ngland or in contemporary times. Most recently there was 10 Things I Hate About You, an updated version of Taming of the Shrew set in an American high school in 1998. Others choose a more traditional approach Romeo and Juliet. That story was also modernized in a 1996 version that used Shakespeare’s language but was set to gang violence in the future.Not only was Shakespeare a poet, but he was also a playwright. “As mentioned before, his first poem Venus and Adonis was published in 1593 during the plague” (Kay 144). It was dedicated to Sir Henry Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton. It is a tale of love, lust and the classic romantic chase. Instead of the usual boy-chases-girl routine, the beautiful and desirous Venus pursues the young and disinterested Adonis. The more vigorously she chases, the harder he pulls away. His other poem was The Rape of Lucrece. Venus and Adonis was not the only work that Shakespeare dedicated to the Earl. “From the spring of 1592 to March in 1605, William Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets, or short, songlike poems. These sonnets are probably the only published work of Shakespeare’s that had any personal meaning to him. They are written from Shakespeare’s perspective, and are sort of like letters from the bard to a friend of his, Sir Henry Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton” (McMahon 1). “Sonnets 127 to 154, are the “dark lady” sonnets. None of these appear to have to do with the Earl, but instead are Shakespeare’s praise of some unidentified women who he seemed to be very much in love with” (McMahon 4-5). The sonnets were well known by 1598, but were not published until 1609. They were probably the only works Shakespeare published that had personal meaning to him. Like any famous figure, Shakespeare also had his share of controversy. Although, none of it ever surfaced while he was alive. The biggest debate was over auth...
