Shakespeares Childhood :: essays research papers

Life as a Child in the RenaissanceThere have been many classic rag-to-riches stories, and while they may lookal just about clich, there are so few that are overlooked. For example, many musicians in therock era who we know today grew up in lesser homes, and they struggled to earn a dime. Elton John, as well known and wealthy as he is today, spent the greater part of 10 yearsfighting diligently to fill small clubs to make a living off of his wonderful musical talent. While it may be hard for many people to believe, not all quintessential icons in our daywere bathed from golden faucets in oversized mansions quite the contrary, rather. Thefamous William Shakespeare is a thriving example of this theory however, there is amain difference between Shakespeares fame from the normal rag-to-riches story, and hiseminence is most comparable to Van Gogh. During the time when he was alive, hisliterature was not taken seriously. It was simply viewed as a form of writing not meant tobe explored, and much less, praised. Aside from this, he came from an extremelypoverty-stricken family, where most of them died from diseases. Also, the quality ofeducation in those days was determined by how much money families could lay put through tohave their children accepted into pristine schools, which was not possible for the greatWilliam Shakespeare. In Shakespeares days of inadequate education, he must have hada very strong ambition to become a world-reknown writer and poet.As mentioned, Shakespeares family was plagued with much sickness, and it bedspread like wildfire since they were such a large family crammed into a small, mustyEnglish cottage. Third-born William was accompanied by his 6 siblings, Joan, Margaret,Gilbert, Amney, Richard, and Edmund. According to In the Days of ShakespearesChildhood, most of his siblings lived only into their teen years due to diseases such asyellow fever and malaria. Because of so many child deaths, the exact number of childrenis debatable, because many died ahead coming out of infanthood. In fact, when Williamwas born to his parents, John and Mary, he was the first surviving infant. To give an ideaof just how many people were affected by various diseases of the time, as stated by JohnF. Andrews, in 1592, there were 15,000 deaths. This number was significant enough tohave the globe theater close down The home they grew up on was inStratford-Upon-Avon on Henley Street, a small village that now houses his home as a