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While only fragments of evidence about Shakespeare’s life exist, researchers tirelessly examine every possible clue to uncover more. Their dedication is so intense that they’ve even analyzed his waste pits to discover details about his daily diet.
The available evidence reveals a man whose life was far more multifaceted than just writing plays. By piecing together these fragments, we’ve gained a clearer picture of Shakespeare, and the reality might surprise you.
10. He Once Hijacked a Theater
Shakespeare’s landlord grew tired of dealing with the mess left by actors and chose to close the theater, opting to rent to more respectable tenants. This scenario mirrors modern conflicts where creative communities lose their spaces to more lucrative ventures. While most respond with petitions, letters to officials, or relocating, Shakespeare took a different approach.
Shakespeare assembled an armed group and forcefully reclaimed the theater.
Refusing to back down, Shakespeare and his crew, armed with swords and axes, broke into the theater. Court records describe their actions as “riotous and outrageous,” stating they attempted to dismantle and remove the entire structure.
The phrase “carried away” is no exaggeration—Shakespeare and his men disassembled the theater piece by piece and transported it elsewhere. This relocated theater became famously known as The Globe.
Indeed, the renowned “Globe Theatre” associated with Shakespeare was forcibly uprooted by a group of armed individuals and transported across the city.
9. Elizabethan Theaters Abducted Children for Sensual Performances
While it’s commonly known that young boys portrayed female roles during Shakespeare’s era, the methods theaters used to acquire these actors are less widely discussed.
Research from Oxford University reveals that Elizabethan theater managers frequently abducted children, subjected them to abuse, and compelled them to act in performances. These shows often took place in dimly lit venues filled with male audiences, where the boys enacted sexually suggestive plays.
This practice wasn’t the work of isolated criminals—it was a royally sanctioned operation. With Queen Elizabeth’s approval, theater managers claimed the authority to abduct noblemen’s sons without facing any repercussions.
Shakespeare himself avoided using these boys and even incorporated a scene in Hamlet condemning the practice. However, his peers did not share his stance. Thomas Middleton, a contemporary writer, referred to a children’s acting troupe as “a group of boys capable of enchanting any man,” while Henry VIII requested the delivery of a boy he “desired.” Even Christopher Marlowe—sometimes speculated to be the true author of Shakespeare’s works—wrote erotic plays intended for kidnapped boys to perform in front of male audiences.
8. He Struggled to Spell His Own Name
Shakespeare is renowned for inventing 3,000 words, boasting a vocabulary that surpassed nearly everyone of his time. His unparalleled command of language made him a true virtuoso of English.
However, he struggled with spelling his own name.
Of the six surviving signatures attributed to Shakespeare, each one is spelled differently. While his plays and advertisements consistently use the modern spelling of his name, he never managed to replicate it accurately in his personal writings.
At times, he wrote it as “Wm Shakspea,” as if he lost interest before finishing. On other occasions, he used “Shakspear,” coming close but never achieving the correct spelling—or even consistency.
7. He Was Seen as Low-Class
Today, Shakespeare is celebrated as a literary giant, often hailed as one of history’s greatest writers. Academics dedicate entire journals to dissecting his works, such as Hamlet Studies, which has been published since 1979.
The earliest mention of Shakespeare as a writer comes from Robert Greene, who dismissed him as “an upstart crow adorned with others’ plumes” and accused him of presuming he could match the finest poets in crafting blank verse.
Greene was reportedly incensed that Shakespeare, who lacked noble lineage, had the audacity to believe he could write as skillfully as the aristocracy. He harshly criticized Shakespeare, labeling him an “ape” who mimicked the brilliance of other poets and cautioning fellow writers to avoid him.
Despite Shakespeare’s immense popularity, the accusation of being unoriginal seemed to haunt him. In one of his sonnets, published 17 years after Greene’s critique, he laments, “Why is my verse so devoid of fresh brilliance? So lacking in diversity or innovation?”
6. Much Ado About Nothing Contains Explicit Content
Much Ado About Nothing may seem like an innocent title, but it carries a risqué meaning. In Elizabethan times, “nothing” was a euphemism. Men were said to have “something” between their legs, while women had “nothing.” Thus, Shakespeare’s romantic comedy about relationships between men and women had a far more suggestive title for its original audience. To put it plainly, the title essentially translates to “Much Ado About Vaginas.” This clever wordplay appears in his other works as well.
Shakespeare catered to diverse audiences. While wealthy, educated patrons sat in the back, the front was packed with penny-paying spectators who expected entertainment—specifically, humor laced with sexual innuendos.
