THE STRATFORD MAN - SHAKESPEARE
Literature’s greatest mystery - Did He or Didn’t He?
Forget
the Priory of Scion and DaVinci, the darkest con of man (and tourist
alike) may be who wrote
the plays.
For centuries fans of theater
and literature have been making the pilgrimage to Stratford-Upon-Avon
to pay homage to the author of the greatest theater literature ever written.
In “the
birthplace” a half-wood Elizabethan era house bending under the
weight of time and its own self-importance there is a pane of original
window in which is etched the signatures of other literary giants, Tennyson,
Dickens (see also Dickens
World),
Mark Twain (a pseudonym himself) who have made the journey (see Mark
Twain's Jumping Frog).
But is the
man whose
image adorns bookstores and postcard shops, really
the possessor of the hand which held the pen? The controversy of who
wrote Shakespeare’s plays has been circulating for 150 years
with various candidates offered, from Sir Francis Bacon to Christopher
Marlow, to rather incredulously even Queen Elizabeth herself. I’ll
will admit to subscribing to Edward DeVere the 17th Earl of Oxford
myself as the most plausible alternative author candidate, though
the intense debate it engenders brings up all sorts of questions about
the genesis of the well-spring of writing. The film "Anonymous" presented
the story of the writing of the plays as a political conspiracy, which
stirred a hornets nest of renewed debate.
While
on a visit to Startford, and
the
exhibit
of
Shakespere’s
Birthplace, you will be drenched in detail about the Elizabethan theater
and information
about the plays. Touring to Stratford has become such an industry, you
park at “the birthplace bus terminal” and
a separate entrance building has
been erected through which you must pass through an exhibit of all things
Shakespeare,
to come back around to the “birthplace" house on the main
street (see Shakespeare
Houses and Walks). Signs at Stratford will warn you that
only the few official designated sites are connected to William Shakespeare.
They might also
warn that those sites may have no connection at all to
the
real author
of the plays.
Find the best hotel deals in Stratford
on Avon
The only real evidence of the author of the greatest dramatic works in history is that he was born in a house, married a fairly well-off older girl from just outside of town (see Biking Stratford) and signed his name on six documents having to do with the sale of some goods and other minor transactions when he was old - nothing which actually connects him with the writing into which he presumably would have poured his blood, sweat and tears - and no evidence that his success as a playwright ever made a mark on his life in Stratford or anywhere else. And each of the 6 signatures spells the name differently – the world’s most literate of authors who gave us much of the English language we know today, apparently couldn’t spell his own name. Recently a 16th Century portrait suggestive of Shakespeare was "discovered" and is on tour at the Stratford site, though often shown without the intriguging motto at the top. The DeVere family once thought of purchasing this painting as a portrait of their relative (see Castle Hedingham).
Shakespeare scholars have spent careers of study, writing books and building a case for the Stratford man Shaksper or Shakspere from a few tiny scraps of evidence that don’t seem to add up, that a glovemaker's son from a small village in Warwickshire could write so intimately of the lives of kings, queens and court politics and cultural proclivities of far away lands he could never have visited. Yet, the buses come to celebrate the cult of the Stratford Shakespeare and the Royal Shakespeare Company makes Stratford its summer headquarters where the bard's plays of undeniable genius live on.
The case for or against Will of Stratford may never be settled. The scholars may ultimately be right and the image of the man called Shakespeare may actually be of the playwright instead of a sometime actor hired to distract from the true insider who couldn't afford to reveal he was writing about powerful political figures he knew. But for lovers of drama and history, a journey to Stratford-Upon-Avon is well worth the trip if only to celebrate the spirit of the artist and share with the signatures of other literary icons in honoring the mystery and magic of creation. Or do a little investigating yourself (see Shakespeare First Folio British Library).
If visiting Stratford (see also Ettington Park) and other cultural and historic sites away of London from outside the UK get a Great British Heritage Pass available from Rail Europe about 50 dollars for over 500 sites (see Saving With Great British Heritage Pass). The admission to Shakespeare's "birthplace" shrine alone is about 25 dollars (14 pounds sterling). You can also get tickets for day trips from London. © Bargain Travel Europe
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SEE ALSO:
STRATFORD, OXFORD AND WARWICK CASTLESET YOUR WATCH ON THAMES TIME
MARY SHELLEY FRANKENSTEIN ORIGIN MEMOIR
LONDON
THRILLER – HITCHCOCK SLEPT HERE
BLENHEIM
PALACE
