably my last great play.)
1612: Nearing the End
I bought the Blackfriar gate house!
I have returned to Stratford and I worked with John Fletcher inw riting Henry VIII (1613) and Two Noble Kinsmen (probably 1613 or 1614). No one really liked them, though.
I have returned to Stratford and I worked with John Fletcher inw riting Henry VIII (1613) and Two Noble Kinsmen (probably 1613 or 1614). No one really liked them, though.
1616: Goodbye Shakespeare
March 1616
I'm sick and Susanna's husband, Dr. Hall, sees me everyday. I don't know what my illness is.
In any case I've decided to prepare my will.
I've decided to leave some money for Judith, poor thing. She got married this past February to Thomas Quiney, a man four years younger than she. I know his family--they were good--but we just found out that Quiney had impregnated another girl. The girl died in childbirth and she took her child with her.
I also left some money to my sister, Joan Hart, as well as his sons. All of my plates should go to Elizabeth and I've decided to donate some money to Stratford's poor. I have left some tokens and treasures with some friends and I leave my second best bed to my wife, Anne. Everything else that I own belongs to Susanna and her husband, Dr. Hall.
April 24, 1616
Hello. This is Susanna Shakespeare. My father died yesterday and has left me most of his belongings, including this blog. We're going to bury him at Holy Trinity Church tomorrow.
Thank you for following my father throughout his life via this blog.
I hope that one day, many will still remember his plays and his words. In the First Folio that he left, my father lives on.
I'm sick and Susanna's husband, Dr. Hall, sees me everyday. I don't know what my illness is.
In any case I've decided to prepare my will.
I've decided to leave some money for Judith, poor thing. She got married this past February to Thomas Quiney, a man four years younger than she. I know his family--they were good--but we just found out that Quiney had impregnated another girl. The girl died in childbirth and she took her child with her.
I also left some money to my sister, Joan Hart, as well as his sons. All of my plates should go to Elizabeth and I've decided to donate some money to Stratford's poor. I have left some tokens and treasures with some friends and I leave my second best bed to my wife, Anne. Everything else that I own belongs to Susanna and her husband, Dr. Hall.
April 24, 1616
Hello. This is Susanna Shakespeare. My father died yesterday and has left me most of his belongings, including this blog. We're going to bury him at Holy Trinity Church tomorrow.
Thank you for following my father throughout his life via this blog.
I hope that one day, many will still remember his plays and his words. In the First Folio that he left, my father lives on.
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