DeVere or William Shakespeare? Essay -- Biography Biographies Essays

DeVere or Shakespeare? Abstract The debate everywhere the legitimacy of the authorship of Shakespearean works has been disputed for centuries. While some scholars have held beliefs that Shakespeares works have been write by figures such(prenominal) as Christopher Marlowe, Francis Bacon, William Stanley, and others, the most heated debate today is between William Shakespeare and Edward DeVere, the Earl of Oxford. Each nerve of this debate has many followers, the Stratfordians, or those who claim Shakespeare to be the true author, and the Oxfordians who opine that true credit should go to DeVere. My paper, far from being a sweep through analysis of the possibilities of Shakespearean authorship, attempts to summarize and rationalize the arguments of these two groups. It would be out of the question to include all arguments and evidence in a paper such as this. Full books have been written on aspects of the debate I will non even mention, or may just provided touch on. Hopeful ly after reading this paper, however, you will have a little better understanding of the debate of authorship. As I am not in any respect a scholar on the subject I shall not attempt to make a proof as to which of these men is the author, but rather to in chassis and explain the many arguments on both sides of this debate in the hopes that the reader can tick off a little more about the ongoing debate and form an opinion of his or her own. In countries all over the globe the lean William Shakespeare brings to mind literary genius, a character so famed in eloquence and creativity that none other comes close to him in prestige. in time for centuries scholars, students and readers have argued a very fundamental question whether or not the plays and poems attribute to William... ...rpose-to designate a penname without confusion (Whalen 32). * Principal actors in the plays of Shakespeares inaugural Folio included Jon Heminge,Henry Condell and Richard Burbage, the same three who w ere in the late interpretation to Shakesperes will (Whalen 51). * Oxford was said to be an excellent playwright, yet no plays written under his name were ever found (Whalen 127). Works Cited A Beginners imbibe to the Shakespeare Authorship Problem. Online. 31 October 1999. Available http www.shakespeare-oxford.com/guide/htm. Kathman, Dave and Tom Reedy. How we know the Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare The diachronic Facts. Online. 2 November 1999. Available http www.clark.net/pub/tross/ws/howdowe.html. Michell, John. Who Wrote Shakespeare? London Thames and Hudson, 1996. Whalen, Richard F. Shakespeare-Who Was He? WestportPraeger, 1994.