William Shakespeare is widely attributed as the author of 39 plays and 154 sonnets. They are lauded as works of poetic and theatrical genius. Their all-encompassing nature demonstrates a thorough knowledge of classical texts, world travel and other languages. It is partly this level of erudition that calls the author of the plays into doubt. Those who are skeptical of Shakespeare’s credentials point to other potential writers whose works and status would seem to better align to the plays and sonnets traditionally assigned to Shakespeare.
What Is the Shakespeare Authorship Debate?
The Shakespeare Authorship Debate is the name of an array of theories that question whether the man known as William Shakespeare from Stratford Upon Avon truly wrote all of the works attributed to him. These questions first gained prominence in the 19th century alongside the resurgence of interest in the bard as a literary genius. As his reputation gained popular praise; so did the detractors. The theories are based predominantly on the idea that a man with relatively humble origins would not have the necessary classical education and talent to produce his complex works. In addition, the lack of written evidence from the time of writing leaves plenty of room for speculation.
Who Are the Main Alternative Candidates?
Unsurprisingly, the main candidates proposed as the true authors of Shakespeare’s works are men with far greater status and education credentials than Shakespeare. The three most compelling candidates are Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford; Francis Bacon, a philosopher and statesman; and Christopher Marlowe, a playwright and poet. Those who advocate for Edward de Vere highlight his connections to the Tudor court as well as his own literary career. De Vere’s life also echoes some plot points in Shakespeare’s plays such as travel, military campaigns and his marriage into the Cecil family that would give him an insight into political intrigue at court.
Get the latest articles delivered to your inbox
Sign up to our Free Weekly NewsletterThose who support the Bacon theory argue that his philosophical writings bear similarities to Shakespeare’s works and that the plays contain coded messages from Bacon (including on Shakespeare’s tomb). Marlowe’s champions point to the likelihood that the playwrights collaborated while Marlowe was alive and that he may even have faked his death to continue writing as ‘Shakespeare’.
How Have Shakespeare’s Supporters Responded to the Debate?
Those who believe William Shakespeare is the author of the works attributed to him are known as ‘Stratfordians’, named after his famous hometown: Stratford Upon Avon. They support their theory by highlighting the surviving written documents that bear his name on title pages, play bills and in other writers’ testimonies. Furthermore, they point to his traditional grammar school education and knowledge of London life as an explanation as to the variety of genres, themes and plots covered in his plays. For them, his humble beginnings do not preclude his genius and they acknowledge that the collaborative nature of theatrical life during his lifetime would naturally lead the man to learn from his contemporaries and provide excellent training for him to produce his works.
What Are the Implications of the Shakespeare Authorship Debate?
From its emergence in the 19th century, the authorship debate has evolved over time and significantly impacted literary scholarship and has demanded an interdisciplinary approach. Encompassing linguistics, history, social studies and literary analysis there is still no definitive conclusion to the debate. In fact, through time it instead continues to raise wider questions about authorship and about biases within the arts.
