Fred Glasby, Freshman
William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor born in 1564. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon. No one knows for sure when Shakespeare’s birthday is, but we know he was baptized on April 26th, so we celebrate his birthday on April 23rd. This is also believed to be the date he died.
During the Elizabethan and Jacobean ages of British theater, Shakespeare was a prolific writer, sometimes called the English Renaissance or the early modern Period. Shakespeare’s plays are his most enduring legacy, but they are not all he wrote. His poems also remain extremely popular till this day.
By the year 1592, Shakespeare had a reputation in London. During the time he was in London, Shakespeare got his first printed works published. They were two long poems, “Venus and Adonis” and “The Rape of Lucrece.” Shakespeare also became a founding member of The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a group of actors. Shakespeare was the group dramatist, producing on average two plays a year, for almost twenty years.
Altogether Shakespeare’s works include about 38 plays, 2 narrative poems, 154 sonnets, and a variety of other poems. It is thanks to a group of actors for Shakespeare’s company that we have about half of his plays. After Shakespeare passed away, his group of actors collected a lot of his work for publication.
Shakespeare has a very rich and diverse legacy when it comes to his work. His plays have spawned countless adaptations across multiple genres and cultures.
The idea for National Shakespeare Day comes from Robert J. Williamson, the artistic director of the British Shakespeare Company. Soon after the day became more known among the masses. Now, it’s one day that we are reminded of enjoying and appreciating the genius of William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare has left an incredible mark in the world of literature. His innumerable gifts to the English language should be acknowledged by the world every year.
Shakespeare is practically everywhere in America, including in musicals, festivals, television, and the movies. From the nation's early days, when an “American” acting style first took shape, to the influence of African Americans on Shakespeare on stage, to method acting, to Hollywood, America and Americans actors, directors, and audiences have made Shakespeare their own.
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