The Real William Shakespeare Essay, Research Paper

Jonathan EvesEnglish IIIApril 26, 1999Jubenville The Real William Shakespeare Critics and people everywhere will tell you that William Shakespeare is probably the greatest author and playwright who ever did grace the world of literature. They also tell you that his works have been generally accepted as some of the greatest pieces of literature ever to be written. For years now, however, there has been much controversy and many questions about the authenticity of these writings. There is no question that there existed a man named William Shakespere of Stratford-on-Avon. History has been given undeniable proof of that. We have examples of his signature. However, the likelihood that he his the original author of the dramas credited to “William Shakespeare” is such that it has had to be debated over for quite some time now. The idea that Shakespere of Stratford was the true creator of these immortal masterpieces walks a fine line on near impossibility. Edward de Vere, the seventeenth Earl of Oxford, was the true author of the works written under the name William Shakespeare.There is no record that the works and writings of William Shakespeare are actually his own. History has given forth no evidence that Shakespere had any kind of schooling for a day in his life. I will refer to Shakespere as the man from Stratford and Shakespeare as the unknown author. Shakespere’s parents, his relatives, his wife, and his children were completely illiterate. Only he and one of his daughters were ever known to write anything, even though the only thing they were known to have ever written was their names. Historians have produced six examples of Shakespere’s signature. Shakespere made no claim to have taken any type of part in the publication of these works. What’s more, he never claimed to be the author, and he also made no mention of them in his will upon his death. He showed no interest in making sure that they stay preserved through the years. Shakespere, referring, of course, to the Stratford, was very much unknown. Even when the name “Shakespeare” was nearing and reaching its apex, no one, not even the tax collectors, could find the true identity of the author. Those who knew Shakespere never knew him as a dramatist or a writer of any sorts, especially if he could only write his name.

Shakespeare, the author name, is given credit, by Alfred Hart, to having a vocabulary or over 17,677 words. To think! That’s quite impressive for a man who has had no schooling in his lifetime. Of those 17,