WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Authorship

 

There are many Oxfordians that believe that an aristocrat named Edward De Vere is the real author of the plays, sonnets and poems William Shakespeare is credited for. Some of the reasons behind people believing this include: 

 

• Avoid the consequences of publishing his work: In the 1500s aristocrats were not allowed to publish poems, sonnets or plays. So it is believed Edward De Vere wrote his work under shakespeare’s name to avoid being punished for the subject matter he was writing about.

 

• Poetry similarities: It has been Edward De Vere and Shakespeare’s poems are very similar

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• The Elizabeth Theatre: It is known that Edward De Vere and Shakespeare acted, and created poems and plays around the same time. Edward was leasing the rival theatre to the globe (Blackfriars Theatre) as well. 

 

• Hamlet and the similarities to Edwards life: Edward De Vere’s life was very similar to the play known as ‘Hamlet’ It is almost like an autobiographical play of his early life. 

 

• Nick Name: Edward De Vere’s nick name happened to be “Spear Shaker” which is especially interesting. 

 

•  High Education: Edward de Vere had a very high education, graduating from Cambridge university at age 14, and becoming master of arts at age 16. A much higher education than Shakespeare. 

 

I believe that the work Shakespeare is credited for is his own work because there is much more information on him compared to Edward de Vere and alot more facts. Also Edward died years before Shakespeare so would have been unable to write many of his last plays. However many of the reasons people believe about why people believe Edward De Vere wrote the plays and poems are very interesting.