Was Shakespeare a Woman?
William Shakespeare is one of the most famous and beloved writers in world history, but little is known about his life. That is why there are always new theories surrounding him - for example that he was a woman.
William Shakespeare was famous for writing
Although William Shakespeare wrote some of the greatest works in world literature, including the dramas "Macbeth" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream", very little is about his real life known. One of the reasons for this is that the times were simply different back then. Theater was mass-produced and simply served the entertainment of the upper classes; the author behind the works was not the star, but his play. The interest in Shakespeare's private life began long after his death, but at this point in time no more documents had been preserved that could have revealed more about him. That is why there are now numerous conspiracy theories surrounding the author - including the one that he should have been a woman.
Woman or not - little private information is known
What is known is that there actually was a man named William Shakespeare who lived from 1564 to 1616. He was born in the small town of Stratford, but then worked in London. He was married to a lady named Anne Hathaway, who was named exactly like the actress.
- However, it is not this woman who is said to have written his lyrics, but a certain Mary Sidney Pembroke is used here. She was a noblewoman from the best family, but officially women were not allowed to write plays for the theater at that time. That's why she is said to have looked for a straw man.
- Supporting the Pembroke theory is that William Shakespeare's plays suggest that he was very, very educated. So he didn't just have a huge one vocabulary, but also knew a lot about law, for example.
- But if William was a simple man, and it is believed, it is very unlikely that he was so well educated. The noble Mary Sidney, on the other hand, was considered one of the most educated people in England.
- Numerous locations from Williams' plays could also be traced back to places that were known to her. However, there are of course also counter arguments. The craftsman scenes in "Midsummer Night's Dream" are said to indicate William's childhood in Stratford.
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Conclusion: There is actually a suspicion that the famous poet was a woman. However, there is no evidence.