8-3ProfessionalLife

//Answer prepared by Connor S//
 * 39. WHAT WAS SHAKESPEARE’S PROFESSIONAL LIFE IN LONDON LIKE?**

Shakespeare worked as an actor and playwright, but little is known about his professional life. In these years, between 1585 and 1592, or the Lost Years, Shakespeare passes out of all records. All we know is that by 1594, Shakespeare was writing plays for the Lord Chamberlain's Men. Exactly what road led him to that destiny is unknown. Shakespeare was married in 1582, and by 1583 he was a father. He needed to have had some way of supporting himself and his family.

This lack of information has not stopped authors from inventing tales as to how Shakespeare got from Stratford to London. The most commonly told story about Shakespeare leaving Stratford is that he had to leave to escape prosecution for poaching deer on the lands of Sir Thomas Lucy, and that later he revenged himself on Lucy in The Merry Wives of Windsor, who he portrayed as Justice Shallow. This story was first told by a Gloucestershire clergyman name Richard Davies. Davies, quoted in The Shakespeare Resources Center, said, "He had, by a Misfortune common enough to young Fellows, fallen into ill Company... for this he was prosecuted by that Gentleman, as he thought, somewhat too severely; and in order to revenge that ill Usage, he made a Ballad upon him." Edmund Malone, also quoted from the resource above, proposes that he, "was employed while he yet remained at Stratford, in the office of some country attorney...", for Shakespeare did have detailed knowledge of the law. Perhaps Shakespeare joined one of countless acting troupes who passed through Stratford. William Beeston, son of Christopher Beeston (who was Shakespeare's school master), claims, "...he had been in his younger years a Schoolmaster in the Country." Few of these stories, however, have sufficient evidence to be plausible.

The most credible theory is a combination of a few theories. Shakespeare was, in fact, a teacher. Being what he was, he may have performed with his class and even constructed plays for them. Then a theatrical troupe that was passing through Stratford was looking for someone with Shakespeare's talent as a playwright and actor witnessed some of Shakespeare's work. That coupled with Shakespeare's quick wit and natural talent may have allowed him to pass into the world of the Theater. The truth, however, we will never know.

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