Shakespeare's differencesShakespeare is a world-renowned playwright. Most people could describe at least one of his plays, poems or sonnets. However, few people remember the details of his personal life. Some may know that he was married, while others think he is gay. Since there are so many discrepancies regarding William Shakespeare, it is no longer possible to determine what is fact and what is fiction. The differences that involve Shakespeare begin with his father. John Shakespeare had come to live in Stratford-upon-Avon and worked as a glover. However, John had a long list of jobs. He was a wool merchant and money lender (www.shakespeare.org). In addition to this, he was a laundryman, white leather worker, and general agricultural trader (Hunter WP). According to John Aubrey, an English writer of Shakespeare's time, John was a butcher. To add to all this, research shows that John was a prominent citizen and a "very successful and respected man of high status" (http:168.216.219.18). John held many official positions. He served on the town council for many years, maintained the position of justice of the peace, and became bailiff, the equivalent of a modern mayor, in 1568 (www.shakespeare.org). Now, how can a man who can't write (http:168.216.219.18) hold so many different positions? From butcher to glove maker to money lending to bailiff, how do we know what is true and what is invented to improve the story of where William Shakespeare comes from? John married Mary Arden in 1557 (Hunter WP). She came from a rich family who had paid a “good dowry to marry her” (http:168.216.219.18). Now, this increase in John's funds could explain how he eventually moved from glove maker to bailiff. However, many years passed between his increase in funds and his honorable title, which is highly doubtful. William Shakespeare was the third child Mary bore to John, but he was the first to live beyond infancy. Shakespeare was born in April 1564, but the exact date of his arrival is not known. Because infant mortality was high, babies were baptized within two or three days of birth. Shakespeare was baptized...... middle of paper ......bsp; (online) Available on the web: http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/about_shake.htm2. Eastman, Arthur M. A Brief History of Shakespearean Criticism. New York: Random House, 1968.3. Epstein, Norrie. The friendly Shakespeare. New York: Boates Books.4. Hunter, Elisabeth. (1999, September). William Shakespeare: His life in Context (1999) (online) Available on the web: http://www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk/wslife.htm5. McElroy, Bernard. Shakespeare's mature tragedies. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1973.6. Quenell, Peter. Shakespeare. Cleveland: World Publishing Company, 1963.7. William Shakespeare. (online) Available on the Web: http://168.216.219.18/projects/shakesp/shakesp.htm