Free Essay

Shakespeare: Fraud or Not

In:

Submitted By nicoladreyer
Words 1554
Pages 7
William Shakespeare, gebore op 26 April 1564 en oorlede op 23 April 1616, was ‘n Engelse skrywer en digter, wat vandag gesien word as een van die grootse kunstenaars in die Engelse literatuur. Meeste van sy werke leef vandag nog voort. Onder andere: 38 toneelstukke, 154 sonnette, 2 langverhalende gedigte en vele meer. Op die ouderdom van 18 het hy getrou met Anne Hathaway, by wie hy ook drie kinders gehad het. Tussen 1585 en 1592, het hy 'n suksesvolle loopbaan begin in Londen as 'n akteur en skrywer. ‘n Paar bewyse van William Shakespeare is gevind, maar dan is daar wel spekulasies oor sake soos sy fisiese voorkoms, geloof, seksualiteit en meeste van alles, of die werk wat onder sy naam voortbestaan, regtig uit sy pen (of moet ek eerder sê veer en ink) gevloei het.
Sommige dinge in die lewe, word net van selfsprekend aanvaar. Een van hierdie dinge is die digkuns van die beroemde William Shakespeare. Party mense sien dit as soetsappig en oordramaties. Ander sien dit as diep en passievol. Wanneer die vraag of Shakespeare regtig bestaan, egter gevra word, spoel daar ‘n warboel van gedagtes bo-oor jou. Vandag nog is die vrae op almal se lippe: “Het Shakespeare regtig bestaan?” Het iemand sy gedigte vir hom geskryf? Waar kom alles vandaan?”
Met twee uiteenlopende flieks, maak dit nie die vraag makliker nie. Shakespeare in love en Anonymous, is geskryf uit twee heeltemal verskillende oogpunte en elke kyker het die keuse om self te besluit of hy ‘n kant gaan kies en of hy ‘n draadsitter gaan wees. Nie een van die flieks is noodwendig reg nie. Daar is so baie verskillende stories en teorieë wat hul rondtes doen in die sameleweing, maar op die ou end van die dag het elk van ons die vryheid om ons eie opinies en standpunte te vorm.
Shakespeare in love wys die mooi en romantiese deel van die Shakespeariaanse geskiedenis. William Shakespeare is ‘n beroemde en sukkelende digter, skrywer en akteur, wat sy teks aan beide Philip Henslow en Richard Burbidge verkoop. Die probleem is egter dat hy moet begin skryf, maar geen inspirasie of idee’s het nie. Hy probeer om vir hom ‘n muse te vind. William ontmoet ‘n pragtige vrou, met die naam Viola Lesseps. Sy het ‘n groot liefde vir teater en haar groot droom was om op die verhoog voor die skare op te tree, maar slegs mans is toegelaat om op te tree(beskrywning van die norme van teater gedurende die Shakespeareaanse tydperk). Sy was ook ‘n groot aanhanger en bewonderaar van Shakespeare se werk. Sy beraam ‘n plan en vermom haar soos ‘n man om ‘n oudisie by te woon. Sy was gesien as die perfekte kandidaat vir die rol en het dit ook toe gekry. William het nie lank nadat hulle begin oefen het, reg deur haar vermomming gesien nie. Hulle het ‘n skelm verhouding begin, maar hulle kon dit nie voortsit nie; Shakespeare was klaar getroud en Viola het reeds haar belofte aan ‘n ander man gemaak. Hierdie romanse het William se muse geword.
Anonymous is egter ‘n fliek waar jy mooi moet kophou en dit verg baie konsentrasie om die storielyn te volg en te verstaan. Die storielyn kom op die volgende neer : Dis ‘n Historiese drama wat dui daarop dat William Shakespeare (net ‘n naam onder verteenwoordig, maar die beroemdheid toegeken kan word aan `n klomp skrywers) ‘n “bedrogspul” was. Edward de Vere is ‘n aristokraat wat daarna hunker om gedigte en toneelstukke te skryf, maar as gevolg van politieke – en sosiale beperkinge, word hy gedwing om ‘n front te hou en onder ‘n skuilnaam te skryf. Skryfwerk in die Elizebethaanse era was gesien as minderwaardig en ook omdat hy ‘n politiese werker was, moes hy dit geheim hou, aangesien dit vir Koningin Ekizabeth aangespoor tot veranderinge tot die opvolging. Wanneer ‘n dronk, ongeletterde akteur, Shakespeare, wat honger is vir aandag en roem,die toneelstukke vat en maak of dit sy eie is, besef de Vere dat hy sy “front” gevind het. Met verloop van tyd word Shakespeare afgepers omdat die vraatsige kykers meer en meer wil hê.
Vir my is dit moeilik om ‘n opinie te vorm oor die groot bestaan van William Shakespeare. Ek sien myself as ‘n groot draadsitter in hierdie geval. Ek glo dat die mens soms stories opmaak en oordryf, omdat dit is wat hy/sy wil glo. Ek sal graag wil glo in ‘n storielyn min of meer soos in “Shakespeare in love”, omdat alles lig en eenvoudig is en ook die “maanskyn en rose” deel van die lewe uitbeeld. Dalk het William Shakespeare regtig bestaan, regtig alles geskryf en was hy regtig net ‘n man met ‘n fantastiese gawe vir die letterkundige bestaan.
Dan begin jy egter weer te wonder, nadat jy uitvind geen van sy werke is in sy eie handskrif voltooi nie…
Die digkuns en tonele kan moontlik net ‘n klomp historiese werke wat gevorm is in die Elizabethaanse era, geskryf deur verskillende talentvolle skrywers, onder een naam, wees. Volgens www.online-literature.com kon van die skrywers moontlik Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, Francis Bacon, John Donne, and Edward de Vere (wat heel ironies die bynaam "spear-shaker” gehad het) wees.
Dit moet erken word dat daar literêre werke met versteekte kodes en boodskappe bestaan het en steeds voortbestaan. 'n Anonieme Latynse werk geskryf in 1616 se eerste letters van elk van sy 53 paragrawe, spel die volgende: "Franciscus Godwinvvs Landavensis Episcopus hos conscripsit" in basiese engels :"Francis Godwin, Bishop of Llandalf, wrote these lines" Die spelling en taal van die werk is foutloos. Dieselfde kan nie gesê word vir enige van die beweerde Shakespeare werke nie.

