William Shakespeare's Unusual Story

William Shakespeare (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The legendary writer from England, William Shakespeare is believed to have been born today, April 23, in the 16th century or 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom. The person who is often nicknamed "Poet from Avon" has at least 39 plays, 154 sonnets, two narrative poems and a number of other verses.

According to History.com, no one can be sure exactly when Shakespeare's birth date. However, church records show that he was baptized on April 26, and three days is the usual time to wait before a newborn is baptized. So April 23 is believed to be his birthday.

The difficulty in finding information about Shakespeare's birth is mainly due to the position where he came from. He is not a noble. His father John Shakespeare was a leather merchant. The story of the beginnings of William Shakespeare's life can only be gathered from official records such as at baptism and weddings.

He may have attended grammar school in Stratford, where he studied Latin and read classical literature. However, Shakespeare did not continue his education to university. He chose to marry a woman who was eight years his senior. Her name is Anne Hathaway.

Six months after marrying their first daughter, Susanna, was born. Then, in 1585 Shakespeare and Anne had twins, Hamnet and Judith. Unfortunately, however, Shakespeare's only son, Hamnet died 11 years later.

No one is sure what Shakespeare's life was like from the period the twins were born until his emergence as a playwright in London in the early 1590s. Various versions have sprung up. Some say he became a deer hunter, joined a group of adventurers, became a school teacher to become a soldier.

The first information about Shakespeare as a London playwright in 1592 comes from the writings of his fellow playman, Robert Greene. By this time Shakespeare is believed to have written the three chapters of Henry VI. Then, a year later, the poetry of Venus and Adonis was first published.

Shakespeare's career continued to climb. In 1594, he began to become an actor and playwright for the company Lord Chamberlain's Men. Business grew and became the best in England, thanks in part to Shakespeare, who was the main character.

In 1596 the company performed one of Shakespeare's most acclaimed plays Romeo and Juliet, Richard II, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. You could say that year was the beginning year of Shakespeare.

Then, entering the early 17th century, Shakespeare's grand play Hamlet was first performed. Then the drama The Merry Wives of Windsor, written at the request of Queen Elizabeth I, followed. During the following decades, Shakespeare produced other major works, such as Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, and The Tempest. Then, in 1609 his sonnets were published.

Shakespeare died at Stratford-on-Avon on April 23, 1616. Today, more than 400 years later, his work is played and read in more countries than ever before.