Why is a writer?; Shakespeare or not, that is the question

Grant from the. Shakespeare. There are many mysteries about writers and sometimes these mysteries come about because we cannot trace the events of a writer's life. Perhaps between the ages of 25 and 30 we simply can't discover where he was. Perhaps even we're not quite sure of what he wrote. But let's be very clear about what we mean by such a mystery. Let's consider William Shakespeare. Writer of place considered by some of the very best playwright in the English language. William Shakespeare. Born in the town of Stratford on the River Avon in England in the year

fifteen hundred sixty father's name. Well no matter. The point is that there are public records. Oh yes and church records of course. And we can trace the general way in which William grew up. The school he went to Stratford Grammar School. Yes the school and many other things. The books he used the teachers who probably taught him and more or less even what he learned. But what has all this to do with Shakespeare the writer of plays. Well for one thing and Stratford on Avon there are many chances to see plays. London was not far away but playwright was very different. Indeed it was different. The players first had to see the high bailiff of the town. That surprises me you don't remember us. We were here on our last rose day. Not just a

year. No you have never laid eyes on me sir I'm new elected and don't mind telling I've not stomach for travelling. My good sir we are licensed. Did you think US vagabonds do well it's more likely that I'm aware of people's tastes. I'm aware and I'd better let you go on. There was no doubt the people liked seeing the place they came from. Every person I was here first. It was a grand occasion and the actors were specially fitted out and it was out of doors perhaps in the courtyard of a large in. Where you. Are and. In time as we know because we can trace it William Shakespeare went to London and there he

became an actor. But all this is no mystery. Many facts saw no way in the yet. Yes many facts are known. That figure of Falstaff. You know him to be sure your Highness one of Shakespear's create. I do like that Falstaff. The way he does stride about the stage like a tub he has wit. I agree Majesty. Agree. Do I care. But see a favor for me. Can you find Shakespeare about his favorite tavern perhaps wherever and speak a word to him. Say say the queen a like says Wow staff. So she would be ever grateful if he would write another play and put her Falstaff in it. And what kind of play does my majesty have in mind. With me I hopes are witty. There is little enough wit here at

court. And so with his said that Shakespeare did indeed write a special play for the Queen's pleasure. The Merry Wives of Windsor. And its hero was that huge Falstaff and further there was a record made in writing of a gentleman named Mears who in the year fifteen hundred ninety eight spent many hours at the theatre trippingly on the tongue. But if you mouth it as many of the ugly right in your mirrors I hope you get to the place I find this Shakespeare delightful. I often come to take a few notes from my chapel she heard you have your book. I thought only Dani isn't what kept the ways things they've heard and perhaps are something of a poet to him but not like this Shakespeare. I write write what things that are moral of course you have to combine so with beauty as the ancient stage that that it is a pleasure to read and learn from them and who do you share.

Noise I would have to defend I whipped it out headed headed for you avoided. I want you. OK so two we have mirrors record of having gone to see Shakespeare acted quite often. Yes indeed. I went quite often. I never minded the crowds for one thing. Some of my friends of course thought the crowd was terrible dirty and such. Well some of my friends were even Rob. No wonder all that jostling. I'm coming from London across the Thames in an open boat. Yet who could write so wonderfully as William Shakespeare. I came almost from the time he appeared on the stage Boyd's 15 91 I suppose it was and then he had his own plays. The Kings of England they were rascals though quite noble. I recall how the audience jeered at villainous Richard the Third but they laughed at love Labour's Lost which I

thought was generally good although there were several matters I took. Yes there is Mr Mears record the talkative type yet quite useful in his way to help us know which play Shakespeare had written before. Fifteen ninety eight. Of course this is not the only information which informs us about Shakespeare. We want to know about the actor about the costume about the theater and how it looks and feels such matter I suppose. Man is Mr hands low for you see Mr Mr hands lol. What's your name young man. We met the Thursday last Thursday at the play supply and a million people there. A waiter tankard please. That's a play on the rider. Glaser Oh right here. Shakespearean 0.10 Johnson. Did I ask you to come. Not quite but I know your reputation have a reputation as an honest man as a man willing to play a playwright a pound or two before the play is written.

Young man this is the year sixteen hundred into the age your fate is quite over thank you. I have the first act done the costumes ordered Mr Hands good but the tables will not begin without payment in advance to be sure to be sure to pay ten piles for cost I used till here whatever your name is you pay in advance for costumes and for the plays are I know the word to my tailors they're not hacks they do not dabble. Do you realize a play without a new costume is doomed for you suppose a pen and ink and paper and some little thought as words in advance the same as. Mr hands low. He knew all the playwrights of the day mainly because he operated the theatre. He knew the price of paint of cloth of paper of labor and of plays and we now living can check back on all those items for Mr. Hans Lo kept a notebook. Kept it very well indeed but all that's clear. Yes it is clear. Then why repeat it.

What's the point of Mr. Mears and Mr. Hans Lowell and all the rest. I ask why all the facts you might say. We know there was music in Shakespeare's plays. They're pretty right about not answering your question not answering it all very well. The point is. That not everyone agrees that Shakespeare wrote the plays we know him for. Now excuse me I couldn't help overhearing your little discussion. If Shakespeare didn't then who did other men whose names have been mentioned Marlowe Bacon nuns and Why yes I'd agree to that. You've just said we nowadays have all these right and now you contradict yourself we either do or we don't now which is both. No that's not fair you're hedging dodging the question not at all. As a matter of fact that's what I was getting to before. Facts alone especially if there are three hundred and fifty years old are hard to trace. You said Mears and Henslow left records. Oh yes and others too well them. Records yes but

not enough records to prove without doubt that Shakespeare wrote what everyone think he wrote No that's not fair. I mean that Shakespeare is what you say is true. It's not so black is that it is for Shakespeare. After all when a man writes something especially if it's good he ought to be sure of getting credit. Don't you think Yet in those days playwriting was a crowded business sometimes several writers got together on one play. Sometimes there was no signature on a play. No one knew who wrote it. Someone knew but no one recorded it. And we must rely upon records. Don't you see. Well I'm beginning to see that as a problem without exact records you never can tell for sure for sure yet not knowing for sure doesn't make the play any the less quite true. The play is the same. If you enjoy it you enjoy it. So we're talking only about the writer and that's why we started off by telling of what we do know about him and we learn more every year or more. Isn't that a little strange why Shakespeare has been dead almost three hundred fifty years. Yes but the records are not dead.

Sometimes they are only hidden. So we must find them out. Was it possible after all this time possible. If a man knows enough to recognize a find if and when such as perhaps an original manuscript that's been in some English family trunk for three hundred fifty years. I didn't suppose drugs lasted that long or original manuscript. They do. But there are other ways of finding out the facts. Comparing handwriting scientifically testing the age of ink. That too. I thought that was a chemists business. Yes I see it's a problem but what happens to poor old Shakespeare until it's nothing. Oh excuse me. Quite all right. Well that's the point. As our friend here would say. Because we'll believe it Shakespeare until there's a stronger case for thinking it was someone else's work. Then there's really not too much doubt. Not too much. Well that's a relief. Of course I didn't mean to trouble you. And we've just said enough to state the problem. So we're just saying this.

We're still searching for the facts about Shakespeare because we don't have all the important. Heard in today's program were Greg Morris Spence wrote or Gary Williams Scott platter. John McLaughlin and Fred who are our studio engineers. Why is a writer is written by Floyd Horowitz and directed by Larry Walcott. Carter's speaking this has been another program and this is why is a writer producer WSU School of the air under a grant from the Educational Television and Radio Center and is distributed by the National Association of Broadcasters. I am.