Shakespeare Essays (845 words) - William Shakespeare, Love Stories

Shakespeare Shakespeare In the year of 1564 the man known as William Shakespeare was born, in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. The exact date of birth is unknown but is traditionally celebrated on the 23 of April. To Englanders this day is known as The Feast of St. George. The third-born of eight children to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden Shakespeare, William was their eldest son. John Shakespeare was a glove-maker and a tanner. Earlier in his life John had served a term as the mayor of Stratford, was a town councilman, one of Stratford's justices of peace, and an ale taster. John, unfortunately, could not write. In 1601, when William was 37 years old, John Shakespeare died. William inherited what small portions of land John had come to own in his lifetime, being the eldest of John and Mary's sons. Very little is known about Mary Arden Shakespeare's life. Although, she is known to have come from a wealthy family. Mary's family also paid John a very gracious dowry. William Shakespeare went to an excellent grammar school in Stratford-upon-Avon. Two Oxford graduates were instructors there. Shakespeare was fortunate to get both of them as teachers. Their names were Simon Hunt and Thomas Jenkins. William Studied the languages of Greek and Latin. He had also acquired a razor sharp awareness of both mankind and nature. This is believed to be his last type of formal education. On the day November 27, 1582, when Shakespeare was a mere 18 years of age, he was wed to Anne Hathaway. She was 28 when they got married. Their first child was a girl by the name of Susanna, born May 26, 1583. Two years later William and Anne had twins named Judith and Hamnet. Tragically, Hamnet died at the age of 11. It is not known why he died Between the years of 1585 and 1592 there is no evidence of Shakespeare's or the rest of his family's lives. The Hidden Years are what many call this time period in Shakespeare's life. It is believed that he may have been running from the law or was the apprentice of a butcher. A man named John Aubry was told by another man by the name of Christopher Beston that Shakespeare was simply working as a school teacher in London up until 1592. Beginning in the year 1592, in London, he was starting to become known as an established playwright. In 1593 Henry Wriothsley became William Shakespeare's patron and sponsor. Shakespeare was also a writer, director, actor, and stockholder in The King's Men company. William was acting for this company, which became the world's largest and most famous acting company only because Shakespeare was acting and working for them. Written in 1593 was Shakespeare's first long poem, called Venus and Adonius. Then in 1594 William wrote his second long poem called Rape of Lucrece. These two poems were written when the theatres were closed because of the highly contagious epidemic plague. William Shakespeare began writing plays in the late 1590's. Writing The Taming of the Shrew, The Comedy of Errors, As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Most of these plays were comedies. The only tragedy he wrote at that time was Romeo and Juliet. 1599 brought the construction of the Globe, which was built by Shakespeare's company. The most well-known of his tragedies were performed there. The plays acted out were Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear. To be, or not to be-that is the question: Whether ?tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune... (Hamlet in Hamlet) and But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun. ... (Romeo in Romeo and Juliet) are two of Shakespeare's most famous quotes. Ever since William Shakespeare became a well-known playwright he had been a wealthy man, bringing in money from many different sources. With all the money in his possession he had decided to buy a big house in Stratford for his family. This house was called New Place. In the year of 1610 Shakespeare retired from theatre and returned to Stratford to be with his family. His will was written on March 25, 1616. Nearly one month later, on his

Victorian women Essays

Victorian women Essays Victorian women Essay Victorian women Essay Like most Victorian women they were well dressed. They wore long dresses with veils. Most Victorian women were not very strong so they needed people like Sherlock Holmes to depend upon because he was strong and safe.  Many Victorian did not have control over their own lives. In The Speckled Band Helen Stoner had to ask permission off her stepfather is she could marry. She came from a very rich family but she did not have any money and would have none until she was married. Helen Stoner was not allowed to go out and have a social life without Dr Roylet, like when she went to Sherlock Holmes Dr Roylet follows her to find out what she is doing. Victorian woman often had to cover up for men like in The Speckled Band where Sherlock Holmes spotted the bruises on her arms. She said that she had had an accident, but he knew that Dr Roylet had done this to her. When Dr Roylet killed his butler Helen tells no one because she knew that if she did he would have beaten her up or even killed her. All she does is collect money and pays the butlers family.  Overall the Victorian women had no independence, money or life so it was not all that good for them. In Sherlock Holmes stories the settings gave a very accurate description about Victorian times. The Twisted Lip is set in London in a street called Swandom Lane. Swandom Lane is a very dirty, rough and smelly place. The main part of the storey was located in an Opium Den, and either side of it was a Sex Shop and Off Licence, but in The Speckled Band the setting was set in a very different place. It was placed in the Wealthy Outskirts. This was out in the Countryside where it was very quiet and peaceful. There were lots of wealthy Victorians living in big houses. These two books show two very different places in Victorian times.  In the Victorian times Britain was a ruler of a huge empire. This is shown in a range of references as in The Twisted Lip there was a Lascar, which is an Indian Seaman, working in an Opium Den in England and in The Speckled Band you have Dr Roylet living in India and working as a Doctor.  The transport in Victorian times was very different to nowadays. In The Twisted Lip Mrs St Clair visited Sherlock Holmes in a Hansom Cab and in The Speckled Band Sherlock Holmes and Watson rode in a Dog Cart, unlike nowadays when people travel about in motor vehicles. In the Speckled Band Helen Stoner travelled to see Sherlock Holmes by train. Trains were one of the most common modes of transport in that time, like they still are today.  In conclusion these stories tell us a lot about what the Victorians believed in and what they thought the ideal Victorian Man was ie Sherlock Holmes. Also what they thought a real villain was like. These stories give a clear view about what London was like in Victorian times.