DBQ Essay: Who was the author of the works attributed to “S

Edward de Vere was not a dull man of prominent background, father like son, a ruthless sexual adventurer without political consequence. The “Oxford Statement” document speaks of a privileged man who took advantage of his social standing to literally get away with murder in 1567. The document depicts an immature rich, smart brat who kept evil company and of immoral character. Edward was a manipulator and used his connection with powerful Lord Burghley to commit

Shakespeare was completely different. William was most elusive, born in 1564 in a provincial town where his schooling ended at age thirteen. The “Who Was Shakespeare” document characterizes a youth from an illiterate family, son of an illiterate provincial butcher which the standard against which all playwrights are now judged. Little was known of his Stratford youth. William married in 1582 and had two siblings who remained illiterate. To this point in time there was no evidence William even owned a book and there was no evidence of any manuscripts. His emergence as an actor and writer came after his move from Stratford-upon-Avon to London in 1585. Finally in 1594, the literary talents of Shakespeare were recognized in print. William’s talents as an actor were noted by one of his literary and rival contemporaries, Ben Jonson in 1598. It was not until seven years after his death in 1616 that a huge memorial volume of the First Folio appeared, produced by several of Shakespeare’s theatrical associates of all his plays. But this First Folio did not mention any information of his youth in Stratford.

There is not any conclusive evidence that Shakespeare’s works were composed by Edward de Vere nor the many other literary candidates proposed over the past two hundred years. Like the subjects of religion and politics, this controversy will never be comprehensively settled. Centuries of controversy are difficult to change without hard facts mitigating any chance of persuading opposing viewpoints. These lines of discontinuity have been drawn in the sand. This is case of the aristocrat verse the working class. The case documents for both recognized poets make reasonable but only circumstantial points of fact. All-the-case documents portrait the importance of the acquaintance one would need with the royal inner court to get the many opportunities for scholar learning, travel, board culture exposure and points of contact to theatrical companies to accomplish the transcendent genius of plays and poems, not associated with common folk such as William Shakespeare, a poorly educated country actor.

Some topics in this essay:
Lord Burghley, Ben Jonson, King Lear, Earl Oxford, Hamlet Oxford’s, Stratford London, , Beginner’s Guide”, Lord Chamberlain’s, Authorship Problem”, edward de, edward de vere, de vere, shakespeare” document, believe shakespeare, plays poems, inner court, “beginner’s guide”, stratford london, “who shakespeare”, “who shakespeare” document, inner court circles, left stratford, left stratford london, “oxford statement” document,