Daar is beduidende elemente, wat bevraagteken of Shakespeare die skrywer van hierdie beroemde werke was. Hierdie elemente sal as volg bespreek word:
Behalwe vir ‘n paar handtekeninge, is daar geen bewyse van enige briewe, gedigte of kreatiewe werke, wat in Shakespeare se eie handskrif voltooi is nie. Dit is moontlik dat daar nie bewyse van Shakespeare se geskrewe werke is nie, omdat papier gedurende die Elizabethaanse era moontlik herwin is, deur dit in water te laat week en te verwerk na ‘n pulp toe, wat dan weer gebruik is vir herdrukking. Dit beteken nie dat die dokumente nie bestaan het, bloot omdat dit nie gevind is nie. Dit sou dieselfde wees as om `n persoon aan iets skuldig te bevind, sonder enige bewyse. Dokumente van daardie tydperk kon ook wegraak, in mure toegepleister wees, herwin word en ook vernietig word. Dit is nie bestaande bewyse nie, bloot bespiegelinge.
Shakespeare se wettige testament bevat geen verwysing na sy literere werke, insluitende toneelstukke, gedigte of musiekinstrumente nie, Dit noem wel dat hy sy tweede beste bed aan sy vrou, Anne Hathaway, nagelaat het. Weereens veroorsaak ‘n tekort aan bewyse, dat daar nie regtig bewyse is nie. ‘n Moontlike rede waarom Shakespeare se werke nie in sy testament genoem is nie, is dalk omdat hy reeds ander reëlings en planne daarmee gehad het. Artistiese werke was gedurende daardie era nie van soveel waarde nie, en kopiereg was nog in sy kinderskoene.
Die eerste verwysing na Shakespeare as skrywer, het eers sewe jaar na sy dood, in die First Folio Testimony verskyn. Wat beteken dit? Miskien presies wat dit sê. Hierdie is die werke van William Shakespeare. Dit kon maklik jare gevat het om al die materiaal bymekaar te kry. Miskien was daar wettige probleme aangaande eienaarskap wat opgelos moes word. Sommige van sy werke kon alreeds aan ander mense behoort het – dus word dit nie in die testament genoem nie – en dit moes gekoop word.
Ek glo dat die tekort aan bewyse, nie gebruik kan word in ‘n gevolgtrekking oor Shakespeare se bestaan of werke nie, en dat daar op elke vraag, ‘n potensiele antwoord bestaan. Die historiese bewyse aangaande Shakespeare is onvolledig. Vir geskiedkundige doeleindes, sal daar hopelik meer dokumente ontdek word, wat die waarheid sal ontbloot. Intussen is dit belangrik om die versoeking van spekulasie oor William Shakespeare se bestaan en werke, te vermy.
Ek het egter besluit dat ek glo, Shakespeare nie die gedigte geskryf het nie. Ek vorm hierdie opinie omdat ek hou van ‘n opwindende kinkel in die kabel. Vir my is dit ‘n realistiese bewering dat dit iemand polities kon wees. As ek ‘n politiese figuur was, en nie myself kon uitdruk deur woorde nie, sou ek ook van die idee van ‘n skuilnaam gehou het.
Een ding is verseker – die toneelstukke en digkuns van Shakespeare , wat so gewild is, is die werk van ‘n genie. Wat regtig verbasend is, is nie die tekort aan bewyse dat Shakespeare hulle wel geskryf het nie, maar die tekort aan bewyse dat enigiemand anders probeer het om krediet daarvoor te neem.
Die feit bly staan, of dit nou ‘n honderd ander skrywers was, Shakespeare self of een of ander belangrike mens wat nie as minderwaardig gesien kon word nie, die berugte “Shakespeare” se werke vorm vandag nog ‘n groot deel van die literêre en dramatiese bestaan en ek glo dat dit nog vir lank sal voortbestaan. Wat is die lewe sonder ‘n bietjie misterie en mistiek. Uit Measure for Measure Act V,Scene I , volg die volgende woorde van Shakespeare: “Truth is truth, To the end of reckoning.”

