William Shakespeare:

The Bard unparalleled

by Gwen Herat

William Shakespeare's father, John Shakespeare who came to live in Stratford in 1552 at Henley Street was from Snitterfield which is a small village north of Stratford. From a wealthy farming family he worked himself to be a successful glove matter. His rise was an example to young William when the older Shakespeare rose to be the Bailiff (Mayor) or Stratford.

There was no end to his rise and in 1575 he was granted his own ‘Coat of Arms’ he was entitled to. William was only 11 and as the son of a Bailiff was entitled for free education at King Edward VI's Grammar School or King's New School.

Obviously he was sent to the former when he was only six. But before this, it is recorded that he went to a petty little school, (nursery) where he learnt his alphabet and the Lord's prayer at four years of age. At Edwards’ Grammar School in the 16th century, the days were long, starting at six in the morning and ending at 5 p.m. with two breaks in between. Religion played a big role in a child's education when the days began with prayers and ended with the same.

Based on the study of Latin which was not only the language of Ancient Rome but also used by leaders of States in Europe which was a solid beginning for a youngster towards high academia. Shakespeare with the rest of the boys studied the translations of Roman dramatists, Terrence and Plautus, the political speeches of Cicero, the poems of Ovid and dialogue of Erasmus.

Critics

Those critics of Shakespeare of his day and today along with the ‘University Wits’ were some of his contemporaries who found it difficult to understand without a formal education, how the bard had such a flair for the English language and the now Shakespeare in language he introduced to all of us, should have taken a closer look at the foundation of studies he derived from his primary education.

At such a tender age, he studied and was exposed to literary giants such as Terrence, Plautus, Cicero, Ovid, Erasmus as well as the language of ancient Rome. We find him setting most of his plays in Rome, Italy and their surroundings. He takes us also to Wales because two of his masters were Welsh.

His critics should remember the old saying - From a little acorn grows the mighty Oak.

Shakespeare had arrived. He was thinking big even in school because he was exposed to how he should speak, argue and understand others’ points of view. The two masters at his grammar school in Stratford were Welsh, Thomas Jenkins and John Cotton. Jenkin's teaching methods differed from Cotton. He saw in young William things to come, how he understood words and arguments in a lively and dramatic way. When in 1597 Shakespeare wrote The Merry Wives of Windsor, he introduced a Welsh school master named Hugh Evans who in Act 4 scene 1 and asked a boy to go through a Latin lesson.

Latin

The boy got everything wrong with alternative Latin words. People and readers say that this was a deliberate and fond memory of lessons back at Stratford between the Welsh teacher and William.

Evans: What is your genitive case plural, William?

William: Genitivo, ‘horum, harum horum!

Apart from his life at school, William was an explorer finding what went around him and being a natural observer, his young mind was focused on the pageants and processions that took place where kings, princes and nobles showed off their power and wealth through such events.

There were dramatic displays of battles and historical scenes that were designed to impress their subjects. This was because there were no television, radio, newspapers and less than half the population was unable to read and therefore, information and entertainment had to be acted out in public.

At the time of Shakespeare's youth, Stratford-upon-Avon was a prosperous self-governing market town with impressive streets and buildings though with that progress, the people were not exposed to education. There were some who had not seen the inside of a school while elsewhere, the affluent youth were being prepared for higher education such as some of his contemporaries who were equally famous for their writing and among them the ‘University Wits'.

In the older biographies some wrong impressions were given about his childhood. He came from a good middle-class parentage on both sides. His father John formerly of Snitterfield which was a few miles away from Stratford, was well established in his trade as a wool-dealer among others trades.

Mother, Mary Arden, one of the eight daughters of Robert Arden who was a flourishing father with much property on his own. All girls were taught at home by a tutor. In the later years with the decline of his wealth it was thought to have been associated with his adherence to the Catholic faith because there had been speculation about John Shakespeare's religion. It was proved wrong with John coming from a very strong Anglican family and marrying into an equally strong Anglican family with his famous son being interred in the chancel of the Parish Church of Holy Trinity at Stratford.

He was a church-going God-fearing Anglican.

The lost years

Like the lost years of our Saviour, Jesus Christ which cannot be traced positively in the Holy Bible with many Christian scholars and theologians coming up with various versions, is still a mystery. The lost years of William Shakespeare probably between 1582-1592 has many broken links that never fitted into a chain proper.

In such cases, writers take the opportunity to voice different aspects as well as illusions. Some say he was in London making waves while others question how a grammar school boy could eclipse university dons in playwriting. The debate still goes on. In the face of these, he rose to be the Bard of the world.

There are two things that Shakespeare left unanswered and still pending. Who was the Dark Lady and was his love for the Earl of Southampton sexual.

To be continued