Happy Birthday, Shakespeare

Today viz 23rd April 2007 is celebrated all over the world as "WORLD BOOK DAY' in memory of William Shakespeare

who was born on 23rd April 1564.

The attached article 'An Easy Guide to Shakespeare' is in memory of the celebrated poet.

B.M.N.Murthy, 23rd April 2007
AN EASY GUIDE TO SHAKESPEARE [1564 – 1616]


William Shakespeare was born on 23rd April 1564 in Stratford-on Avon, London. His father was a tradesman dealing in wool, hides and skins etc and occasionally served as an alderman or mayor in the town. His mother was a farmer’s daughter. Shakespeare received good educational grounding at Stratford Grammar School. When he was 18 years old he married Anne Hathaway who was older by seven years. Within three years of his marriage, he became a father of three children. By about 1592 he was already famous as an actor and by about 1595 he was a leading member of a theatrical company called
‘Chamberlain’s Company’ and was already famous as a playwright in comedy, tragedy and historical plays. His fame and fortune increased under the patronage of the King of England James I, who, on his accession to the throne in 1603 took Shakespeare’s company under his patronage. Shakespeare died at New Place on 23rd April 1616 at the age of 52. It is a strange coincidence that he was born on 23rd April and died on 23rd April.

Shakespeare has written a good number of tragedies like Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet, King Lear etc; a good number of comedies like The Merchant of Venice, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, All is Well That Ends Well etc; a number of historical plays like Henry 1V, Henry V, Henry VI, King John, Richard II etc. In addition, he has written more than 150 sonnets. Even for a student of English literature, it is difficult to understand Shakespeare unless he falls back for guidance on the well-known commentator A.C.Bradley. Moreover, Shakespeare wrote several of his major dramas like Othello, Hamlet, Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night etc when no English dictionary existed. In fact, the very first English dictionary was published in 1604 by which time Shakespeare had completed several of his plays.

If it is found difficult to study the original plays of Shakespeare and understand them, at least we can easily remember the titles of some of his major works if we go through the following two compositions:




A SHAKESPEAREAN ROMANCE

Who were the bride and the bridegroom?
--ROMEO AND JULIET
When did he propose?
--TWELFTH NIGHT
What did she reply?
--AS YOU LIKE IT
From whom was the ring obtained?
--THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Who were the chief guests?
--TROILUS AND CRESSIDA
Who were the bridegroom’s friends?
--TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
Who prepared the wedding breakfast?
--THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
Where did they live after marriage?
--HAMLET
What was the bridegroom like?
--- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
How would you describe their first quarrel?
--- MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
What was their married life like?
--- THE TEMPEST
What was the bridegroom’s chief occupation?
---- THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
What did she give him?
---MEASURE FOR MEASURE
What did their friends say?
ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL


WHAT IS LIFE ?

Life is neither a TEMPEST nor A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM; more often, alas, it is a COMEDY OF ERRORS. Take it AS YOU LIKE IT or MAKE MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING and declare LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST. But life will tell you, if you have an understanding heart that ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. Whether one disputes with the MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR or is ambitious like JULIUS CAESAR or falls a victim to baseless jealousy like OTHELLO or plays the fool like KING LEAR or practices treachery like MACBETH or emulates the noble HAMLET in the end, it is certain that everyone receives MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

B.M.N.MURTHY


WORLD BOOK DAy---23rd April 2007
Created: Monday, April 23, 2007