True Identity Of William Shakespeare
When William Shakespeare began publishing poems and other works in the early 1590s they quickly became very popular throughout London. Many people would gather together at local theaters to watch and enjoy plays that were said to be written by William Shakespeare. Years later in 1616 when Shakespeare died new plays were found and that surprised many people. Shockingly, many people believe that Shakespeare didn’t actually write the plays and poems, but someone paid him to use his name. Even though there is not clear evidence that Shakespeare didn’t write his own plays and poems, Mary Sidney Herbert makes a strong case for being the secret author because she knew over 5 languages, the handwriting of the plays didn’t match Shakespeare’s, and women couldn’t publish plays during this time.
To begin with the fact that Mary Sidney Herbert could speak over 5 languages made it interesting that she could have been the true author of all those plays and poems.
Most people were illiterate during this time and wouldn’t have even been able to write a poem. Mary Sidney Herbert was extremely smart and could have written these plays in different languages if she wanted to. Thus, it would have taken someone very smart to publish multiple masterpieces.
In addition to Mary Sidney Herbert knowing multiple languages, Shakespeare’s handwriting didn’t match up from his plays and poems to his normal everyday handwriting. Although this unfamiliar handwriting didn’t match exactly to Mary Sidney Herbert it helped prove that William Shakespeare wasn’t the true author, and that someone else had been writing for him.
Mary Sidney Herbert was also very smart, and would have been able to write these plays and poems. Thus, proving that she could have been secretly writing for Shakespeare her whole entire life.
In addition to knowing many languages and the handwriting not matching up, Mary Sidney Herbert also was a very prominent woman. Women during this time didn’t have many rights yet so they were not allowed to publish poems or plays. Herbert, the Countess of Pembroke, who was very intelligent liked to write and wanted to publish plays to the public couldn’t unless she used a man to sign them as their own. Mary Sidney Herbert essentially used Shakespeare so she could make money off of her plays and poems. She would write them and do all the hard work, and then Shakespeare would sign it and take it to be published. Thus, Mary Sidney Herbert was very smart and sneaky to be able to produce literature when she wasn’t allowed to.
In conclusion, there are many reasons that point to Mary Sidney Herbert when it comes to the real author of all Shakespeare’s literature. Surprisingly, nobody caught on to Herbert during when she was doing this. Centuries ago, women were not seen as deserving to have all the same rights as men did. Today, women have all the same basic rights as men, and would be able to publish any writing that they wanted. Consequently women wouldn’t have to be sneaky about writing in today’s world, and they can freely do it.
