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Introduction: William Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest dramatists of the world history. His poems are also considered an invaluable contribution to the world literature.
Birth and Boyhood: Shakespeare was born on the 26th April, 1564. He was the son of a prosperous citizen of Stratford-on-Avon. He got admitted into a grammar school but he could not finish his studies, as he had to help his father in his business.
Marriage: In 1582, he married Anne Hathaway who was seven years senior to him.
Life in London: At a point, he got involved in trouble with the local landlord and had to flee to London. There he joined the theater. By the year 1592, he established himself as an actor and joined Chamberlain’s Players.
Career as a Playwright: After being established as an actor, he devoted himself to writing plays. At first he studied old plays, then began to write his own plays. This led him to financial prosperity. He purchased property both in London and in Stratford. His early plays include Comedy of Errors (1593) and Romeo and Juliet (1595). Middle plays include The Merchant of Venice (1597), Henry IV (1597-98), Julias Caesar (1601) and As You Like It (1600). They also include his great tragedies such as Hamlet (1601), Othello (1604), King Lear (1606), Macbeth (1606). His last plays were Cymbeline (1609) and The Tempest (1611). In his plays we find him exploring the depths of the human heart and nature.
Last Year: In 1614, he retired and began to live in Stratford. In April, 1616 he entertained some of his London friends. He died on the 23rd April, 1616.
Conclusion: His fellow dramatists and actors loved and admired him. Many of his dramas were published during his lifetime but his complete plays were published in a folio edition in 1623. In that edition, Ben Johnson paid him tribute saying, “not of an age, but of all ages and climes. A few of his plays were produced before Queen Elizabeth. He is considered the greatest author of the English language.