Dramatiese Kunste
Opstel

Nicola Dreyer
Gr.11.4

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Argumentative Essay: Was Shakespeare A Fraud?

...Was Shakespeare a fraud? This question has ringed in the hearts of scholars for nearly 200 years. It was first introduced in the satirical The Errors of Modern Infidelity, written in 1848 by Samuel M. Schmucker. The question, obviously, wasn’t meant to be taken so seriously, but 169 years later, here I am writing this paper about the conspiracy equivalent of a European JFK assassination. The current beliefs go as following, Shakespeare had another author who was another current literary genius, the author that wrote Shakespeare’s claimed works didn’t want to be known, or Shakespeare was his own author. One of the most suggested suspected authors was philosopher Sir Francis Bacon. Eight years after Schmucker’s original manifesto, a girl named Delia Bacon made the claim, “Shakespeare's plays were written, in large part at least, by her namesake Francis Bacon.” However, “After an abortive attempt to dig up Shakespeare's grave, she suffered a complete breakdown; she was committed to a mental hospital and died in 1859.” His popularity dropped for a decent while until “By the mid-19th century he was attracting massive support. But, by the turn of the 20th century, though, Bacon's star as an...

Words: 939 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Shakespeare, And The Anti-Stratfordian Movement

...The Anti-Stratfordian Movement Interestingly, there are many people who believe that Shakespeare was a fraud. In fact, there was a movie produced in 2011, titled Anonymous, directed by Roland Emmerich, which illustrated a plausible conspiracy. Besides that, there have been additional theories as to who the works really belonged to, with candidates including: Sir Francis Bacon, Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, Christopher Marlowe, and William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby. The most widely accepted possible author is Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford. Because he occupied a high social rank, he could not openly broadcast his plays as his own, as playwrights were considered lowly jobs. Adding to the evidence is the fact that Shakespeare’s...

