Methinks It Be Shakespeare Day!

April 23 is Shakespeare Day, set aside to honor the creativity and genius of the famous British playwright William Shakespeare. The date is believed to be his birthday, and, oddly enough, he died on the same day years later.

The Early Days of Shakespeare

Researchers have deduced that Shakespeare, also known as the Bard of Avon, was born on April 23, 1564, in Stratford-Upon-Avon in England, the son of John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. His father was a glovemaker, and his mother was the daughter of a wealthy landowning family. It is believed that he attended King’s New School in Stratford, though there are few records to document that.

At the age of 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. She was slightly older, 26, when they wed in November 1582. The couple had three children: Susanna and twins Judith and Hamnet. Unfortunately, Hamnet died of unknown causes at the age of 11.

It is unclear when Shakespeare began writing plays and poetry, but many of his comedies and tragedies were being performed in London theaters by 1592. Though he often faced ridicule from his playwrighting colleagues, Shakespeare and his works became successful in many theaters across England during his lifetime. Today, his name and his theatrical legacy are well known worldwide.

His Most Famous Works

Shakespeare was an incredible talent. In the early 1590s, he wrote several plays, such as Richard III, The Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew, and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. His more popular works came along in the mid-1590s. Plays such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Much Ado About Nothing are still being produced onstage regularly today.

Over time, his characters and storylines became more complex. Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar highlighted the playwright’s dramatic side. Many Shakespearean scholars believe his tragedies showcased the peak of his art.

Hamlet is perhaps the most widely studied and analyzed of all his creations. The famous line from that play, “To be or not to be, that is the question,” has been quoted in conversation, movies, and TV shows. T.S. Eliot, a 20^th-century poet and critic, spoke highly of Shakespeare, saying that “Shakespeare acquired more essential history from Plutarch than most men could from the whole British Museum.” Plutarch was an ancient Greek and Roman philosopher, historian, biographer, and essayist who highly influenced literature and moral philosophy for centuries.

In total, Shakespeare is acknowledged for writing between 37 and 40 plays and more than 150 sonnets. Over the years, movies based on his plays and their themes have been produced to great acclaim, among them: The Lion King (1994) based on Hamlet; 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) based on Taming of the Shrew;  Forbidden Planet (1956) based on The Tempest;  My Own Private Idaho (1991) based on Henry IV and Henry V; Romeo + Juliet (1996) and West Side Story (2021) based on Romeo and Juliet.

Shakespeare Day

The idea for the holiday was first introduced by Robert J. Williamson, artistic director of the British Shakespeare Company. The celebration became a success worldwide and is considered a national holiday in England.

In Stratford-Upon-Avon, the town where he was born, a special pageant held each year attracts tourists from all over the world who attend his plays in England. Universities, cultural centers, and theaters dedicate the day to the Bard by performing his creations, holding seminars, and presenting lectures in his honor.

There are many creative ways to celebrate Shakespeare, but the most important thing is to acknowledge the contributions made by the brilliant writer who came from a small village to become a titan of English literature. Nearly 500 years after his death, his work thrives in classrooms, on stage, and in all forms of entertainment.

1. William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564, and died on the same day in 1616.
2. In total, Shakespeare is acknowledged for writing between 37 and 40 plays and more than 150 sonnets.
3. April 23 of each year is set aside to honor the works of the famous Bard of Avon.