Shakespeare and Marlow

Putting conspiracy theories about Shakespeare's identity aside, William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe both thrive in the same trend-setting niche of English Renaissance literature.

Their writings inspired generations of authors to follow, and the mysteries surrounding their personal lives have kept them both relevant beyond expectation.

How did these similarities develop despite their differing trajectories, and what effect do the mysteries surrounding both of their lives have on readers today?

William Shakespeare

Early Life

• William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. His mother was an heiress, and his father was a merchant and local leader in the community.
• He most likely attended the King's New School in Stratford, where he would have learned to read and write.
• In 1582, he married Anne Hathaway. They had three children together.

The Lost Years

• There is no record of Shakespeare's life during the late 1580s.
• Based on the content of his poetry and plays, some experts assume he traveled abroad or worked as a schoolmaster.
• Others think he headed to London during that time.

Career

• By 1592, Shakespeare was working in London as a playwright and actor with the King's Men acting company.
• By 1597, roughly half of his plays were being published and performed.

PLays-Early Career

• Some of his most notable comedies are As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, and The Tempest.
• Shakespeare mostly wrote comedies early in his writing career, along with historical tragedies.
• His early historical tragedies include Richard II, Henry V, and Henry VI

PLays-LAte Career

• Later in his career, Shakespeare perfected the art of the tragedy and tragicomedy.
• These plays include Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and The Tempest.

Poetry

• He wrote over 150 sonnets and a handful of poems.

Writing Style

• Shakespeare wrote his plays in blank verse, and only used different forms for a handful of passages.
• His sonnets are written in the traditional iambic pentameter.
• Shakespeare's writing is most famous for its timeless portrayal of the human condition, as well as his inventive use of language.

Shakespeare and the Modern Audience

• Shakespeare's works, especially his tragedies, continue to be popular today.
• However, the modern interpretation of some of his works may differ from its original intent in the 17th century.

ShakesPeare and Sexuality

• Whereas historically, Shakespeare's dedicatio to the Earl of Southampton was for purely economic gain, some of his poetry can be interpreted to have homoerotic undertones.
• In sonnet 20, the speaker seems to be addressing a young man's superior beauty compared to a woman. Some readers believe this is evidence of Shakespeare's sexuality, however, it could also be interpreted as a homage to youth.

Christopher Marlowe

Early Life

• Marlowe was born in Canterbury in 1564, the same year of Shakespeare's birth.
• Unlike Shakespeare, there is a clear record of Marlowe's education.
• He attended Corpus Christi College, where he earned a master's degree in 1587

CHristopher Marlowe: secret Agent?

• Marlowe also had a bit of mystery surrounding his early adult life.
• He would disappear from school for long lengths of time and had extra cash to spend.
• This idea is further fueled by a letter sent by the Privy Council to excuse his absences.
• However, there is no way to verify his work as a government spy.

Career

• By 1587, Marlowe was an established writer working in London.
• Although born the same year, Marlowe is considered one of Shakespeare's most influential predecessors.
• Marlowe was killed under suspicious circumstances in 1592, ending his short-lived writing career.

Marlowe's Plays

• Marlowe wrote six plays in all, his most famous being Doctor Faustus.
• His other plays include The Tragedy of Dido, Tamburlaine, The Jew of Malta, Edward II, and The Massacre at Paris

Poetry

• He wrote two published poems, "Hero and Leander" and "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love."

Writing Style

• Marlowe preceded Shakespeare in his mastery of the tragicomedy, as seen in The Jew of Malta.
• He also was the first to popularize blank verse as an expressive form in plays during the Elizabethan era.

Face-Off: ShakespEare Vs. Marlow

SImilarities and Differences

• Whereas Marlowe was an established scholar, Shakespeare's knowledge of the world came from an unknown source
• Both, however, satirized similar societal and political phenomenon
• Although contemporaries, this similiarty in content can be explained by looking not at their births, but rather their years as active writers.

Marlowe's Influence on Shakespeare

• As noted previously, Marlowe was an active writer for less than a decade, as he was killed in 1592.
• Shakespeare became an active playwright and actor in London the same year, with his most famous tragicomedies being published in the 1600s.

Their Intrigue Today

• Although some people speculate that Marlowe and Shakespeare may be one and the same person, the evolution of both of their writing styles only hint that they were influenced by a similar world, and that Shakespeare was probably familiar with Marlowe's writing.
• However, the ambiguity surrounding both of their writing careers continues to intrigue modern audiences.

Bibliography

• "Christopher Marlowe." Anthology of English Literature. Luminarium, n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 2015.
• "Christopher Marlowe." In Search of Shakespeare. PBS, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.
• "William Shakespeare." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.