SHAKESPEARE'S LIFE

Portrait of William Shakespeare

The date of Shakespeare's birth is still relatively unknown as records of the time are scarce, but historians guess that he was born a few days prior to his baptism on 26th April 1564, in his birth place Stratford-upon-Avon. William Shakespeare lived his life over 400 years ago, but to this day theatre companies around the world are still re imagining his plays. 

Despite being raised in Stratford as well as owning a property and having family there also, his primary place of work was in the capital, London. At the time, London was at the forefront for English theatre, with himself at the top of the writing chain. His popularity was immense for the time, both being a playwright and an actor. Later in his life he owned the second largest house in Stratford.

William was the son to John and Mary Shakespeare. William was the eldest of five siblings. He had three younger brothers, Gilbert, Richard and Edmund as well as two younger sisters, Anne and Joan. Anne dying just age seven. He was the oldest surviving child as Mary's previous two girls did not survive past infancy.  The father of the family, John, was a successful leather worker, making gloves and other items. John became and alderman and eventually the town bailiff. John married a woman by the name of Mary, who was part of the well known Arden family.  

Shakespeare was a student at Stratfords Grammar School at around age 15. He would have studied Latin heavily, which included writing, acting and memorisation of plays. A few years later, in 1582, William left the school and married Anne Hathaway just age 18 despite her being 26 years old and bearing their first child. Anne also grew up in Stratford in the village of Shottery and stayed the rest of her life there. 

in 1585, William and Anne had twins named Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet died just age 11 in 1596. This broke Williams heart, causing him to write many of his famous sonnets dedicated to Hamnet. This is also one of the reasons Shakespeare talked a lot about death and losing children in his work. Actors pursuing a career in theatre had to move to London as it was the only place to find work. His daughters all married, and Shakespeare became a grandfather in 1608, but the family eventually died out.

Shakespeare became a member of the Kings Men, a prosperous theatre group, formerly known as the Lord Chamberlains Men. William benefited both financially and career wise from being in the Kings Men. Shakespeare died on April 26th, 1616 with know cause of his death. However historians theorise that because his brother in law passed away a week earlier, he may have died from infectious diseases.

LIFE IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND (L1)

Example of homes during the time.

The country side had rather atrocious living conditions. People who lived in the city of London lived amongst faecal matter and the fear of disease spreading, whereas common folk from the country would live in dark thatch houses with holes for windows. Lighting was a no go as candles were expensive; way beyond the pay of a labourer. They would be lucky to own a straw mat to rest their heads on as a mattress substitute. If they couldn't afford one, they would lie on the floor. Many cases report large families of six plus sharing a home fit for two at max. Elizabethan society was divided into the class in which you were born. If born a rich nobleman, you'd never dare contact a person below your wealth and vise versa. This is the law of the land. If you're born poor, you'll die poor.

“The cold stuck so deep into them their flesh was eaten with vermin and corrupt diseases grew on them” - City of Norwich, Order for the poor, 1571

Countrymen were split into three categories :

Yeoman

 These men might own or rent land and employs workers to come and work on their own land.

Husbandmen

Husbandmen rents the land he works on.

Labourers

Labourers simply work on other peoples farms.

For an unemployed poor person - finding work would be extremely limited. Their best bet is to go around looking for work as a labourer and work on someone else's land. For a common man, a full on hard day of work would earn you a Groat. One Groat is the equivalent of around four pence, enough for a loaf of bread. Luxuries of the day like a Lemon would cost £75 by todays standards, and a full chicken for dinner would spend you £100. Because of these harsh conditions, men would drink ale as alternative to water as the water was so polluted, it was safer to get ale. Men, women and children were practically starving whilst the rich dined on banquets.