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From: jmillan@ualberta.gpu.srv
Date: 10/24/97
Time: 2:18:06 PM
Remote Name: 129.128.113.132
Winchester, "Shakespeare's Identity", 31, _The Shakespeare Newsletter_ Sept 1952, Johnson Reprint Corp., New York:1968.
The author of this article discusses the ambiguity of Shakespeare's identity. Particular attention is paid to A.W. Titherly's theory that William Stanley, the sixth Earl of Derby was none other than William Shakespeare. Since Stanley lived from 1560 to 1642, his dates match up nicely with those of Shakespeare, and as well, Titherly believes Stanley's ability to write poetry and drama surpasses that of Bacon, another "suspect" as to who Shakespeare really is, thus, Titherly believes himself justified in presenting his thesis. From Titherly's point of view, whoever Shakespeare is must be "intimate with English and foreign courts"(31), must have travelled a lot, must have some knowledge of French, Latin, and Italian, and all in all, be a worldly and knowledgeable person. The William Shakespeare we've all come to know couldn't possibly have been the true Shakespeare, because, well shoot, he didn't even go to university! The article also points out the theory that there was a Shakspere the actor, who was different entirely from Shakespeare the playwright. Although insightful and interesting, I don't buy his theory, do you?