William Shakespeare – 1564-1616
William Shakespeare had seven siblings, he had 4 sisters – Joan (1558), Margaret (1562), Joan II (1569) and Anne (1571) – he also had 3 brothers - Gilbert (1566), Richard (1574) and Edmund (1580). In the late 1500’s, the average family size was large so this was average for the time. Shakespeare also lived in his early life with his Mother Mary and his father John. Shakespeare thought to have written a total of 38 plays and 154 sonnets and is considered the world’s most famous playwright as his work is still deeply studied and performed today.
Shakespeare married at the age of 18 to Anne Hathaway who he also had 3 children with. Shakespeare has 2 daughters Susanna (1583), Judith (1585) and one son Hamnet (1585). Judith and Hamnet are twins but unfortunately Hamnet died at the age 11. However, this was usual back in the late 1500’s as in that time a third of English children died before reaching 10 years old.
Romeo and Juliet is a romantic tragedy written by Shakespeare in (what is thought to of been) 1595, and had been performed by 1597. This was early in Shakespeare’s career and it was written whilst the country was under Queen Elizabeth I’s reign. It was based around conflict surrounding a forbidden love. Shakespeare wanted to write a story about love, hate, youth, age, interfering families, vanity, violence, and death so he wrote Romeo and Juliet. At this time – not much conflict was going on in England, I believe Shakespeare wrote this to warn people on how conflict can affect the world.
Timeline
1564 – William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon. He is also baptised on the 26th of April, 1564. He is thought to have been born 3 days before this (23rd of April) however this is not confirmed.
1569 - Shakespeare enters King's New School. This was a top grammar school in Stratford. This gives Shakespeare his education.
1582 – Shakespeare marries Anne Hathaway being aged 18 with Anne being 26/27. Many historians...