Sahil Sharifdin Bhat
Hifazat-e Asrar ka fitrat ko hai soda aisa,
Razdan phir na karegi koi peeda aisa.
(Allama Iqbal on Shakespeare)
According to Guinness World Records, Shakespeare remains the world’s best-selling playwright, with sales of his plays and poetry believed to have exceeded four billion copies in the almost 400 years since his death. He is also the third most translated author in history. [The first and the second are Agatha Christie and Jules Verne, respectively.] He is undeniably the greatest writer in the English language. He is the national poet of England
The biography of William Shakespeare is based mostly on conjectures and guesswork. However, he devoted himself assiduously to his art and wrote more than a million memorable words preserved in 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems and several other poems.
The parish register of Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, shows that he was baptized there on April 26, 1564; his birthday is traditionally celebrated on April 23. His father was John Shakespeare and his mother was Mary Arden. He was probably educated at the King Edward VI Grammar School in Stratford, where education was free. He learnt there rhetoric, logic, classical literature, arithmetic, music Latin and Classical Greek.
He did not go to university. At the age of 18, he married “Anne Hathaway’’ a woman who was eight years older than he and had three kids with her—Susanna, Judith and Hamnet. His only son, Hamnet died in 1596 at age 11. Little is known about Shakespeare’s activities between 1585 and 1592. He may have taught at school during this period. He was about to get arrested for stealing a deer of a local magnate , sir Thomas Lucy, that is why, he left for London, where he became a poet, playwright and actor. When he moved to London at some point between 1585 and 1592, he did not take his family with him.
In 1592, a writer named Robert Greene insulted Shakespeare in a pamphlet, calling him an inexperienced upstart in the literary world. Although the exact meaning of Greene’s words is unclear, it’s evident he was mocking Shakespeare. After Greene’s death, someone apologized to Shakespeare in another book, praising his talent and influential friends. Despite the general disapproval of theaters in London at the time, Shakespeare had noble supporters, including Henry Wriothesley, the 3rd earl of Southampton. Shakespeare dedicated his first published poems, Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece to Southampton, highlighting his growing reputation and connections in the literary world.
How his career in the theatre began is unclear, but from roughly 1594 onward he was an important member of the Lord Chamberlain’s company of players (called the King’s Men after the accession of James I in 1603). They had the best actor, Richard Burbage; they had the best theatre, the Globe (finished by the autumn of 1599); they had the best dramatist, Shakespeare.
Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616 and was buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford.
His tomb bears the following epitaph:
Good friend, for Jesus’ sake forbear
To dig the dust enclosed here.
Blest be the man that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones.
Dark Lady?
The “Dark Lady” refers to a mysterious figure in William Shakespeare’s sonnets, particularly in Sonnets 127 to 154. She is described as having dark features, such as dark hair and dark eyes. Some scholars speculate that the Dark Lady may have been a real person, while others argue that she could have been a literary invention.There is no definitive evidence to conclusively prove whether Shakespeare was romantically involved with the Dark Lady or whether she was purely a poetic creation. The true identity and nature of Shakespeare’s relationship with the Dark Lady remain open to interpretation.
Fair Youth ?
The interpretation of Shakespeare’s sonnets as evidence of his bisexuality is based on the romantic and affectionate language used in the poems addressed to the Fair Youth. However, it’s essential to note that while these interpretations are plausible, they are not definitive proof of Shakespeare’s sexual orientation, as the sonnets are works of literature that can be interpreted in various ways. The sonnets were first published in 1609 and many of them are addressed to a young man referred to as the “Fair Lord” or “Fair Youth.” It is commonly believed that this person may be the same individual to whom the sonnets are dedicated, referred to as “Mr W.H. The identity of “Mr W.H.” remains uncertain, but two popular candidates are Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton and William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke. Both men were known for their physical attractiveness during their youth and were also patrons of Shakespeare’s work.
His influence on English language
William Shakespeare’s impact on the English language is profound and far-reaching. Beyond his contributions to theater and literature, Shakespeare’s influence permeates everyday language with countless words and phrases he either coined or popularized. From commonplace terms like “manager” and “eyeball” to evocative descriptors such as “gloomy” and “lonely,” Shakespeare’s linguistic innovations have become integral parts of our lexicon. Remarkably, Shakespeare’s linguistic prowess extended beyond English; he often incorporated quotations from seven languages into his works. With a staggering vocabulary of 40,000 words, unparalleled in his time and enduring to this day, Shakespeare’s linguistic legacy remains unparalleled, shaping the very fabric of the English language for centuries to come. Some scholars claim that he knew approximately 66,534 words, including the 31,534 words he used and the 35,000 words he probably knew but didn’t use.
Shakespeare as a Poet:
Shakespeare’s legacy as a poet is profound and enduring. His mastery of language, depth of emotion, and keen insight into the human condition are evident in his sonnets and longer narrative poems. With 154 sonnets to his name, Shakespeare explored themes of love, beauty, mortality and the passage of time with unparalleled eloquence and complexity. His sonnets, characterized by their intricate rhyme schemes and poignant imagery, have captivated readers for centuries, offering glimpses into the complexities of romantic relationships and the enduring power of poetry to convey deep emotional truths. Additionally, Shakespeare’s narrative poems, such as “Venus and Adonis” and “The Rape of Lucrece,” showcase his ability to weave compelling stories that blend mythological elements with rich characterizations and moral dilemmas, solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest poets in the English language.
… to be continued
The author lives at Lethapora Pulwama. His name is sahil Sharifdin Bhat. His books are available on Amazon , Flipkart etc . He can be reached at sahilsharifdinenglish@gmail.com
