I've decided to tweak my focused learning plan a bit (already?!) and spend this week posting about the rest of the PBS series "In Search of Shakespeare". It's providing an excellent foundation of Shakespeare's life upon which I can further my focus of the familial aspect in Shakespeare's works. By learning more about Shakespeare's personal life, I can glean out important information that may parallel with his view and attitude towards the family and how it is reflected in his works. I ended my last post, part one of the series, with Shakespeare as a husband and father at the very young age of 19 years-old.
In order to support his new family, William Shakespeare lived and worked in the Lancaster countryside as a teacher under the alias of William Shakeshaft. February 2, 1585 was the baptism of Shakespeare's twins. Now Shakespeare's family included his two girls, one boy and his wife Anne. In other family matters, John Shakespeare, William's father, continued to make a bad name for the family when he was booted out of politics, again, when William was 22 years old.
There was a group called "The Queen's Men" who traveled all around Great Britain. They were a popular attraction and a humorous group, but their main purpose was a propaganda tour for Queen Elizabeth. This was during the time of the Spanish Armada when the Protestant Winds conquered Spain. One of the famous players in the Queen's Men was William Nell. He was murdered and so the company was short one actor. Michael Wood believes that this was when Shakespeare joined the Queen's Men and left his family behind to tour with the company. They were one of the first to portray the villainous character of Richard III. They also put on the old play of King Lear.
In 1588 the Queens Men arrived in London and Shakespeare left them to be out on his own. Seen in tax records, we find Shakespeare's first address in London is Bishop's Gate. He lived among the middle class and worked in Shoreditch where he began to write plays.
Shakespeare's main contender at the time was Christopher Marlowe. Marlowe was the same age and class as Shakespeare, but Marlowe had a university education from Cambridge. Marlowe was a outspoken, controversial figure, but also one of the Queen's spies. Near the end of his life, and most probably the cause of death at such a young age, he wrote the play Edward II which included strong criticism against the ruler. Not long after he was murdered by another one of the Queen's spies. This taught all writers, including Shakespeare, to be aware not to ignite the political angst of Queen Elizabeth.
Ferdinando Stanley was the first patron for Shakespeare's company--some of the actors including Burbage, Hennings, Condell and Sly. Wood pin points March 3, 1592 as when Shakespeare became the top contender. That day it is recorded that Henry VI, Part I took in 3 pounds, 16 shillings and 8 pence. Part II and III of Henry the VI had been so popular that Part I is thought to be made as a sort of "prequel". It drew in audiences of nearly 2,000 people. They did 14 more shows that spring and took in 16,344 pennies. Shakespeare was a hit!
In order to support his new family, William Shakespeare lived and worked in the Lancaster countryside as a teacher under the alias of William Shakeshaft. February 2, 1585 was the baptism of Shakespeare's twins. Now Shakespeare's family included his two girls, one boy and his wife Anne. In other family matters, John Shakespeare, William's father, continued to make a bad name for the family when he was booted out of politics, again, when William was 22 years old.
In 1588 the Queens Men arrived in London and Shakespeare left them to be out on his own. Seen in tax records, we find Shakespeare's first address in London is Bishop's Gate. He lived among the middle class and worked in Shoreditch where he began to write plays.
Shakespeare's main contender at the time was Christopher Marlowe. Marlowe was the same age and class as Shakespeare, but Marlowe had a university education from Cambridge. Marlowe was a outspoken, controversial figure, but also one of the Queen's spies. Near the end of his life, and most probably the cause of death at such a young age, he wrote the play Edward II which included strong criticism against the ruler. Not long after he was murdered by another one of the Queen's spies. This taught all writers, including Shakespeare, to be aware not to ignite the political angst of Queen Elizabeth.Ferdinando Stanley was the first patron for Shakespeare's company--some of the actors including Burbage, Hennings, Condell and Sly. Wood pin points March 3, 1592 as when Shakespeare became the top contender. That day it is recorded that Henry VI, Part I took in 3 pounds, 16 shillings and 8 pence. Part II and III of Henry the VI had been so popular that Part I is thought to be made as a sort of "prequel". It drew in audiences of nearly 2,000 people. They did 14 more shows that spring and took in 16,344 pennies. Shakespeare was a hit!
***
This period in Shakespeare's life raises the question of what kind of father he was? It seems that he was an absent father, touring Great Britain and settling down in London to earn a living while his family was living in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Was this common for a father trying to support his family in the Elizabethan era? In almost 10 years since he'd been married Shakespeare became a very successful play write at the sacrifice of his family, or was it entirely to support his family? I'm interested to see if his personal success is reflected anywhere in his plays, and whether families are portrayed as the casualties or beneficiaries of success.
