Is Shakespeare, Shakespeare?

Something to think about—have you ever wondered if Shakespeare was the author of all those plays and sonnets? It’s probably one that came up in your English Lit classes either in high school or more likely, in your college days. In other words, was Shakespeare really Shakespeare?

There are differing opinions on this subject for sure, and there have been since Shakespeare was alive. We know he was a real person, there’s far too much evidence to think otherwise, but could an uneducated son of a glove maker pen such long-lasting, literary works?

That seems to be the most pressing question.

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH

I’m not going to write a biography of Shakespeare here. Each of us had to study his works at some point in our education. In Florida, our boys had to write long papers about him and his works in the sixth grade. All four did an outstanding job, thanks to all the information available, but especially to McCrum, Cran, and MacNeil who wrote The Story of English published in 1986.

In Grave Decisions, the second book of my Charlotte Graves Mystery Series, this question has a major role in the plot. There is much more going on, but this is just one of the mysteries Charlotte takes on. The book isn’t out yet but is nearing the final stage of edits.

In my research, I read extensively, and I’ve settled on an opinion.

Is Shakespeare, Shakespeare? @DDuPreeWilliams #Shakaespeare #writing #GraveDecisions Click To Tweet

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

It will still be some time before Grave Decisions comes to the publication stage, but it may help you decide one way or another, even though it is a work of fiction. At least, I hope it will make you think about this. I’m almost certain you will not be familiar with some of those thought to be Shakespeare. And I doubt you will readily know the names of many authors I read on the subject.

As Shakespeare so aptly put it, What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.  Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2.

I’m not certain Shakespeare would agree with those words. Oh, the irony.

So what do you think? Is Shakespeare, Shakespeare?

Blessings, y’all!

 

The only Name that has ever mattered here on this earth.