Shakespeare's Life and Influence

Colby Couillard

Global 1R/ English 9R/ Mr. Regan/

Mr. Minzloff/ Mrs. Molloy

April 23, 2010

Shakespeare’s Life and Influence

William Shakespeare, the most well known playwright ever to live, was The Entertainer of the Renaissance in England. Shakespeare lived from 1564-1616. Shakespeare started with a theatrical career and ended up influencing the future of theatre. Many of Shakespeare’s plays are still studied and evaluated today. Shakespeare started his career and his pieces related to anyone who experienced them, all of his work led him to influencing the rest of the cultural and theatrical world.

Shakespeare grew up in Stratford, England. “There is no record of Shakespeare’s birth, but there is evidence of Shakespeare being baptized in the parish church in Stratford during 1564” (Life and Times of Shakespeare, P 1) Shakespeare married in 1582 to Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare had been searching for a theatrical career in England for his plays to be published during 1586. Shakespeare decided to co write a play with the man Robert Greene, on a play called Greene’s Groats-worth of Wit in 1592. “From Greene’s Groat-worth of Wit, 1592, the first mention in print of Shakespeare as an established London playwright.” (Life and Times of Shakespeare, P 4) This first published play marked the beginning of Shakespeare’s career in London. The play was said to be a hit with theatre goers in London. Shakespeare’s work was also noticed in a playgroup named The Chamberlain’s Men. Passion for theatre and self education of the subject was the way Shakespeare got his career in theatre started. “Becoming part owner

of the Globe Theatre, Shakespeare’s plays would not be recognized by the public.”

(Stephan Greenblatt, P 207) Owning part of the globe theatre made it so he could choose his own plays to be performed on the stage so he could get recognition for his work. Without owning part of the Globe Theatre, Shakespeare’s plays would have never been...