Words: 2529 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Tomba Di Giulietta

...was fake, which I believe them. We never know they could be saying anything to make the Tomb of Juliet sound real also so they could have many of visitors go and spend a lot of money on something that is not real. The Tomb di Giulietta is located in Verona, Italy. I believe this is all a fraud because, there are some people that will actually make something up like this then once they made it up and announced that they found her tomb, they could’ve made facts and websites that made the tomb sound so realistic. Which they did, they had so many visitors over the past centuries. There are people that actually fell for this fraud and believed all that they had to say and show when they went half away about the...

Words: 811 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Paper

...William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was born in 1564 supposedly to an illiterate glove maker. He moved to England at a young age. Being new and a country boy didn’t seem to stop him from becoming one of the most popular English writers. He didn’t have any upper level experience in school. When he was first in London he worked in theatres as an apprentice becoming familiar with that setting. He started acting and doing different scenes. He was known to be a good actor. Later on he started to write plays. He did this from all his past experience with acting and his knowledge of different pieces. He wrote them based on his life in England, religion upcoming, and his childhood. Shakespeare has written hundreds of pieces over his life span you wouldn’t ever think to accuse him of being a fraud right? Well not everyone has the same view on Shakespeare. If you really think about it you begin to question it too. Think about yourself in this situation. Imagine being a teenager who hasn’t gone off to college yet but you hung around theaters and started to become very familiar with them and acting. Do you think just off this experience you could write what is now known to be the best playwrights in history? I don’t think so. When you start to dig deeper in Shakespeare’s life you will seem to find nothing of great importance relating to his many works. It just stated that he was simply and actor and slightly a writer. There has been no evidence of any diaries or letters actually...

Words: 492 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Deception In Twelfth Night

...William Shakespeare uses the character of Viola to develop the theme that deception leads to conflicts, which can complicate relationships and cause suffering to innocent bystanders. Deception leads to conflicts . Viola allows her lie to cause confusion and eventually build up into a violent confrontation. The audience realizes when Andrew says, “Now sir, have I met you again?/There’s for you”(IV.i.24-25) that Viola’s deceit results in strife. Shakespeare uses Viola’s fraud to highlight the importance of truth in difficult situations, because the longer a person keeps up a falsehood, the worse the repercussions become. Even those lies which begin innocently lead to suffering because confusion results in malignancy. Viola’s deception almost completely destroys her relationship with Orsino, as he becomes very angry with “Cesario” and tries to send him away with, “Farewell, and take her, but direct thy feet/Where thou and I henceforth may never meet”(V.i.177-178). Shakespeare uses this conflict to show how Viola’s deception goes beyond her control, and almost breaks apart a...

Words: 461 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Who's Responsible For The Tragedy Of Romeo And Juliet

...Who’s Responsible for the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet? We all know Shakespeare wrote it, but that’s not what we’re talking about here. Who is really responsible (play wise) for all of the hardships Romeo and Juliet had to face? I’d say it’s Romeo who’s to blame. He should’ve thought about what a relationship with a Capulet might lead to. In the play, it does state “Being held a foe, he may not have access/To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear,” (Shakespeare, 401). If the solution of avoiding her altogether truly wasn’t an option, he could’ve at least avoided killing himself. If he had really cared for Juliet, he would have stayed alive for her. He would’ve lived on to tell of her beauty and magnificence. More depth on my first...

