True Or Informative Essay: Was Shakespeare Really William Shakespeare?

Many scholars, writers, and poets have pondered the question, “Was Shakespeare really Shakespeare?” They’ve done the research, analyzed his works, and compared it to other writers of the time, and there is some pretty damning evidence convincing us that William Shakespeare really isn’t William Shakespeare. What we could assume about his education shows that in school, he was taught reading and writing and not much else. William did not travel very far from his home, leaving us to think “How did someone with little education and even littler knowledge about the countries he “wrote” about, write such marvelous and wonderful pieces of work?” Perhaps “William Shakespeare” was a pseudonym for a more profound, more skilled writer such as Christopher Marlowe or Francis Bacon. Undoubtedly, William Shakespeare is not William Shakespeare someone with very little life experience, and education could not have written such intricately
detailed works such as Romeo and Juliet, or Hamlet. But if Shakespeare really isn’t Shakespeare, how did his name get on the cover of all of “his” works? Why would the “real” author decline ownership of his/her own works? If Shakespeare isn’t Shakespeare, who is? There are several theories as to who wrote the great works, one of the most profound is writer Christopher Marlowe. Marlowe, born in Canterbury, England in 1564 graduated from Corpus Christi College in Cambridge, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, and eventually a Master of Arts of degree. Marlowe was more rounded and experienced than Shakespeare. Marlowe received a higher education, and traveled frequently making him a better candidate to be Shakespeare, than Shakespeare himself. Because of little documentation it’s unclear in what order his works were published. The Tragicall History of Doctor Faustus has been determined to be his most popular work. Other stories, plays, and poems written by Marlowe include: Doctor Faustus, Edward the Second, The Massacre of Paris, and The Jew of Malta. His writing career had lasted six years before he was murdered in what is assumed to be a tavern by Ingram Frizer. Many believe that his death was a hoax and that Marlowe fled the country and sought refuge elsewhere. Many are convinced that while in hiding, Marlowe wrote the stories, plays, sonnets, and poems that are said to have been written by William Shakespeare. Francis Bacon, former attorney general and Lord Chancellor of England, is also conspired to be the writer responsible for all of Shakespeare’s works. Bacon was born in London, England on January 22nd, 1561. Bacon was a skilled writer, statesman, and scientist, among other things. When he was 12 years old Bacon attended Trinity College in Cambridge. After completing his courses at Trinity College he enrolled in the law program at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn. Bacon was able to attend college, and law school before the age of 20 proving that it is plausible he wrote the Shakespeare works. Although he is most known for his promotion of the scientific method, one of his most well known writing works was A Letter of Advice to Queen Elizabeth. His first publication was a series of essays about politics. Bacon’s works covered a series of different topics. Several quotes by Bacon indicated that many of his works may have been published under the pseudonym William Shakespeare: “There be some whose lives are as if they perpetually played a part upon a stage, disguised to all others, open only to themselves.”, and “The most prodigious wit, that ever I know of my nation, and of this side of the sea, is of your Lordship’s name, though he be known by another.” (http://www.sirbacon.org/links/evidence.htm). In both of these quotes, as well as many others, Bacon indicates a secret identity and instigates theories and conspiracies that Shakespeare was not actually Shakespeare. William Shakespeare, was considered the greatest dramatist by some, but many thought he was a fake.
There is little documentation on Shakespeare’s life, therefore his birthdate is unknown; however, Shakespeare was baptized April 26th, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Shakespeare’s father was a public official and could not afford higher education. Researchers assume that he attended King’s New School in Stratford where he learned reading and writing. Although he received some education, the stories that are said to have been written by him contain “elaborate metaphors and rhetorical phrases”, things that are widely considered too complex for a writer with so little education. There are many historians, writers, and researchers that argue whether or not Shakespeare was actually Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s (if infact he did write the widely accredited works) most known stories, plays, sonnets, and poems include: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and Othello. Although it is possible he may have written the stories, the evidence is not in his
favor. If the series of sonnets, poems, and stories were written by someone other than Shakespeare, why would such an extraordinary writer hide behind a pseudonym? There are many theories as to who is Shakespeare, however a few of the most popular are Christopher Marlowe, and Francis Bacon. Both Marlowe and Bacon are more skilled, and capable of creating such profound pieces of literature that would be studied hundreds of years after their publication date. The most important question that remains is not who wrote the Shakespeare stories, but rather, if Shakespeare didn’t write them who did? And why would they hide behind a false identity?