William Shakespeare
- Born:
- Baptized April 26, 1564, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
- Died:
- April 23, 1616, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
- Nationality:
- English
- Profession(s):
- Playwright, Poet, Actor
Early Life and Education
- Born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon.
- Presumed to have attended King Edward VI Grammar School in Stratford.
- Married Anne Hathaway in 1582.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began his theatrical career in London by the early 1590s.
- Member and later part-owner of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men.
- Wrote approximately 39 plays and 154 sonnets, as well as other poems.
- Established himself as a major playwright by the late 1590s.
- His plays were performed at the Globe Theatre and other venues.
Notable Works
Plays
| Tragedies | Comedies | Histories |
|---|---|---|
| Hamlet | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Richard III |
| Othello | Twelfth Night | Henry IV, Part 1 |
| King Lear | Much Ado About Nothing | Henry V |
| Macbeth | As You Like It | Richard II |
| Romeo and Juliet | The Taming of the Shrew | Henry VI (Parts 1, 2, and 3) |
Poetry
- Sonnets (154)
- Venus and Adonis
- The Rape of Lucrece
Legacy and Impact
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are constantly studied, performed, and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts throughout the world. The study of Shakespeare continues and analysis such as 'tamura ryuichi biography of william' help modern scholars with their studies.