William Shakespeare's early career was marked by rapid success in London's bustling theater scene. From humble beginnings in Stratford-upon-Avon, he quickly rose to prominence as both an actor and playwright in the 1590s.

Shakespeare's early works, including comedies and history plays, showcased his mastery of dramatic conventions and ability to appeal to diverse audiences. His role in the Lord Chamberlain's Men as actor, writer, and shareholder solidified his position in Elizabethan theater.

Shakespeare's Early Life and Career

Family Background and Education

• Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon to John Shakespeare, a glove-maker and local politician, and Mary Arden, the daughter of a wealthy landowner
• He likely attended the King's New School in Stratford, where he would have received a classical education focused on Latin grammar, literature, and rhetoric
• This education provided Shakespeare with a strong foundation in the classics and the skills necessary for his future career as a playwright
• For example, his knowledge of Latin and classical literature would later influence his plays, such as Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra

Marriage and Family

• In 1582, at age 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was 26 and pregnant with their first child
• They had three children together: Susanna (born 1583), and twins Hamnet and Judith (born 1585)
• Shakespeare's family life likely influenced his writing, particularly his portrayal of family relationships and domestic conflicts
• For instance, the theme of strained father-daughter relationships appears in plays like King Lear and The Tempest

Early Career in London

• By 1592, Shakespeare had moved to London and was working as an actor and playwright
• He was also a part-owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, which would later become the King's Men under the patronage of King James I
• The earliest reference to Shakespeare as a playwright comes from a 1592 pamphlet by Robert Greene, who calls him an "upstart crow" and accuses him of plagiarism
• This suggests that Shakespeare had already achieved some success and recognition in the London theatre scene by this time

Early Plays in Elizabethan Theater

Comedies

• Shakespeare's early comedies, written in the late 1580s and early 1590s, include The Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew, and The Two Gentlemen of Verona
• These plays demonstrate Shakespeare's mastery of Elizabethan dramatic conventions, such as the use of mistaken identities, separated lovers, and clever wordplay
• For example, The Comedy of Errors features two sets of identical twins separated at birth, leading to a series of humorous misunderstandings and confusion

History Plays

• Shakespeare also wrote several history plays during this period, including Henry VI (Parts 1-3) and Richard III
• These plays dramatize the lives of English monarchs and the power struggles of the nobility
• Shakespeare's history plays were influenced by the works of chroniclers such as Edward Hall and Raphael Holinshed, as well as by earlier history plays like The Famous Victories of Henry the Fifth
• For instance, Richard III portrays the rise and fall of the titular king, exploring themes of power, ambition, and moral corruption

Place in Elizabethan Theater

• The Elizabethan theatre was a thriving and competitive industry, with several playing companies and playwrights vying for audiences
• Shakespeare's early plays helped establish him as a leading figure in the London theatre scene
• His success was due in part to his ability to appeal to a wide range of audiences, from the groundlings in the pit to the nobility in the galleries
• For example, his comedies often featured bawdy humor and physical comedy alongside more sophisticated wordplay and social commentary

Influences on Shakespeare's Early Works

Classical Literature

• Shakespeare drew inspiration from a wide range of sources, including classical literature
• The influence of the Roman playwright Plautus can be seen in Shakespeare's early comedies, particularly in his use of stock characters and farcical situations
• For instance, The Comedy of Errors is based on Plautus' play Menaechmi, which also features identical twins separated at birth

Contemporary Playwrights

• Shakespeare was also influenced by the works of his contemporaries, particularly Christopher Marlowe
• Marlowe had a significant impact on Shakespeare's early writing, particularly in his use of blank verse and his exploration of complex, morally ambiguous characters
• For example, Shakespeare's portrayal of the villainous Richard III bears similarities to Marlowe's portrayal of the titular character in Tamburlaine the Great

Historical Chronicles

• Shakespeare's history plays were influenced by the works of chroniclers such as Edward Hall and Raphael Holinshed
• These chronicles provided Shakespeare with the historical material for his plays, which he then adapted and dramatized for the stage
• For instance, Shakespeare's portrayal of the Wars of the Roses in the Henry VI plays draws heavily from Hall's Union of the Two Noble and Illustre Families of Lancaster and York

Literary Rivalry

• Shakespeare also engaged in direct literary rivalry with other playwrights, sometimes parodying or alluding to their works in his own plays
• For example, in The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare parodies the style of Christopher Marlowe's play Tamburlaine the Great
• This kind of literary engagement and competition was common in the Elizabethan theatre, as playwrights sought to distinguish themselves and appeal to audiences

Shakespeare's Role in the Lord Chamberlain's Men

Acting

• As a member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, Shakespeare acted in many of his own plays as well as those of other playwrights
• He is known to have played roles such as the Ghost in Hamlet and Adam in As You Like It
• Shakespeare's experience as an actor likely influenced his writing, as he had a deep understanding of stagecraft and the practicalities of performance

Playwriting

• As a playwright, Shakespeare wrote an average of two plays per year for the Lord Chamberlain's Men, which were performed at the Theatre and the Globe
• His position as both a playwright and a shareholder allowed him to have greater control over the production of his plays and to benefit directly from their success
• For example, Shakespeare could tailor his writing to the strengths of the company's actors, such as Richard Burbage, who played many of Shakespeare's leading roles

Shareholder

• Shakespeare was also a shareholder in the company, which meant that he shared in the profits and had a financial stake in the success of the plays
• This arrangement was unusual for playwrights at the time, as most were paid a flat fee for their work and did not have an ongoing financial interest in the company
• Shakespeare's position as a shareholder likely gave him a greater degree of artistic freedom and allowed him to take risks in his writing

Company Success

• The Lord Chamberlain's Men became one of the most successful playing companies in London, thanks in large part to the popularity of Shakespeare's plays and the talent of its actors
• The company's success was also due to its ability to navigate the political and social challenges of the time, such as the temporary closing of the theatres due to outbreaks of plague
• For example, the company's patronage by the Lord Chamberlain, and later by King James I, provided a degree of protection and prestige that helped ensure its ongoing success