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New Evidence Suggests a Different View of Shakespeare’s Marriage
William Shakespeare, celebrated for his tales of romance like the “starcrossed lovers” in Romeo and Juliet, has long had his own marriage portrayed in a less favorable light. For years, it was widely thought that his marriage to Anne Hathaway was unhappy, marked by long periods of separation. However, groundbreaking new evidence is challenging this conventional wisdom, potentially rewriting the narrative of the famed playwright’s personal life and shedding light on Shakespeare’s personal life.
Lost Letter Addressed to ‘Good Mrs Shakespeare’
Experts have recently discovered a previously unknown letter addressed to ‘Good Mrs Shakespeare’ in London, signaling a potentially more intimate and involved relationship than previously believed. This finding presents biographers with a ‘horrible problem,’ as it could invalidate much of what was previously understood about the couple’s dynamics.
Challenging the Accepted Narrative
- Traditional View: Shakespeare supposedly left Anne Hathaway in Stratford-upon-Avon to pursue his career in London, implying a strained and distant marriage. Scholars often inferred unhappiness and separation, with William residing in London and Anne in Warwickshire.
- Anne’s Portrayal: There was a common belief that Anne was uneducated and lacked cultural refinement. Further fueling the narrative of marital discord was the fact that Shakespeare bequeathed her only his ‘second-best’ bed in his will.
The Newly Discovered Letter
Professor Matthew Steggle from the University of Bristol’s Department of English has analyzed a fragment of a letter. Accidentally preserved within the binding of a book in Hereford, the letter is addressed to ‘good Mrs Shakespeare.’ The implication is that the Shakespeares dwelled together in central London sometime between 1600 and 1610.
Key Details from the Letter:
- Prior to this discovery, there was no documented indication that Anne ever lived with her husband in London.
- Addressed to ‘Good Mrs Shakspaire,’ the letter references the passing of a Mr. Butts and his son, John, who is left ‘fatherles.’
- The letter implies Shakespeare withholding funds from the boy, urging his wife to ‘paye your husbands debt.’
- A fragment of writing on the letter’s back – possibly a reply from Anne – suggests that procuring the funds was the writer’s own responsibility.
Implications of the Discovery
The discovery hints that Anne Shakespeare spent considerable time with her husband in London. She was also deeply involved with his financial dealings and social circles. This letter serves as the first documented proof of Anne’s presence in London with her husband, prompting questions about Shakespeare’s marriage. The evidence opens the door to the possibility that she spent a significant amount of time with her husband in London.
Steggle notes the letter has been around since 1978, but there was no reason to connect the ‘Mr Shakespeare’ in the letter to William of Stratford-Upon-Avon.
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According to Steggle, the finding sheds light on the Bard’s London contacts and his marriage to Anne. Furthermore, writing on the back of the letter could be attributed to Anne Hathaway herself.
Unraveling the Mystery Through Research
The letter makes reference to a young apprentice in a London district that once contained Trinity Lane. Professor Steggle investigated records of fatherless apprentices to identify the boy in question. The search yielded only one viable candidate. He then compiled a list of married couples named ‘Shakspaire’ in London leading up to 1607.
Detective Work:
- Limited Matches: After centuries of research, scholars have found only four married couples with that surname in the city during this period.
- Location Matters: None of the other three couples were likely to have resided in Trinity Lane. A moderately affluent area near Queenhithe, this area was located by the River Thames, south of St Paul’s Cathedral during that era.
Impact on Shakespearean Scholarship
Professor Steggle highlights that identifying the boy and confirming his presence fixes the date. This greatly supports the idea that the ‘Mr Shakspaire’ in question was the London-based Shakespeare we all know. He states that the discovery at least doubles the number of letters known to be associated with Shakespeare and his family, and it provides a “new address” that unlocks another piece to the puzzle that is William Shakespeare’s life.
Steggle adds the discovery seems to show her involved in her husband’s financial and social dealings. This provides another dimension to consider how we think about Shakespeare’s marriage.
Professor Steggle states that this letter is a “horrible, difficult problem” for Shakespearean biography writers.