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How Did Shakespeare Impact The European Renaissance

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Many have argued about just what defined the Renaissance, be it the artwork, the rulers, or the community of the era itself, but nothing compares to effect of literature on the European Renaissance. Literature ingrained itself into the period by expanding the populous view and their ability to access information, creating a more creative and educated public. This, consequently, kick-started multiple inventions, pieces of art, and research that would change how we viewed the world forever. Johann Gutenberg is presumed to be the inventor of the printing press, starting the first printing company in the late 1430’s. Before the press, all books and other writings had been done by hand, resulting in script being expensive, inconsistent, and prone …show more content…

William, in total, wrote more than thirty plays and one hundred and fifty four sonnets, resulting in him being recognized as one of the most influential writers of history, but despite this, not much is known about the man. From what historians have gathered, his father had a high enough standing in the socioeconomic chain to afford a “well-rounded, humanistic education,” (Milne 682 - 704) for William, meaning he had plentiful access to information and most types of literature. Because Shakespeare was able to access such information, it not only allowed him to write masterpieces that would be shared for multiple millennium, but it also enabled him to travel all about Europe (an educated man like himself made enough money to do so). Another author who found themselves embedded within the literature boom was Elizabeth Carey, a woman who, amidst her husband’s abusive family controlling her livelihood, was the first female playwright to write a play in English. When her husband, Sir Henry Carey, went off to fight in Spain, Elizabeth moved in with his family who enforced the rule of “No Reading” upon her. To spite them, she wrote instead. The Tragedy of Mariam was completed in this time, the play earning her her title of the first woman to write a play in English and inspired others to pursue literature and language, even if the world seems to be set up against

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