Things You Would Never Know

Shakespeare was One Shady S.O.B.

Shakespeare was One Shady S.O.B.

What most people don't realize is that William Shakespeare did not create the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. In fact, all he did was adapt the story to a playwright for patrons of the art in that day. The story of Romeo and Juliet actually originated from a story that was first translated and written down by an Aurthur Brooke in 1562. Shakespeare's version didn't come out until somewhere between 1591 and '97. He took the majority of the story from earlier forms and previous authors. But, what made his adaptation stand out above all the other versions of this story was the addition of several characters. Marcutio and Paris were his creations and the conflict that arose between the two more specifically was what made his play that more successful.

Good ol' Willie was also involved in some willie filled fun with a man during his marriage to Anne Hathaway (yes, the actress from Devil in Prada was named after this female). In fact, men were frequently involved in sexual relationships with other men during this time period. It was not considered as taboo for men to kiss each other as it was to be involved with a black woman, regardless of her status in her native land. Yes, that's right, Shakespeare had fallen in love with a beautiful African woman rumored to be of royal blood as a queen or perhaps a princess. It was considered all sorts of wrong, so as secret as the relationship had been, it had to come to an end.

I know this a little controversial as it pertains to a religion and the history behind a certain version in text, so take this with a grain of salt. I find it fascinating personally though. King James was said to hire a number of great writers of his time to put together a version of the bible that is famously known as The King James Bible. That's forward enough, no? When he hired these writers, he for lack of a better term put them in a binding confidentiality agreement that, if broken, would result in their executions. So all of the writers of this time wrote their sections of this version in anonymity. However, Shakespeare being the smart ass he is, is rumored to have put in a little signature of his own in this book. He was not a religious man and did not believe as most Christians have and still do. He couldn't exactly tell King James "no" to writing his version because not believing in God back then was considered to be a great crime. He did not have a death wish but he was still very rebellious against the "status quo" of his day. One specific verse in the bible is argued amongst scholars to be one of Shakespeare's: to shake a spear.

Willie was just full of mistakes and shady characteristics, yes? Perhaps that is why he has such an immense understanding and ability to communicate these dimensions of people in his play so well.

And that is the interesting facts of the day!