For centuries, rumors have circulated whether William Shakespeare penned his work or stolen them from a poor unsuspecting soul. Like Antonio Salieri in the music world who was rumored to have stolen some of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s work, both scenarios are highly fictional without concrete evidence.
It is often difficult to determine fact from fiction. The book “The 100″ by Michael Hart indicates William Shakespeare was a mere pen name, used by a man named Edward de Vere. However, this is confusing as a similar name, William Shakespere, did indeed belong to a man during that time. Perhaps this stemmed the beginning of the doubt.
Because there is limited evidence to proof he is the true genius, there is also just as limited evidence to discount he is not. It is commonly accepted he was of middle class with a proper education. During the Elizabethan era, education was of high quality for those who were privileged to participate. Punishment for missed school days and poor examinations were no doubt harsh by today’s standards. Long school hours and physical reminders with a cane were common practices then. Latin was also part of the daily curriculum of that era, encouraging many poetry, plays, and sonnets to be read and written.
One interesting fact to point out is, the author – William or Edward – did not acclaim to fame until long after his death. He did not multiply in wealth from his works during his lifetime. In short, there was no motive to steal the works of another only to die with it as modest as before.
Whether or not he is a genius or fraud, the world may never decide on one answer. Nevertheless, he will always be remembered for his many quotes with the most famous possibly as “To be, or not to be: that is the question.” And on a lighter note, he is also famous for bequeathing his “second best bed” to his wife in his last will and testament. A man with such wit in his last dying breath of bequests must be a wizard of words.