8-4PrimaryArtifacts

Shakespeare’s Remaining Documents // Answer prepared by Caitlin Z. // There are still many documents and artifacts in existence from the life of Shakespeare. The artifacts are one of the best recourses historians have to study Shakespeare’s life. The Shakespeare page on the PBS website, in the section entitled “The Evidence,” tells that the Stratford Parish Church still holds Shakespeare’s Baptismal Registration from the first days of his life. Coincidentally, the same church holds the records for his burial many years later. Shakespeare’s first and last documents show that the man spent most of his life in one place, which was fairly common for men of that time. The PBS website also states that William Shakespeare supposedly married Anna Whately at the Worcester Cathedral, which is the cause of much speculation, as Shakespeare was supposedly with a woman named Anne Hathaway for most of his life. Other records show sorrow, such as the loss of his eleven-year-old son Hamnet. Much joy and sorrow can been seen through the records kept from the lifetime of the famous playwright.

Though many of the documents are less exciting, they have the potential of revealing more information about the man. The PBS website reveals that Shakespeare’s will is held at the Principal Probate Registry. The will of any person can provide extensive insight into his or her life. The document shows what the person cherishes and who they are close to. The Folger Shakespeare Library’s website, on the page called “Shakespeare Collection Highlights,” states that Shakespeare was a leading member of Lord Chamberlain's Men, a highly regarded group of actors who often preformed for the King. This record proves that Shakespeare was interested in theater of any sort throughout his entire life. The book __A Life of William Shakespeare__**,** by Sidney Lee, tells that the Folger Library holds a deed for a gatehouse that Shakespeare purchased in 1623 (xiii). The deed is one of the first signs of interest that the man shows in real estate, a hobby that Shakespeare would hold onto for the rest of his life. The documents paint a picture of Shakespeare’s life the way nothing else can.

Every document that deals with Shakespeare grows in value every year. Many of the documents are located at the Folger Library, which is a safe environment for artifacts to be located and preserved. The documents illustrate the religious values of Shakespeare’s family, which were strong like those of most families of the time. The documents show the man morphing from a fairly poor playwright into a world-renowned actor and writer as well as a landowner. Other documents closely depict his financial dealings, which transform throughout the years as he grows older. Artifacts from the past provide great insight Shakespeare’s life and are invaluable to the study of Shakespeare for future generations. Works Cited  Lee, Sidney. //A Life of William Shakespeare//. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1916. Print. "Shakespeare Collection Highlights." //Folger Shakespeare Library//. 15 Apr 2009 "The Evidence." //PBS//. 12 Apr 2009 .