This is why, during a tender moment between Hamlet and Ophelia, we encounter this dialogue:
HAMLET: Lady, shall I lie in your lap?OPHELIA: No, my lord.HAMLET: I mean, my head upon your lap.OPHELIA: Ay, my lord. HAMLET: Do you think I meant country matters? OPHELIA: I think nothing, my lord. HAMLET: That’s a fair thought to lie between maid’s legs. OPHELIA: What is, my lord? HAMLET: Nothing.
If your teacher skipped over this scene in school, it’s likely because it’s packed with bawdy humor aimed at eliciting laughter from the rowdy, inebriated crowd. The phrase “country matters” becomes clear when you emphasize the first syllable aloud.
5. He Was Forced to Flee His Hometown
A widely circulated tale suggests Shakespeare left Stratford to avoid legal repercussions. Richard Davies, an Oxford clergyman, noted in 1688 that Shakespeare was a frequent poacher before his rise as a playwright. This account is also found in Nicholas Rowe’s 1704 biography, which drew on stories from actors acquainted with Shakespeare’s circle.
Davies claimed, “Shakespeare was notorious for his misfortune in poaching venison and rabbits,” particularly targeting a man named Thomas Lucy. Shakespeare often faced punishment, including whippings and imprisonment, until Lucy’s actions compelled him to escape to London.
Ironically, Shakespeare’s success can be traced back to his exile from Stratford, though he never let go of his resentment. He harbored a grudge against Thomas Lucy and retaliated in the only way a poet could—by penning a biting poem mocking Lucy’s name. One verse, attributed to Shakespeare, reads, “If Lucy is lousy, as some folk miscall it/Sing lousy Lucy, whatever befall it.”
4. He Had a Hasty Marriage
Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway at the age of 18, and the union was rushed.
While the exact atmosphere of the ceremony remains a mystery, the available evidence paints a clear picture. Hathaway was three months pregnant at the time of the wedding—a situation that, while less scandalous today, would have undoubtedly pressured the couple into marriage during Shakespeare’s era.
The wedding itself was expedited. Normally, a priest would announce the marriage three times, allowing opportunities for objections. However, the Shakespeares opted for a single announcement, ensuring a swift and discreet ceremony.
While it’s possible they married for love, signs suggest otherwise. The couple lived apart, and Shakespeare famously bequeathed her only his “second-best bed.” And . . .
3. He Penned 126 Sonnets for a Young Man
If you’ve ever tried to impress someone by likening them to a summer’s day, prepare for a revelation.
Shakespeare’s sonnets are celebrated for their romantic and exquisite language, but it may surprise you to learn that 126 of them are addressed to a young man. This accounts for the majority, as there are only 154 sonnets in total.
Many of these poems express the speaker’s affection for the boy. In one, Shakespeare laments that the boy was “prick’d . . . out for women’s pleasure” rather than his own. Some interpret this as evidence of Shakespeare’s homosexuality, though it’s not definitive. Regardless, it alters the interpretation of many poems.
So, the next time you read a sonnet, remember—when Shakespeare wrote “thou art more lovely” than a summer’s day, he wasn’t addressing his wife.
2. Shakespeare Had Adoring Fans
Shakespeare was a star in his day, and like modern celebrities, he and his theater company attracted devoted followers. Rumors from his era suggest Shakespeare wasn’t shy about enjoying their attention.
A lawyer documented this in his diary in 1602:
Once, when Burbage performed as Richard III, a woman became so enamored with him that she invited him to her home that night under the guise of Richard III. Shakespeare, overhearing the plan, arrived first, was welcomed, and had already begun his “game” by the time Burbage showed up. When told Richard III was at the door, Shakespeare replied that William the Conqueror had arrived before Richard III.
The exact meaning of Shakespeare being “entertained and at his game” is unclear, but the widely accepted interpretation is precisely what you imagine—Shakespeare pretended to be his friend to seduce one of his admirers.
While such rumors can’t be verified, they form a significant part of what we know about Shakespeare. This story, true or not, confirms that Shakespeare was the kind of figure people would easily believe such tales about. In his time, no one doubted its plausibility.
1. He May Have Fathered an Illegitimate Child
Shakespeare often stayed at an Oxford tavern during his travels and may have left behind more than memories—a son.
William Davenant, Shakespeare’s godson raised by a tavern keeper, claimed Shakespeare was his real father. When intoxicated, Davenant would share a tale his mother told him—that his father was an actor. Oddly, Davenant wasn’t resentful about being abandoned and instead bragged about how kind Shakespeare was during his visits.
According to the story, Shakespeare visited the tavern nine months before Davenant’s birth and, in Davenant’s words, impregnated a “whore”—a term he used for the woman who raised and cared for him his entire life.
Davenant appears to have inherited some of his father’s talent. Shakespeare’s alleged son became a notable poet, and while there’s no definitive evidence of a physical resemblance, many have noted similarities in their writing styles.
