ENGLISH

Did Shakespeare really write his own plays? 🎭

The majority of academics acknowledge that William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, that he performed for a while in London before returning to Stratford, where he lived until his death in 1616. However, there is a pitiful lack of documentation about his life, consisting mostly of a few signatures, documents pertaining to his marriage to Anne Hathaway and the birth of their children, a three-page will, and a few business documents unrelated to writing. Most sadly, there is very little information available regarding the acts and sonnets that Shakespeare is credited with writing, which together are thought to be the greatest collection of work in English language history.

Some doubters have raised the following query in the lack of such "proof" of authorship: How could a man with such lowly beginnings and education amass such a richness of insight, a broad grasp of intricate legal and political issues, and firsthand experience with life in the English court?

💡 Things to consider

• If not Shakespeare, then who? Though both playwright Christopher Marlowe and essayist Francis Bacon have their admirers, Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, has been the front-runner for the past ninety years. Originally put out by J.T. Looney in his 1920 book "Shakespeare" Recognised, Edward de Vere had a law degree, was well educated, and was reported to have visited several of the locations mentioned in Shakespeare's plays. Oxfordians, or those who credit de Vere as the creator of the Bard's writings, contend that because the Bard's plays were so politically charged, he chose to hide his identity rather than be exposed as a mere playwright.

  

  Edward de Vere … ?

• The Man, the Myth, the Legend: But the guy who seems to have the strongest claim to the plays of William Shakespeare looks to be William Shakespeare himself, at least until concrete proof emerges linking his plays to someone else. One reason is that some of Shakespeare's best plays, such as "King Lear," "The Tempest," and "Macbeth," were published after Oxford's death in 1604.

• The root of it all - Classism: The people who support Shakespeare, referred to as Stratfordians, emphasise that the body of evidence that does exist points to Shakespeare and no one else as the author of his works. Examples of this evidence include printed copies of his plays and sonnets bearing his name, records of theatre companies, and remarks made by contemporary artists such as Ben Jonson and John Webster. Stratfordians argue that doubts regarding Shakespeare's authorship and attempts to find a more intelligent, sophisticated, and well-born candidate reveal not only misguided snobbery but also a startling disregard for one of the most remarkable aspects of the Bard's extraordinary artwork: his imagination.

  

🔎 Find out more

• Did Shakespeare really write all of those plays?

• Why some people think he did not …

🍒 The cherry on top

• 🗂️ Black Cultural Archives: This interactive digital exhibit from Google Arts & Culture spotlights the work of the Black Cultural Archives in preserving and celebrating the histories of African and Caribbean people in Britain. A rich, multimedia exploration ideal for those interested in History or Cultural Studies.

• 🌼 Pollination: This episode of BBC’s “In Our Time” explores how plants and insects co-evolved to form one of nature’s most intricate partnerships: pollination. Learn how flowers attract insects, how insects find them, and how this mutually beneficial process sustains ecosystems. A fascinating listen for those curious about Biology, Ecology, or the Natural Sciences.

• 🚧 Built Barriers for Women: This campaign from The Architect’s Journal highlights how the built environment can expose, ignore, or even amplify the daily challenges faced by women. From street lighting to public transport, it invites readers to consider how urban design intersects with gender equity. A must-read for those interested in Architecture or Gender Studies.

👀 Keep your eyes peeled for…

• 14th May

  • Sheffield Robotics Taster Session

  • Sheffield Social Sciences Taster Session

• 15th May

  • Cambridge Natural Sciences Subject Focus Session

  • Sheffield Chemical Engineering Taster Session

  • St Anne’s College Oxford Supercurricular Club: Literature

  • UEA Economics Taster Lecture

• 17th May

  • Oxford Physics Taster Morning

  • Oxford Modern Languages Taster Day

• One extra - Young Carers Webinar for those interested in Geography - see bottom of page (22nd May)

🗳️ Poll