William Shakespeare
Born April 23, 1564
(baptized April 26, 1564)
Died April 23, 1616
Early Life
Not much is factually known about
Shakespeare’s childhood and early family life.
Much is pieced together from public records
and assumptions.
It is known that he was born in Stratford,
England (Stratford-upon-Avon), and that his
family was relatively comfortable, uppermiddle class for his very early childhood.
His father, John, was a leather worker, trader,
and local politician. He seems to have found
himself in some trouble with the law for
illegal trading and/or price fixing and
eventually lost much of his business and
political clout.
Married Life
•A little more is known factually
about his married life. He was
married at 18 to Anne Hathaway
whose family was also fairly
comfortable. She was 26 and
pregnant. Probably a forced
marriage and also one of social
convenience.
•They had three children,
Susanna, and twins Hamnet and
Judith.
•Hamnet died in 1596, which
seems to point to a change in
Shakespeare’s professional
demeanor and literary theme—
begins a period of Tragedies
including Hamlet, Julius Caesar
and Romeo and Juliet.
Anne Hathaway’s family cottage
Professional career
•Not much is known about
Shakespeare’s life between his
marriage/children’s birth and
when he was already publishing
and performing in London.
•Most historians believe he was
working on poetry, the
beginnings of his playwriting,
and his acting skills.
•He was first mentioned in a
professional critique in 1592. He
was not a critical success in his
early playwriting nor his
performing, but he was evidently
very popular.
Professional Career
Most of the London plays were produced
as part of professional theater groups.
Shakespeare was no different.
With no copyright laws, plays could be
“stolen” and performed at other theaters
before or during performances at other
(intended) theaters.
Therefore, Shakespeare most likely kept
his plays from public view and rarely if
ever published them while they were
being performed.
The theater arts came in and out of favor
with the English monarchy. Queen
Elizabeth was a patron and during her
time his popularity and fortunes
flourished.
The Globe Theater
•Shakespeare's theater troop was
very popular and commercially
successful; so much so, he was able
to build his own theater– The Globe
Theater, built in 1599.
•During its heyday, it was destroyed
at least once by fire and also moved
once. Also during Shakespeare’s life,
the plague struck and the
government shut down the theater
district at least once. The Globe was
destroyed again by fire and after his
death never rebuilt.
•Performances usually cost a penny
for floor patrons and a nickel for
balcony.
•There was little room for intricate,
detailed scenery and props were kept
to a minimum although costumes
were probably fairly elaborate as was
the action (sword fights/dances).
Shakespeare’s Productions
• His plays were usually performed during the day time when light was
plentiful.
• Action was over emphasized and speaking parts moved quickly. Most plays
were performed within a two hour time limit or so.
• At least in the 1500s, all parts were played by men. Women’s roles were
normally played by teenagers, especially those whose voices hadn’t broken.
Women actors slowly became more prevalent in the 1600s. Shakespeare may
have been at the forefront of this movement.
• Crowds loved the wordplay, swordplay, and bawdy behavior. Romantic
scenes were almost non-existent because there was little action (vocally
referenced and close proximity) and they moved slowly.
• Even Shakespeare’s competitors had to admit his popularity and writing
ability. By the time of his death, he was legendary throughout London.
Shakespeare’s
Career
Shakespeare’s career in the theater lasted until
approximately 1613. He wrote 37 plays which
were all performed.
His plays can be categorized as comedies,
tragedies, and histories.
Julius Caesar was first presented in 1599. It was
influenced by Plutarch’s Lives of Famous Greeks
and Romans.
As much as it is based in historical facts, it is one
of the tragedies that were produced following the
death of his son, Hamnet.
Shakespeare was known almost as much for his
poetry as his plays. He created what is called the
Shakespearean Sonnet, a fourteen-line poem.
His love poems and odes were popular and
eventually legendary.
The first official publications of his work first
came after his death in 1623 in The First Folio.
Several competitors during Shakespeare’s life
contributed to the publishing of his work. The
authenticity of his work has come into question
somewhat because of that. But most historians
agree that for the most part everything
attributed to Shakespeare is his own work.
Shakespeare’s Death
• He supposedly died on his birthday April 23, 1616.
• After “retirement” he returned to his family in Stratford.
• Although in his will he bequeaths almost everything of
value to his daughter (many historians point to this as
showing the distance between him and his wife), it would
not have been uncommon because he had no male heir;
Susanna’s children then would eventually inherit his
fortune. Un-fortune-ately, he had no surviving male heirs,
so much of fortune eventually dissipated after his death
and the death of his immediate family.
• Shakespeare’s daughter Judith was caught in much
controversy as her first husband was unfaithful and was
publicly rebuked.
Julius Caesar
• First performed in 1599 or 1600
and one of Shakespeare’s first
major Tragedies.
• Inspired by Plutarch.
• May have been a condemnation of
contemporary political unrest at
the end of Queen Elizabeth’s life.
• It speaks of the aftermath of a
very powerful political leader and
the downfall of great leaders, all
of whom seem to suffer from
personal faults such as egotism
and lack of foresight.
