Shakespeare and Stratford

Summary

The speaker presents Shakespeare as a 'literary commuter,' balancing life between Stratford and London. While he spent time in London for work as an actor and playwright, his roots remained in Stratford, where he owned a large house and his family lived. The speaker highlights that Shakespeare's writing, especially in his later years, was his main source of income. Following the Globe Theatre's fire in 1613, Shakespeare increasingly focused on his life in Stratford, retreating from the capital. This dual existence shows Shakespeare's complex relationship with both cities during his lifetime.

Takeaways

• 😀 Shakespeare is considered one of the first great literary commuters, living in Stratford but traveling to London for work.
• 😀 Shakespeare's work in London mainly involved acting, and he had several different lodgings there, suggesting he didn’t settle in the city.
• 😀 His roots remained in Stratford, where he owned the largest house in the town by 1597, while his wife and family stayed there.
• 😀 There is no evidence suggesting Shakespeare's family ever lived in London with him.
• 😀 Shakespeare likely traveled by horseback from Stratford to London for work, even during off-seasons like Lent when theaters were closed.
• 😀 Recent evidence suggests that Shakespeare's fellow actors sometimes allowed him time off from acting to focus on his playwright work.
• 😀 Shakespeare's writing was the main source of income for his acting group.
• 😀 After 1613, Shakespeare no longer wrote any new works, marking the end of his career as a playwright.
• 😀 The year 1613, when the Globe Theater burned down, may have been a traumatic event for Shakespeare.
• 😀 In the last years of his life, Shakespeare spent most of his time in Stratford, living there full-time and traveling to London only when necessary.

Q & A

Why is Shakespeare referred to as a 'literary commuter' in the transcript?

Shakespeare is called a 'literary commuter' because he lived in Stratford but traveled to London when necessary for work, particularly for his role as an actor. He maintained his roots in Stratford, where his family lived, while working in London for his theatrical career.

What evidence suggests that Shakespeare never fully settled in London?

The evidence includes the fact that Shakespeare had several different lodgings in London and never seemed to establish permanent roots there. His family remained in Stratford, and there’s no indication that they moved to London with him.

What role did Shakespeare play in the London theatre scene?

In London, Shakespeare worked primarily as an actor. Additionally, he was involved in playwrighting, which is considered the main source of income for his fellow actors and the theatre troupe.

How did Shakespeare's relationship with Stratford influence his life?

Shakespeare’s connection to Stratford was deep and enduring. He owned the largest house in the town from 1597, and his wife and family stayed there, suggesting that his primary home and roots were in Stratford, not London.

Was there any indication that Shakespeare’s family ever lived with him in London?

There is no evidence that Shakespeare’s family ever moved to London to live with him. His family remained in Stratford, while Shakespeare traveled back and forth for his work.

How did Shakespeare travel between London and Stratford?

Shakespeare likely traveled between London and Stratford by horseback. This method of travel was typical for people at the time when moving between cities.

What was the significance of the period when the theatres were closed, according to the transcript?

When the theatres were closed, particularly during Lent, Shakespeare could have spent time in Stratford. This period would have allowed him to focus on writing without the pressures of performing.

What recent discovery about Shakespeare’s work and acting career is mentioned in the transcript?

The transcript mentions that recent evidence suggests that Shakespeare’s fellow actors sometimes let him take time off from acting to focus on his work as a playwright, acknowledging the importance of his writing in the theatre's success.

What happened in 1613 that may have affected Shakespeare's career?

In 1613, the Globe Theatre burned down, an event that may have been traumatic for Shakespeare and possibly influenced his career, as no further works from him are known to have been written after that year.

What is the general timeframe in which Shakespeare was primarily based in Stratford?

From 1597 onward, Shakespeare primarily lived in Stratford, where he owned a large house, and his main focus shifted more towards being a Stratford resident rather than a regular participant in London theatre productions.