The case for Walter Raleigh

The case for Walter Raleigh can be broken down into three themes. Firstly, many of the plays and sonnets’ narratives align closely with his own life experiences. He also uses several phrases from Shakespeare’s works in his own correspondences. Finally, he had a familial connection to Shakespeare himself, as well as ties to Christopher Marlowe. ^[1] Raleigh had the necessary experience to write with confidence about far-flung lands, the relationships between royalty and noblemen and the military and naval matters that are prominent in Shakespeare’s plays. He was a courtier, a statesman, a mariner, an explorer and even served a stint in the Tower of London. All of these themes are visible in Shakespeare’s plays. There are also references to Raleigh’s own life. Shakespearean references to lameness could be a reflection of Raleigh’s own wound and Hamlet’s attack on King Claudius could hint at Raleigh’s own dislike of James I.^[2] Raleigh’s writing under his own name also covers similar subjects to Shakespeare, both in his printed works and personal correspondences. He published a book called ‘The Discovery of Guinea’ in which he mentions being washed up in the Bermudas, which smacks of Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’. ^[3] References of Raleigh's voyages can also be found in The Merry Wives of Windsor, As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice, Othello, Love's Labours lost, All's Well That Ends Well and The Tempest. There was also a familial tie to Shakespeare, so Raleigh would have been familiar with the man. Raleigh’s wife’s cousin married Edward Arden.

[P1] Shakespeare did not have the necessary experience to write his plays. [P2] Raleigh did. His life was similar to the worlds depicted in Shakespeare's plays. [P3] Therefore, Raleigh wrote Shakespeare's plays.