The Authorship Debate

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There are enough conspiracy theories out there regarding the works of Shakespeare (or attributed to Shakespeare, if you prefer) that entire careers have been built upon positing alternate candidates for the true authorship of the works. Whether or not the claim of Shakespeare is legitimate, the burden of proof would seem to lie on those who wish to discredit the Bard. On the other hand, it's only fair to give attention to this debate as it has been ongoing since the 1700s.

Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford: This contemporary of Shakespeare has been strongly advanced since the 1930s as the true author of Shakespeare's plays. A well-educated and well-traveled nobleman of Queen Elizabeth I's court, de Vere has been championed by the author Charlton Ogburn using parallels of the Earl's life with material from the plays—for instance, noting similarities between Polonius of Hamlet and the Earl's guardian, William Cecil. The Earl of Oxford apparently stopped his literary pursuits at an early age—unless, as Ogburn postulates, the Earl continued writing under the pen name of William Shakespeare. PBS aired a 1996 "Frontline" special on the subject.

Francis Bacon, Philosopher and Writer: Bacon has been a traditional favorite of the anti-Stratford camp, and retains a high place on the list of potential candidates. Bacon proponents point toward Bacon's learning, his correspondences and memoirs (most notably, his notebook, Promus), as well as ciphers and other coincidences. Although Bacon was an undisputed man of letters, his style and expression vary greatly from that of Shakespeare's works. Bacon also produced such a voluminous output of his own, it's hard to conceive of him finding spare time enough to produce the quality output of work attributed to the Bard.

Christopher Marlowe, Playwright: Marlowe would be the ultimate ghost writer, as he was stabbed to death in a tavern brawl in 1593. However, there are those that say Marlowe really didn't die; according to some, he was actually an occasional spy in the employ of the Crown. This eventually necessitated a fake death, after which Marlowe went on for an undetermined number of years penning poetry and plays under the nom de plume of Shakespeare. PBS also aired a January 2003 "Frontline" episode about Marlowe.

Other Candidates

Other notable candidates have included William Stanley, Earl of Derby; Ben Jonson; Thomas Middleton; Sir Walter Raleigh (with or without collaboration by Francis Bacon); and even Queen Elizabeth I herself. There have been dozens of other such nominations since the Bard's death, and none have yet presented proof enough to discredit the man from Stratford. In the interest of having the dissident voices heard, however, I've provided links to some good sites for the interested.

Authorship Links

An Authorship Analysis: Francis Bacon as Shake-speare:
Paul J. Dupuy, Jr. presents a comprehensive collection of documents and passages from Bacon, ostensibly to show how Bacon's writing betrays his identity as Shakespeare. The site, however, suffers a little from its lack of editorial context.
The Debate Continues:
A Web continuation of the "Frontline" episode (aired April 23, 1996). This is worth viewing for the reprints of the scholarly feud printed in Harvard Magazine between Charlton Ogburn and Harvard professors Gwynne Evans and Harry Levin. For those who think academics can't get in some good jabs, this will change your mind.
Is Shakespeare Dead?:
This page is a reprint of text from Mark Twain's autobiography, in which one of my favorite authors entertains serious doubts about the authenticity of Mr. Shakespeare's work.
Marlowe, Shakespeare and M. Le Doux:
This page from Peter Farey of the U.K. is a well-researched exploration of the Marlowe spy theory. As good a case made for Marlowe as any that I've seen on the Web—it hasn't convinced me that Marlowe was Shakespeare, but it has convinced me that it's possible to present this premise with scholarship.
The Marlowe-Shakespeare Connection:
A new blog dedicated to great literature, with a very special tip of the hat to passionate Marlovians everywhere. Based on the premise that Shakespeare agreed to be a "front man" for Marlowe, who was on the lam after his faked death.
The Place 2 Be:
Who really wrote Shakespeare's plays and sonnets? Edward de Vere, the 17th. Earl of Oxford? Francis Bacon? Sir Walter Raleigh? Queen Elizabeth I? Or a bright guy named...William Shakespeare.
Shakespeare Authorship Page:
An equally researched and dedicated page that refutes the Oxfordian claims to the works. Comprehensive and passionate, a must-read.
Shakespeare Authorship Roundtable:
The Shakespeare Authorship Roundtable is dedicated to the study of the Elizabethan theatre, the social and political life of the Elizabethan period, and open-minded exploration of the authorship of the Shakespeare canon.
The Shakespeare Fellowship:
The Shakespeare Fellowship is a non-profit educational foundation established in October 2001. The goals of the Fellowship include bringing the Shakespeare authorship debate to a world-wide audience via the Internet and stimulating a wide-ranging dialogue on the relevance of Shakespeare to the 21st century.
Shakespeare, Oxford, and Verbal Parallels:
An excellent rebuttal to a Joseph Sobran article entitled "'Shakespeare' Revealed in Oxford's Poetry." David Kathman refutes Sobran's premise on a point-by-point basis.
Shakespeare Oxford Society:
While I disagree with the main premise of this site, it is very well done and raises interesting questions about the authorship of the works. The definitive site on the Web for promoting Edward de Vere as the real Shakespeare.
Shakespeare? Bacon? Who wrote the Works?:
Penn Leary's collection of proofs and ciphers within the works.
Shakespeare's Sonnets: "The Monument":
Author Hank Whittemore offers a new interpretation of the Sonnets, written by Edward de Vere as the story of Southampton from the 1601 Essex Rebellion to Queen Elizabeth's death in 1603.
The Shakespeare-Bacon Theory:
An analysis of the theory that the plays of William Shakespeare were not written by the man whose biography we are familiar with, but rather that they were written under pseudonym by Lord Chancellor Francis Bacon, Viscount St Albans. From TheatreHistory.com.
Sir Francis Bacon's New Advancement of Learning:
A page dedicated to Sir Francis that includes a comprehensive list of Bacon links on the Web.
Was Oxford Shakespeare? Computer Analysis:
Evidently not, nor were any of the other leading candidates, according to the computer testing done on the Bard's work.