Hvem var Shakespeare?
Who was William Shakespeare?
(THE PERFORMANCE OF ROMEO AND JULIET HAS BEEN CANCELED)
William Shakespeare’s works have served as a beacon in the world of literature for centuries. In February, Kilden will premiere one of his most famous plays, namely the love tragedy Romeo and Juliet. Here, we will rediscover the play about the two younglovers who sacrifice everything for each other and love. MFirst, let us rediscover Shakespeare himself, who, through his contribution to literature, continues to be a central part of our cultural heritage.
Life
Shakespeare is often referred to as England’s national poet. Over the course of his career, he wrote an incredible 38 plays and 154 sonnets. Unfortunately, we know very little about his early life and what drove him to become one of the most renowned and influential writers of all time.
What we know is that he was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, a small town in Warwickshire, England, in 1564. His father, John Shakespeare, was a glove maker, leather merchant, and politician. His mother, Mary Arden, came from a wealthy farming family. John and Mary had a total of eight children, and William was the third in line.
At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years his senior, and had three children: Susanna and the twins Judith and Hamnet. The period following his marriage is known as “the lost years” of Shakespeare’s life, about which, unfortunately, little information exists. It is believed that he worked as a teacher or actor in London during this time.
But around the 1590s, Shakespeare began to establish himself as a playwright and actor in London’s theater scene.
William Shakespeare / Portrait by John Taylor, 1610 / National Portrait Gallery
He joined Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a theater company that later became known as The King’s Men, and this marked the beginning of his successful career in theater. He performed as an actor in his own plays and those written by others, and he also wrote plays for the troupe himself.
Eventually, he came to be regarded as the foremost of English playwrights. At that time, the theater was accessible to everyone; it was the entertainment of the day, and Shakespeare earned a good living. The family rose in social standing, and Shakespeare bought the finest house in Stratford.
“To be, or not to be: that is the question”
– Hamlet
Shakespeare was primarily concerned with portraying the human mind, its passions, and its moods. His plays were as much character studies, and although the characters were individualized, they expressed universal emotions. He is also known for his inventive and poetic language, which has since helped to enrich and develop the English language. Throughout his prolific career, Shakespeare wrote works that would go on to have an enormous influence on art and culture through the ages. Among these are famous tragedies such asHamlet, Macbeth, and, of course,Romeo and Juliet.
Romeo and Juliet / Painting by Ford Madox Brown, 1870
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet was written sometime between 1591 and 1595, relatively early in Shakespeare’s career, and was an immediate hit.
The story takes place in Italy and revolves around Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, two young lovers who fall head over heels for each other despite the bitter rivalry between their families.
“Parting is such sweet sorrow” – ROMEO AND JULIET
So what inspired Shakespeare to write this love story about two young lovers caught on opposite sides of a major family feud? Shakespeare was, of course, primarily influenced by the era in which he lived, both in terms of the story itself and in how love was portrayed.
At that time, love was often expressed as a tribute to a woman admired by a man. The tribute was described from an outsider’s perspective, as a declaration of love without the writer actually knowing the woman. When we read this today, it may seem unnatural and a bit neurotic. But it is within this tradition that Shakespeare writes his Romeo and Juliet, in which Romeo practically shouts out his love for Juliet.
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players” – AS YOU LIKE IT
As was common at the time, Shakespeare borrowed the vast majority of his plots from older sources. He made them his own, fleshed out the characters, added depth, and developed the dialogue. As forRomeo and Juliet, it is heavily inspired by an older Italian tale called, precisely, Romeo and Juliet. In 1562, this was translated into English by the poet Arthur Brooke, and a few years later it was translated into prose by the English author and translator William Painter. The translations by both Painter and Brooke form the basis for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Romeo and Juliet / February 9 – March 8 at Kilden
Although*Romeo and Juliet* is a tragedy, there is also a great deal of comedy in its complicated plot. The humor allows the play to be viewed from a broader perspective and encourages us to interpret it in new ways.
Back home
After writing a large number of plays and sonnets, Shakespeare retired to his hometown, where he spent the last years of his life before dying on April 23, 1616, at the age of 52. His legacy, however, lives on through his many works, which have been translated into countless languages and continue to inspire and entertain people all over the world.