Shakespeare's Early Life

Shakespeare was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon, north of London. He married at age 18 and had three children with his wife. Less than a decade after his marriage, Shakespeare had moved to London.

Shakespeare's Early Theater Career

The earliest mention of Shakespeare's theater career is a critique written in 1852 by Robert Greene, who famously called Shakespeare an "upstart crow" for writing plays that competed with better-educated playwrights' work.

Shakespeare's Reasons for Writing

There is no way to know how Shakespeare felt about his career or why he chose play writing. There is no record of his opinions on the matter.

Shakespeare's Success

Shakespeare was a success in his own time. His theater company, the King's Men, was supported by King James I. Shakespeare's Globe theater, built in 1599, was the most popular playhouse in London in its day.

Shakespeare's Legacy

Though no one can say for sure why Shakespeare began writing, his success in both writing and producing plays is probably why he continued in this work. When he died he had a large estate with several properties both in London and in Stratford.

Source:

Fogler.edu: The Folger Shakespeare Library

Shakespeare.org: Shakespeare's Houses and Gardens

Shakespeares-Globe.org: Shakespeare's Globe