8-1FirstFolio

What is the First Folio and why is it important? //Answer prepared by Lucy S.// The First Folio is the first collected edition of Shakespeare’s works. It was published in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death. According to L.K. Alchin’s section entitled “The First Folio” on the website __William Shakespeare__, the word “folio” means a sheet of paper almost a foot high. Smaller page sizes are called “quartos.” Folios were normally used only for works of important authors and Shakespeare certainly fits into that category. A.L. Rowse, author of __Shakespeare The Man__, explains that “never had there been such an undertaking before, thirty-six plays in one volume by one man” (264). The First Folio consists of 900 pages with 36 of Shakespeare’s plays; it was titled “Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies.” The image of Shakespeare on the front cover was a copper engraving done by Martin Droeshout. There is much controversy about the validity of the picture; Shakespeare’s head is not proportional, the clothes look mismatched, and the body looks like one of a child’s. This debate is important because there are only three known portraits of Shakespeare currently. If the image of Shakespeare on the cover of the First Folio is actually him, that would be one more picture depicting the great playwright.

Henry Condell and John Heminges were responsible for compiling the works. Shakespeare mentions both actors in his will, so it is not surprising that they were involved. According to the website __Globe Theatre__ section “John Heminges,” Shakespeare leaves a bequest to Condell and Heminges: "to my fellowes John Hemynge Richard Burbage & Henry Cundell a peece to buy them Ringes." Condell was a member of the Chamberlain’s Men and the King’s men, both acting companies led by Shakespeare. Hemminge was also a member of the Chamberlain’s Men. In the section “Henry Condell” on the website Globe Theatre, it is said that John Hemminge and Henry Condell stated that they published the Folio "onely to keepe the memory of so worthy a Friend, & Fellow alive, as was our Shakespeare, by humble offer of his playes." The First Folio was dedicated to the sons of the Earl of Pembroke and the Countess of Pembroke, William and Philip. According to the section “Historical Background” on the website __RSC__, William is thought to be the young male that Shakespeare writes about in many of his sonnets, so it makes sense that the First Folio is dedicated to William and his brother. In the website __William Shakespeare__, the section entitled “The First Folio”, author L.K. Alchin says that Shakespeare never authorized the publication or printing of his plays, but William Jaggard, his son Isaac, and Ed Blount, without Shakespeare’s permission, published the First Folio. No copyright laws existed at this time, so bitter rivalries existed between acting companies as playwrights attempted to keep their plays out of print before production. Playwrights also wanted to avoid having their plays fall into the hands of printers. Once the plays were published, they became the possession of the printer. Because there were no copyright laws, the only way printers could claim their rights to books was to enter them in the Stationers’ Register.  The First Folio is important simply because it is the first collection of Shakespeare’s plays. Without it, we would not know of Shakespeare’s magnificent work today. In fact, we may not even know of Shakespeare’s existence. The First Folio was also the first folio book printed in England that contained only plays. About 500 copies of First Folio were printed at the price of £1 each. Only 238 of these copies survive today, with one-third of them being held in the Shakespeare Folger Library in Washington D.C. Of all Shakespeare’s plays, only eighteen exist because of the First Folio according to Peter Blayney’s section entitled “The First Folio of Shakespeare” on the website sponsored by the Folger Shakespeare Library. These eighteen plays were not printed anywhere else, but the First Folio. It is not shocking that the First Folio is considered to be the most significant work in the English language. Works Cited Alchin, L.K. "The First Folio." __William Shakespeare__. 16 Nov. 2008. 10 Mar. 2009 .

Blayney, Peter. "The First Folio of Shakespeare." __Folger__. Folger Shakespeare Library. 10 Mar. 2009 .

"Henry Condell." __Globe Theatre__. Globe Theatre. 7 Apr. 2009 .

"Historical Background." __RSC__. Royal Shakespeare Company. 7 Apr. 2009 .

"John Heminges." __Globe Theatre__. Globe Theatre. 7 Apr. 2009 .

Rowse, A.L. __Shakespeare The Man__. New York City: Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc., 1973.