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Analysis: This is a passage from Shakespeare’s play; Hamlet, arguably one of shakespeare’s most famous works.

Though William wrote the play in 1601 it was actually set centuries before then, from around 1300-1499. In this passage Hamlet speaks of his view on life, describing it as ‘an unweeded garden’ that no one is taking care of. The segment of writing goes into detail on Hamlet’s depression after the loss of his father speaking of how pointless life is to the character now. Shakespeare uses metaphors to portray Hamlet’s suicidal thoughts in great depth, recently it has been suggested that shakespeare himself may have dealt with depression in his lifetime, and ‘temporarily lost faith in human nature’. Another aspect of the passage is the mention of god. We know that religion has been an extremely important part of everyday life for many years, including the renaissance. Hamlet speaks of god ‘making a law against suicide’ and how if it weren’t for this law he would have killed himself after the death of his father. He also compares the difference between his father and his uncle, to be that of god compared to a beast. A final feature in this extract from the play is linked to the first point. In the renaissance there was a significant rise in humanist philosophy as well as religious views. Shakespeare brings philosophy into play when he is speaking about the meaning of life and how it has become pointless.

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William Shakespeare was a notable author, actor and playwright

He left behind numerous well-known plays, poems and many words and phrases that we still use today. He produced all of his work in a span of about 25 years.

Shakespeare’s company built a theatre, more commonly known as Shakespeare’s Globe. The theatre was located in London, England and was a circular shape with a stage in the middle, preventing the sun from distracting the actors and ‘blinding’ them. Constructions have commenced in England in an attempt to recreate The Globe Theatre.

Though Shakespeare is most known for his Tragedies and some comedies he also wrote various Histories, including a string of Henry VIII plays.

William Shakespeare legacy consisted of many well-known plays and poems, he played a massive role in the development of language and literature and has influenced many. He also started a family with Anne Hathaway and had 3 children, Susanna, Hamnet and Judith.

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In his time, William was viewed as one among many talented playwrights and poets but since the late 17th century he has been considered the supreme dramatist and has become a household name. There have been many different opinions about Shakespeare throughout history, one of them being how much he earned. Stratford (the town William Shakespeare grew up in) estimated that he earned around £1000 a year, at that time in History this would make him extremely wealthy. However historians believe that he actually only made around £300-£400 a year. Another arguable point is if Shakespeare actually wore an earring. Shakespeare’s Chandos portrait depicts him wearing an earring, although it is debatable as to whether he actually did. In Bill Bryson’s novel “The World As Stage’ he suggests that William would’ve worn an earring for the same logic that many men wore them in that time. “To show that they have an unconventional, adventurous disposition” he says. Though many other historians have discussed whether Shakespeare actually wore one or if the portrait was initially designed to overstate or exaggerate his character.

Many biographies also assume that the marriage between Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway was forced. Historians suggest this to be the case as Anne was pregnant at the time and it would have been a sin against god if the child were to be a bastard.This would also explain why Shakespeare left his hometown, and family to live in london after only a few years of marriage. However this can not be proven and is only a theory.

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Passage : ‘Ham. O, that this too too sallied flesh would melt,

Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew,

Or that the Everlasting had not fixed

His canon 'gainst self-slaughter. O God, God,

How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable

Seem to me all the uses of this world!

Fie on't, ah, fie, 'tis an unweeded garden

That grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature        Possess it merely. That it should come to this,

But two months dead, nay, not so much, not two.

So excellent a King, that was to this

Hyperion to a satyr,’

Translation: Ah, I wish my dirty flesh could melt away into a vapor

Or that god had not made a law against suicide.

Oh god, oh god! How tired, stale, and pointless life is to me.

Damn it! It’s like a garden that no one’s taking care of, and that’s growing wild.

Only nasty weeds grow in it now. My father has only been dead for two months - no, not even two. Such an excellent king, as superior to my uncle as a god is to a beast.

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Elizabeth I and james I were the obvious patrons of shakespeare, as they were the ruling bodies of society at the time and because of this, were also the major patrons of art. James I was known for patronizing Shakespeare’s company, and Elizabeth I commissioned some of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. However Elizabeth and James were not the only patrons of Shakespeare’s work. His most famous patron was Henry Wriothesley, earl of South Hampton, Many believe that Henry was the ‘dark lady’ that Shakespeare wrote certain sonnets for. William was also commissioned by The earl of Pembroke, who was his last patron.