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Although William Shakespeare might not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of weird historical figures, he certainly didn’t do anything he or society wouldn’t be proud of. The playwright had such an eventful life that we just had to discuss him. The man was a poetic genius and wrote tons of plays and a lot of poetry, leaving a massive impact on many generations.
A writer during the English Renaissance, Shakespeare’s plays were mostly inspired by Roman culture, which he was enthralled by upon learning about it at school, alongside Latin, which he could not only speak but also write. Knowing this, you surely see how his style of writing came into being.
Shakespeare’s Life, Marriage and Death
At 18 years old, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, a 26-year-old woman. While very concerning now, this age gap was seen as normal back then. What we think is rather odd is that the actress Anne Hathaway is currently married to a man who looks EXACTLY like William Shakespeare—-who said reincarnation wasn’t real?
Shakespeare and Hathaway had three children together. Two of them were twins called Judith and Hamnet, and the third was called Susana. And, yes, if you were thinking about it, it’s true—Shakespeare’s Hamlet was inspired by his own son Hamnet, who died at 11, greatly affecting his father.
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A definition of a successful man, Shakespeare was not only a playwright; he also occasionally acted in his plays. He was a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men acting company, which later renamed itself to be called the King’s Men after being rewarded a royal patent by King James I.
One of the weirdest (or perhaps the most stylish) things about Shakespeare is that he apparently wore one gold hoop earring, which was inspired by pirate fashion as they used to wear hoop earrings to cover funeral costs should they die at sea.
Another odd thing about the playwright is that he died on the 23rd of April, 1616, in Stratford Upon-Avon—on his 52nd birthday. His cause of death remains unknown, though some speculated it had to do with his heavy drinking.
The weirdest thing about Shakespeare is that his tomb hasn’t been visited since 1747 because he apparently had a poem sketched into his tombstone, saying that anyone who moves his bones will be cursed. And everyone has followed his wishes, leaving him alone.
Shakespeare’s work
Overall, the playwright wrote 38 plays, two narrative poems, and approximately 154 sonnets. His work primarily consists of comedies, tragedies, and historical fiction. A fun fact about Shakespeare’s work is that he made a point of always adding scenes that could be interpreted as romantic or erotic.
Following Shakespeare’s death, people from his acting company collected 36 of his plays into a book that was later called The First Folio. Later on, a second and a third book were published as well.
