- Question
Who was Shakespeare?
"What's in a name?" one of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers asked. When it comes to the identity of the greatest writer in the English language, a great deal. That mantle has long been bestowed on a glover's son from Stratford-Upon-Avon. But since the 19th century, there have been doubts over William Shakespeare's identity as the writer of the works attributed to the playwright. Was the Bard from Stratford a front for another writer? Was he just one participant in a collective group of writers? Or was he a she?
The Stratfordian position
This position presents the Stratfordian view: that William Shakespeare of Stratford wrote the works bearing his name. It argues the simplest evidence settles it — his name is on the plays and poems — and that there is nothing implausible about a gifted common man from Warwickshire.
The Post-Stratfordian position
This position presents the post-Stratfordian view that the man from Stratford did not write the works bearing his name. It gathers the cases for alternative authors — Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, the Earl of Oxford and others — citing gaps in his education, documentation and will.
- Shakespeare’s detailed will makes no mention of books or literature
- There were rumors during Shakespeare's life
- Not all of Shakespeare's plays were published in his lifetime
- The case for Edward de Vere
- The two Shakespeares
- Where is the documentation?
- The case for Christopher Marlowe
- An education gap
- The case for Francis Bacon
- The case for Walter Raleigh
William Shakespeare was a woman
This position advances the contested theory that Shakespeare was in fact a woman. It points to readings of 'him' as an 'excellent gentlewoman,' supposed hidden codes, and a plausible motive, making the case for candidates such as the poet Emilia Bassano.
William Shakespeare was part of a collective
This position holds that 'Shakespeare' was really a collective rather than a single author. It argues that while William Shakespeare may have contributed to the works, he did not write them single-handedly, noting that several of the plays are known collaborative efforts.
Edward de Vere, the 17th earl of Oxford was Shakespeare
Vere's biography matches countless details in Shakespeare's Works; he had the means, education, travel experience to Italy and other canonical settings and knowledge of law and history; his surviving correspondence and poetry under his own name corroborate his authorship.