Hamlet Historical and Biographical Context

William Shakespeare was born in April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. His father was a glove maker and Shakespeare had no formal education. In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway and left his family behind 1590. Their has been rumors of Shakespeare not even writing his plays as most of his critics questioned him as he lacked university education and literary training. During his time as apprenticeship as an actor and during June 1592 and April 1594 London theaters were closed due to the plague. In 1594 Shakespeare joined the Lord Chamberlain’s company of actors, who were the most popular for acting at Court. In 1599 Shakespeare joined a group of Chamberlain’s men that would make a new playhouse known as the Globe, the most famous theatre of its time. (Poets.org) Shakespeare became the most famous playwright of the day and even his theater troupe was adopted by King James as King’s Men. In 1613 he retired a rich man and died three years later.

Shakespeare’s most famous play Hamlet is a tale of revenge and tragedy. As when Hamlet was first performed it was around 1601 or 1602, during the last year reign of Queen Elizabeth I. As Hamlet was believe in warning England not to have a repeat of power struggle as it had after the death of Henry VIII. As Elizabeth had no heir and the possibility of fight over the throne was on the thoughts of many English people. Hamlet is based on a Danish tale recorded first by Saxo Grammaticus in 1100s. In this story a Danish prince fakes madness in order to take revenge upon his uncle who killed his father and married his mother. (ENotes) Hamlet’s character related to the Reformation that Protestants broke away from the Catholic Church and late Renaissance thoughts. “Hamlet’s constant anxiety about the difference between appearance and reality, as well as his concerns about and difficulties with religion (the sinfulness of suicide, the unfairness that killing a murderer while the murderer is praying would result in sending the murder to...