Shakespeare had written. Scholars have been really curious about this
dedication Thorpe wrote to the book. This dedication reads: ?To the only
begetter of these ensuing sonnets Mr. W.H.?. For many years people have
tried to figure out who Mr. W.H. is, but have not accomplished it, Scholars
have studied the sonnets to determine what extent they are autobiographical,
but they have failed to discover anything to go on. Most of Shakespeare?s
readers say the sonnets are just good to read not as a autobiographical
statement.
During Shakespeare?s last eight years of life Shakespeare wrote only
four plays: Cymbeline, Henry the 8th, The Tempest, and The Winter?s Tale.
Some people say that the Tempest written about 1610 was Shakespeare?s last
play. Evidence shows that Shakespeare purchased a house in the Blackfriars
district of London and gradually reduced his work in London instead of
abruptly ending it. Shakespeare had divided his time between Stratford and
London his public life in London and his private in Stratford. Shakespeare
had houses in London until 1604 but he went back to Stratford all the time.
Some important things he had to go back for is his mothers death in 1608 and
his daughter Susanna? s marriage in 1607. His other daughter Judith married
Thomas Quiney on Feb. 10, 1616. Six weeks later Shakespeare made a will.
Within a month Shakespeare had died and was buried inside the Stratford
parish church. Shakespeare?s monument records the day of his death, which
is April 23. Shakespeare?s son Hamnet died in 1596 at the age of 11. His
daughter Susanna had one child Elizabeth. Shakespeare?s other daughter
Judith gave birth to three boys but they died before she did. Shakespeare?s
last descendant, his grand daughter Elizabeth died in 1670.
Bibliography
Fetzer, Scott. The World Book Encyclopedia.
World Book Inc., 1993ed.