William Shakespeare was a great English playwright, dramatist and poet who lived Shakespeare is considered to be the greatest playwright of all time. No otherwriter's plays have been produced so many times or read so widely in so many countries as his.Shakespeare was born to middle class parents. His father, John, was a Stratfordbusinessman. He was a glove maker who owned a leather shop. John Shakespeare wasa well known and respected man in the town. He held several important localgovernmental positions. William Shakespeare's mother was Mary Arden. Though she wasthe daughter of a local farmer, she was related to a family of considerable wealth andsocial standing. Mary Arden and John Shakespeare were married in 1557.William Shakespeare was born in Stratford in 1564. He was one of eight children. TheShakespeare's were well respected prominent people. When William Shakespeare wasabout seven years old, he probably began attending the Stratford Grammar School withother boys of his social class. Students went to school year round attending school fornine hours a day. The teachers were strict disciplinarians.Though Shakespeare spent long hours at school, his boyhood was probably fascinating.Stratford was a lively town and during holidays, it was known to put on pageants andmany popular shows. It also held several large fairs during the year. Stratford was aexciting place to live. Stratford also had fields and woods surrounding it giving Williamthe opportunity to hunt and trap small game. The River Avon which ran through thetown allowed him to fish also. Shakespeare's' poems and plays show his love of natureand rural life which reflects his childhood.On November 28, 1582, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway of the neighboring villageof Shottery. She was twenty-six, and he was only eighteen at the time. They hadthree children. Susana was their first and then they had twins, Hamnet and Judith.Hamnet, Shakespeare's son, died in 1596. In 1607, his ...
