William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, on April 26, 1564. He was the third child of John Shakespeare, a leather merchant, and Mary Arden, the daughter of a wealthy farmer. Shakespeare likely attended the local grammar school, where he would have received a classical education in Latin and literature. However, there is no record of his formal education.
In 1582, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years his senior and pregnant at the time. They had three children together: Susanna, born in 1583, and twins Hamnet and Judith, born in 1585. Shakespeare left his family in Stratford to pursue a career in theater in London, where he began working as an actor and playwright.
Shakespeare's first plays were histories and comedies, including The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Comedy of Errors, and The Taming of the Shrew. These plays were performed by a number of theater companies in London, including the Lord Chamberlain's Men, which Shakespeare joined in 1594. The company later became the King's Men, and Shakespeare became a shareholder in the company.
Over the course of his career, Shakespeare wrote and produced a vast body of work, including plays, sonnets, and narrative poems. His plays were performed in the Globe Theatre and other venues in London, and they were immensely popular with both audiences and critics. Some of his most famous works include Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, and King Lear.
Shakespeare's work was characterized by its complexity, emotional depth, and universal themes. His plays explore a range of human experiences, including love, jealousy, ambition, and betrayal, and they continue to resonate with audiences today. His use of language was also a hallmark of his work, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in the English language.
In addition to his work as a playwright, Shakespeare was also a successful businessman. He became a co-owner of the Globe Theatre, where many of his plays were performed, and he invested in other properties in London and Stratford.
Shakespeare retired from the theater in 1613 and returned to Stratford, where he lived with his family until his death on April 23, 1616. He was buried in the chancel of Holy Trinity Church in Stratford, where his grave can still be visited today.
Shakespeare's work has had a profound influence on English literature and theater. His plays and poems have been translated into every major language and continue to be performed and studied around the world. His legacy has also been celebrated in a number of works of art, including paintings, sculpture, and film. Shakespeare remains one of the most important and influential figures in English literary history.