Shakespeare Authorship Controversy

Historians and scholars since the time of the Renaissance have questioned the authorship of Shakespeare’s works. This controversy surfaced mainly because it is so hard to believe that a man who led such an ordinary life could be the genius who is known as the world’s greatest poet and playwright today. Ralph Waldo Emerson summed up this controversy in one quote, “I cannot marry this fact to his verse. Other admirable men have led lives in some sort of keeping with their thought; but this man, in wide contrast.”

The entire reasoning behind William Shakspere’s claim to the authorship is based upon inference and speculation. Because of the lack of evidence to give any one person the title of Shakespeare, there have been many theories indicating almost sixty candidates to the possible authorship, including Sir Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, William Stanley, Queen Elizabeth I, and Edward de Vere. Although Edward de Vere has recently been named the most probable candidate for the authorship, all the evidence surrounding the authorship debate is circumstantial and the mystery probably will never be solved (The Shakespeare Oxford Society Homepage).

(The Shakespeare Mystery). Shakespeare could have very well been de Vere’s pseudonym because of his emblem of a lion shaking a spear. Another piece of evidence pointing to Shakespeare as Oxford’s pseudonym was Gabriel Harvey’s reference to de Vere when he said, “Thine eyes flash fire, thy countenance shakes a spear” (Bethel 47).

Richard Burbage, in March of 1595 (Price 195). There is some speculation that Shakspere may have met Edward de Vere in London at this time. Because of this speculation, some would offer the theory that Oxford may have made Shakspere manager and factotum of the Chamberlain’s men theatre. Another theory is that they could have agreed on using Shakspere’s name as a pseudonym, but these theories are very far fetched. (Bethel 50)

Although the Shakespeare authorship controversy is still one of the greatest mysteries concerning literature today, one can see the truth behind the facts supporting Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, as the most probable author of Shakespeare’s works. Nevertheless, all the informational provided is circumstantial. If it wasn’t, the Shakespeare authorship controversy wouldn’t exist. Although evidence may strongly suggest the true author, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion and their opinions are respected in this debate. Even though it seems as if this mystery will never be solved, hopefully one day the true author will be given credit for his hard work and literary genius.

There has been speculation that the middle-aged Shakspere may have been a schoolmaster or an actor, but there is no evidence of either of these occupations. However, it is known that he owned shares in the Globe Theatre, that he was involved in real estate, and there is no record of him ever being paid or given credit for writing anything. One can see that William Shakspere fits the profile of a businessman rather than a writer (Bethel 53). Only small pieces of information are known of Shakspere as an adult. It is known that in 1597 and 1598 William Shakspere was listed as a tax defaulter in Bishopsgate ward and that in 1598 he was accused for stockpiling grain during a time of famine (Price 251). There is a record that states that William Shakspere bought New Place, the second largest house in Stratford in 1597 and it is assumed that after his retirement, around 1610; his last years were spent in leisure at this house (48). It seems suspicious that when the supposed greatest writer in all of literature died in 1616, there was no reaction (The Shakespeare Mystery).

Edward de Vere has been acclaimed for his great poems, comedies, and tragedies, but only a few poems exist with his name signed as the author. There were many instances where Oxford was given recognition for being a great writer, it has also been said that he became mute later in life. His high rank made it impossible for him to sign his own name to his works because it would have been an embarrassment on his family’s name (The Shakespeare Mystery). At this time, public theatre was considered a low rent and a low-life enterprise (Bethel 156). Another theory has also surfaced that Queen Elizabeth and Lord Burghley may have persuaded de Vere to write under a pseudonym

William Shakspere was born in Stratford on Avon in 1564, to a glove-maker and his wife. His home had no literary atmosphere and no books. Shakspere’s father was illiterate and signed his name by marking a cross. As a youth Shakspere worked as a butcher. There is no record of a William Shakspere attending Stratford grammar school, possibly because the school’s records haven’t survived. If William Shakspere did attend school, he would have been taken out at approximately age 13, when his father ran into trouble with money. This man’s educational background definitely does not correspond with the knowledge that the author of Shakespeare’s works needed to have (Bethel 48).

Some topics in this essay:
William Shakspere, Merchant Venice, Lord Burghley, Francis Bacon, Copies Folio, Society Homepage, William Shakspere’s, John Hall, Venus Adonis, Earl Oxford, de vere, william shakspere, edward de vere, edward de, author shakespeare’s, lord burghley, shakespeare mystery, francis bacon, sir francis bacon, sir francis, upper class, bethel 53, vere 17th earl, knowledge foreign lands, 17th earl oxford,