Reflections
Recalling William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare, the greatest English poet and playwright, was born at Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23, 1564. The poet's birthplace is getting ready to celebrate the 449th anniversary of his birth on April 26 and 27. The celebration of the poet's birthday has become an annual event at Stratford-upon-Avon following a tradition that is about 200 years old. Preparations are also afoot for the celebration of his 450th birthday next year in a befitting manner.
Literary and theatre fans, performers, artists, poets, writers, celebrities and tourists from around the world join the local community at Stratford-upon-Avon during the weekend close to the poet's birthday 'in a vibrant celebration of the life and works of William Shakespeare' when 'the town's streets overflow with music, pageantry and drama…' They pay tribute to the great poet and get 'a glimpse at the origins of the dramatic genius.' To his ardent fans, a visit to Stratford- upon-Avon during the poet's birthday is a pilgrimage.
Even though Shakespeare wrote 38 plays, 154 sonnets and 4 narrative poems, there is no record of his birth or his education. His date of birth is assumed from the records of the Holy Trinity Church where he was baptized on April 26, 1564. It is believed that he studied at King's New School in Stratford. He married Anne Hathaway in 1582. By 1592, he had established himself as an actor and playwright in London. His plays include 16 comedies, 10 histories and 12 tragedies. It is generally believed that he died on his birthday in 1616, though many scholars consider it to be a myth.
In the absence of any record of Shakespeare's education, several critics question the authorship of his plays. They suggest the names of Christopher Marlowe, Edward de Vere and Francis Bacon to be the likely authors of his plays in consideration of their known backgrounds. The number of such critics is, however, very small compared to the vast majority of scholars who believe that William Shakespeare was the author of the plays attributed to him.
In spite of the controversy, the plays of Shakespeare 'remain highly popular today and are constantly studied, performed, and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts throughout the world.' It is no wonder that his birthday is celebrated not only at his birthplace but also at other places in the English speaking world.
I was studying at the University of Liverpool when the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth was celebrated in 1964 with much pomp and grandeur. Being an eyewitness, I am tempted to describe the great event that comes once in a hundred years. The British Council arranged a weekend trip to Stratford-upon-Avon for the foreign students residing around Merseyside. To me it was a chance of a lifetime. Without hesitation I joined the group from Liverpool for the trip.
It was a pleasant ride by bus from Liverpool to Stratford-upon-Avon through the beautiful English countryside. We arrived at Stratford-upon-Avon around noon. After lunch, we went out for sightseeing. We could practically walk around the whole town and see all the important places of interest related to the poet. Due to the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the poet's birth, the whole town was crowded with tourists from one end to another.
Stratford-upon-Avon is a popular tourist destination in England. William Shakespeare was born during the Elizabethan era, known as the golden age in English history, having a distinctive architecture with black and white half-timbered houses. Almost all the houses related to the poet resemble similar architecture. Shakespeare's Birthplace in Henley Street is a restored house where the poet is believed to have been born. It is now a museum and a popular tourist attraction. Hall's Croft was owned by Shakespeare's daughter Susanna Hall and her husband Dr. John Hall. The building now contains some paintings and furniture belonging to the 16th and 17th centuries. Anne Hathaway's Cottage was owned by the in-laws of the poet and it is where his wife lived in her childhood. It is believed that the poet courted his future wife at this house. The Holy Trinity Church, also known as Shakespeare's Church, is another popular tourist attraction where the poet was baptised and buried. The waterside along the River Avon provides sites for picnics, recreation and river activities.
Besides being the birthplace of Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon is popular among theatre goers for being the home to the famous Royal Shakespeare Company which stages his plays throughout the year. I watched Henry IV, Part-I, one of Shakespeare's historical plays, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre which was built in 1932. The play depicts the story of Henry IV, King of England, fighting a revolt led by Welshman Glendower and the Scottish Percies. The King considers his son Henry V unworthy of the throne. Henry V proves his worth by killing his rival Henry Percy and finally defeating the revels.
An interesting aspect of a traditional Shakespearean play is that the actors set the stage at the beginning of each scene and carry back all the pieces when the scene ends. The stage is usually very simple and open on three sides, the decorations being mostly symbolic. For example, a candle on the stage would indicate that it is a night scene or a branch of a tree would imply that place is a forest. Needless to say that the superb acting by the group kept the audience spellbound throughout the show. The audience gave a long standing ovation to the actors when the play ended. The actors repeatedly bowed to thank the audience.
Next day we went out again for sightseeing and mingling with the crowd. We watched the beautiful birthday parade and an open air concert. We returned to Liverpool in the evening with very pleasant memories of the 400th anniversary of the poet's birth and of watching a live Shakespeare at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Abdul Matin is a former chief engineer of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.
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