Words: 602 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Claudius Soliloquy Analysis

...Act III, scene III, Shakespeare illustrates Claudius's inner turmoil with an internal monologue. In Claudius's soliloquy, he states that he had murdered his brother,the absolute confirmation that such an act has occurred. Through Claudius soliloquy, Shakespeare reveals Claudius's inner character and further characterizes his disposition, though the remorse he feels is not for his slain brother but for the consequences he faces because of it. Shakespeare is able to depict Claudius’s internal conflict and how it reflects his character. In Claudius’s confession, Shakespeare is able to expose a sharp alteration to his character; he goes from being a fraud to a caring, sensitive, and emotional human being. WIth the first line in his soliloquy, Claudius’s grieves over the fact he has murdered his brother--the king: “O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven”(3.3 40). With the use of hyperbole, Claudius’s is able to emphasize his sin is so foul that it can even be smelled from “heaven”. The “rank” he has stolen as king is an “offense”, which also emphasizes Claudius’s regret over killing the king. This is unusual for Claudius’s as he is suppose hide under the facade of a person who has killed the king--a insensitive character who only cares for power. Claudius’s feels cursed by his atrocity, that God has struck him: “It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t”(3.3 41). With this allusion to the Biblical tale of cain, cursed by God for murdering his brother, Shakespeare shows Claudius’s deep...

Words: 703 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Corruption Of Power In Macbeth

...push them out of the way. For example, when Macbeth kills Banquo and tries to kill his son, he convinces some criminals that Banquo was their enemy,” You both know Banquo was your enemy.” (Shakespeare III.I.13) Throughout the whole book Macbeth destroys anyone who gets in the way of his thirst for...

Words: 1140 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

English Class In Billy Budd By Herman Melville

...average high school student cannot read the story fluently. It causes disinterest when it may take twice as long to read an assigned set of chapters for homework because the student has to look up every other term in order to understand the plot and events of the chapter. Melville turns a simple description of a character into a confusing paragraph compacted with allusions. He describes the character, Claggart, as “[having a notable face]; the features all except the chin cleanly cut as those on a Greek medallion; yet the chin, beardless as Tecumseh's, had something of strange proturberant heaviness in its make that recalled the prints of the Rev. Dr. Titus Oates, the historic deponent with the clerical drawl in the time of Charles II and the fraud of the alleged Popish Plot. It served Claggart in his office that his eye could cast a tutoring glance. His brow was of the sort phrenologically associated with more than average intellect” (Melville 27). With a total of six allusions, a high school reader is going to end up being confused and annoyed. Other than the allusions being a problem, the theme also does not seem to market to high school students. Although the theme good versus evil is present in many works of literature, including Billy Budd, it is not relatable to high school students....

Words: 988 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Macbeth Appearance Vs Reality Essay

...It is common in today’s society for one to formulate beliefs and ideas regarding others based upon their appearance rather than the much deeper and hidden reality. This phenomenon can destroy relationships and individuals as people are often deceived by a false reality. William Shakespeare employs this theme during his widely recognised play, Macbeth. Shakespeare marks the regressive journey of a bold and courageous soldier, Macbeth, as he deteriorates enormously in his murder-filled quest of becoming the King of Scotland. Although Macbeth accomplishes his ambition, fate soon catches up with him in his death. It is apparent that the theme of appearance versus reality is prominent in the play Macbeth by means of the three Witches, Lady Macbeth,...

Words: 1434 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Hamlet a Nobel Prince

...Prince Hamlet, a fictional protagonist in the tragic play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, as a  “madman,” he is simply misunderstood by the harsh society of Denmark. Mourning the loss of his recently deceased father, King Hamlet, Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, inherits the throne and even marries Queen Gertrude after just one short month. Through chaotic and twisted disastrous events, Hamlet must abide by a civilization that evidently has neither structure nor principles.  After Prince Hamlet suffers from the death of his father, the rest of Denmark is delighted by the celebration of a new marriage. Claudius, the actual brother of King Hamlet, weds with his widow, Queen Gertrude. Claudius remarks that he wants to bring a new light into Denmark after the city was struck with King Hamlet’s death. The rest of the town is thrilled by the news, excluding Hamlet. How could the city of Denmark recover from their grief after just one month? Eventually, Hamlet’s trustworthy watchmen tell Hamlet that they have been seeing a ghost-like figure that represents the deceased King Hamlet. When the ghost visits yet again, he signals to speak with Hamlet privately. Hamlet quickly learns that Claudius is responsible for his father’s death as Claudius plotted a treacherous scheme to rule over Denmark. The ghost commands Hamlet to achieve one specific goal, “ Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder,” (Shakespeare, 1.5.31-57). Thus, Hamlet most certainly agrees to avenge his father’s death after...