• Major themes: Fate vs. Action;
Public vs. Private Self; What
makes a hero? What is Ambition?
Julius Caesar’s Major Characters
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Julius Caesar: even though he is the title character, he is dead
before the end of the third act (not uncommon for the “climax” of a
Shakespearean drama to occur about half-way through and then the
fallout take up the latter half).
Marcus Brutus: Really the main character. He is modest but
certainly shows the fault of egotism and a lack of foresight, far too
trusting and unable to really judge the character or intentions of
those around him. He could be the most tragic figure as he seems to
be selfless.
Marc Anthony: Becomes the central focus of the play following Act
III. Although he seems to be benign throughout much of the play by
Act IV we see a much different and aggressive character, ruthless
and egotistical.
Cassius: An unfortunate leader who doesn’t seem capable of leading.
Although his ideas seem good, he is helpless to act on them without
Brutus. He needs Brutus’ popularity but also seems to cave to
Brutus’ influence.
Octavius: Doesn’t even appear until Act IV, but given that he is the
eventual leader of the Roman Empire quickly ascends the hierarchy
of characters. He seems willing to work with Mark Anthony until
Act V, when a new and more self-assured Octavius appears.
Who Is the Hero?
• Interestingly Julius Caesar himself is dead and gone by the scene 2 of Act
III (although his ghost lives on with Brutus). He really doesn’t help himself
though, publically and privately appearing very arrogant. (Compares
himself to fear and a lion and being more fearful, more powerful than all).
“I rather tell thee what is to be feared/ Than what I fear; for always I am
Caesar.”
• For most, Brutus is the hero because he is really the focal point of almost
every Act. He is also the tragic hero because he is the last to die, and with
his death the play comes to an end. He makes several errors in judgment
that bring about his ultimate demise.
• Cassius who dominates the first two Acts takes a secondary role to Brutus,
either willingly or fatalistically. He reluctantly then goes along with Brutus’
decisions. His only and final response to his own giving in comes in Act
V—”Now, Brutus, thank yourself!/ This tongue had not offended so today/
If Cassius might have ruled”. He references killing himself often and finally
does so after a grievous error in judgment.
Who Is the Hero
• Anthony seems to dominate the events of the play from the middle
of Act III scene 1 to the end, but Shakespeare gives many clues that
he doesn’t think much of Anthony and give his audience a clue that
Octavius eventually is the first emperor of Rome, as he is the last to
speak. No one, including Caesar and Brutus, thinks much of him
given his reputation of partying “long a nights”. At one point he and
Octavius subtly disagree on strategy. He does give a kind eulogy of
Brutus in the end as “the most noble Roman of them all”.
• Octavius has little said about him and is actually given little as far as
speaking parts. Given his age and inexperience, just about
everybody looks down on him. Antony finds humor in his speedy
arrival in Act III and seems to dominate the 2nd Triumvirate in Act IV.
Yet, he is the last to speak in the Shakespearean summary
monologue in Act V and eventually becomes Rome’s first true
Emperor Augustus.
Minor Characters
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Portia/Calphurnia: Brutus’ and Caesar’s wives respectively. Strong
women whose ideas are unfortunately shunned by their strong willed
husband. The relationship between Brutus and Portia at first seems close
and loving but it doesn’t take him long to forget about her. Calphurnia at
first is heeded by Caesar but she too is quickly forgotten. The women’s
roles are fairly minor overall.
Soothsayer: Foretold of Caesar’s demise but because of his social
class/reputation he was disregarded
Marullus/Flavius: Tribunes who scold townspeople for rejoicing at
Caesar’s triumph. Later were “put to silence”
Artemidorous: Like the Soothsayer he was disregarded because he was a
commoner.
Titinius: Cassius’ aide who kills himself over Cassius’ death. Cassius did
not take the time to note that he was safe. No one seemed to care.
Plebians: They are mistreated and disregarded by most characters in the
play. Tribunes scold them, they are easily swayed by the main characters,
their allegiances are fickle in that they shift from one character to
another. Shakespeare doesn’t seem to give them any credit.
Shakespeare’s Language
• Words: "arch-villain," "bedazzle," "cheap" (as in vulgar or flimsy),
"dauntless," "embrace" (as a noun), "fashionable," "go-between," "honeytongued," "inauspicious," "lustrous," "nimble-footed," "outbreak,"
"pander," "sanctimonious," "time-honored," "unearthly," "vulnerable,"
and "well-bred."
• Phrases: “Eaten out of house and home”; Pomp and circumstance;
Foregone conclusion; Full circle; The makings of; Method in the madness;
Neither rhyme nor reason; One fell swoop; Seen better days; It smells to
heaven; A sorry sight; A spotless reputation; Strange bedfellows; The
world's (my) oyster
• “All that glisters (glistens) is not gold”; To knit one's brow ; Cold comfort;
(To) give the devil his due; To play fast and loose; Till the last gasp;
Laughing stock; Fool's paradise; In a pickle; Out of the question; The long
and the short of it; It's Greek to me; It's high time; The naked truth
• I’th = in the; is’t = is it; tis = it is, contracts syllable; answer’ed = adds
syllable; numer’ed = adds syllable