William Shakespeare, the renowned playwright, poet, and theatrical manager, left an indelible mark in modern literature through his masterpieces like Hamlet and the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. He was born in 1564 into a middle-class family in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, as the third of eight children. His early years were characterized by relative affluence.
At the age of 14, however, his family’s financial affluence began to decline, leading him to abandon school as he wished. Determined to discover his path and dreams, he immersed himself in reading and writing several books, burgeoning his potential as a prospective writer.
At 18, he married Anne Hathaway, yet Shakespeare lacked genuine love and responsibility towards his family. He abandons his children and wife for seven years and flees to London. There, he encountered one theatrical play that profoundly stirred his determination to become a world-renowned playwright, igniting a deep passion and commitment.
Despite facing skepticism and negativity, he remained resolute in his journey of publishing various plays in theaters. His hard work eventually came to fruition as many of his plays achieved unprecedented success, endowing him a status as a resident playwright and earning him the reputation of the century’s foremost playwright.
Ultimately, he secured his place as one of the most eminent playwrights in the world. His astonishing dedication to the English language is evident in his creation of an estimated 12,000 new English words, expanding the boundaries of expressiveness in the language.
Works Cited
Shakespeare’s life (no date) Folger Shakespeare Library. Available at:
https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-life/ (Accessed: 09 November 2023).
By. Minjung Kwon