Words: 1478 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Abigail Williams Morally Wrong

...everyone. Whether these morals are in relation to a religion, culture or the law, society has developed universal moral standards. However, individuals are capable of abandoning morality as a whole, resulting in significant repercussions. William Shakespeare and Arthur Miller show evidence of this in The Merchant of Venice and The Crucible, when their characters step away from their morals and carry out wrongful actions. Although the underlying reason for the characters’ social demises is similar, the motives for their actions are specific and personal. By carrying out actions fueled by revenge, both Abigail...

Words: 1306 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

The Uprising of Othello

...tales of failure-of one’s race, or culture which may prevent them from their goal or final outcome. In Shakespeare’s play, Othello, Othello is said to be a tragic figure- one who starts their life as very high, noble, and proud, but soon slowly crumbles away due to fate. One could ultimately argue that is true, the downfall of Othello was inevitable, yet Othello’s background, the foundation of his life was the character flaw. Shakespeare’s Othello is one whose background in the Moor and military causes his downfall and eventual death. Through Othello, Shakespeare demonstrates that one must believe and trust him/herself before making life-changing decisions. Othello’s inner belief of not being a true Venetian is his weakness of character that overrides all of his decisions in life. Though Othello never admits it, he secretly believes that because he is a Moor, he can never truly be as worthy as the nobles of Venice. Shakespeare insures the audience many times during the opening scenes of the play that Othello’s race is difference from that of a normal...

Words: 1402 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Identity Theft

...Identity is yours and only yours “But he that filches from me my good name/Robs me of what not enriches him and makes me poor indeed” --- Shakespeare Crimes are not always on the rise; with tough and stringent laws and hard work of excellent law enforcement agencies the rate of crime can always be controlled. For example the crime rate in the New York City went down considerably in the beginning of this decade, with the introduction of new policies by the new government. There is one type of crime, which has consistently grown every year in the last decade, and also has been the fastest growing crime. It is a neither gun crimes nor the use and abuse of certain drug; it is identity theft. When searched for fastest growing crime on google.com the unanimous answer turned out to be identity theft. This crime basically proves that there is no doubt in the fact that there is something going wrong when dealing with identity theft. It seems like there is a piece of the puzzle which is missing. The main focus of this paper is to put some light on the issues concerning with identity theft, how it takes place in various manners and what are the current laws in place to act against identity theft. The role of credit card companies to deal with identity theft is also mentioned. Identity theft and identity fraud are words used to refer to all degrees of crime in which someone wrong fully acquires and exploit individual private information in numerous ways that engage scam or trickery...

Words: 1086 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Othello

...Elyse Carbajal ENGL 102 Professor Falwell 11/02/2015 Research Paper Othello Othello is a famous tragedy written by William Shakespeare as a Tragic Hero. The Moor is arguably one of the finest, if not the finest, tragedies in the literary history of the Western Civilization. In this paper I will discuss Othello as a tragic hero and compare his to Aristotle’s concept of what a tragic hero is actually is. The characteristic of a tragic hero is defined by the Greek critic, is determined by three characteristics. According to Aristotle a tragic hero must be 1) Be a nobleman, prince, or person of high estate; 2) Have a tragic flaw, and a weakness of in judgment; and 3) Fall from high to low estate Using the criteria’s above which was established by Aristotle, we can effortlessly classify Othello, the Moor, as a tragic hero. At the time, it was common for the practice for the Italian city-sates that have a foreigner, with proven military capabilities, serving as the head of their army. Othello, an African Moor of noble birth, is just such a character and held the highest-ranking position in the military as a Governor –General of Cyprus. The city of Cyprus was a city-state in the Venice. Othello’s title alone, Governor-General, emanates an air of nobility, confidence, and strength. It defines someone who is held in remarkably high esteem by the people of Venice. During Act 1, Scene 3, the Duke and a few Senators are discussing issues around a table when Othello enters...

Words: 2113 - Pages: 9