Learn About William Shakespeare's Retirement

Learn about William Shakespeare's retirement in his later years.

Learn About William Shakespeare's Retirement Naturally being in such closed proximity to the globe, Southwark Cathedral has many memorials to William, the great bard of haven. But Edmond, one of Shakespeare’s younger brothers is actually buried here. Despite such seemingly advantageous dynastic connections, the unfortunate Edmond failed to make a success of his acting career. And at the age of 27, he died having only reached the poultry rank of a traveling player. Shakespeare continued to pen this place much too the delight of his audiences with King Lear, McBeth and Ofella. But by the time he was approaching his half century, much of the magic had gone. After collaborating with fellow playwright John Fletcher to compose his last two works, Shakespeare finally set down his quill. And by his 50th birthday in April 1614, he retired to Stratford as his health begun to fail. Whatever Shakespeare shortcomings as a husband and father downed the years. And if you listen to the only partially exaggerated gossip about his hedonistic London life, he had provided for his family financially in some style. As if in return for her father’s monetary efforts, Shakespeare's elder daughter, Susanna had made very appropriate provision for her father’s old age having some years earlier married John Hall, the finest doctor in Stratford upon haven. Most finally, Shakespeare took up permanent residence in his grand new place house, Susanna and the good doctor lived at Hollscroft just a short distance away. This lovely 16th century house was much in large and improved by the prosperous Hall’s and having being purchased by the birthplace trust in 1949. It is today open to the many Shakespearian disciples who make their way to this significant Judah building. No matter how good a physician Dr John Hall was, Shakespeare with his poems miss for fine ails and lively company was never going to be an easy patient to minister to. Also Shakespeare had written his seven ages of man while in his 30’s and he must by this time had been harboring real concerns that his predicted definition of old age might turn out in fact to be his own final lot. “The six age shifts into the linen slippered pantaloon with spectacles on nose and pouch on side is youthful host well saved the world to wide for the trunk shank and his big manly voice. Turning again towards childish treble, pipes and whistles ascend last seen of all that ends this strange eventful history. His second childishness and mere oblivion son’s teeth, son’s eyes, son’s taste, son’s everything.” Not that Shakespeare’s allotted time on earth was going to permit him to reach the seven aged as death would prevent him from reaching any second childhood. 1616 was not a good year for the Shakespeare’s at Stratford. Despite William's prosperous retirement, Judith, Shakespeare’s younger daughter married wine merchant Thomas Queeny at Holy Trinity church on the 10th of February. Just days before the wedding news broke that the groom was expecting a child with another woman, certainly, giving the gossip mungus of Stratford something to talk about. Somewhat surprisingly, the wedding went ahead as planned. But within the month, the poor woman in question had died in child birth, the baby perishing also. A bitter beginning to Judith’s married life but the actual day itself was to precipitate yet another tragedy. Amongst to the dignitaries of Stratford invited to the wedding, Shakespeare had a merry meeting with a number of old friends including Ben Johnson perhaps the closest Shakespeare ever came to having a literally rival. But who he’d grown extremely fond of during his lifetime. Ben Johnson’s splurged Shakespeare onto enjoy too much renish wine and a jolly drunken time was allegedly had by all. It’s also claimed that Shakespeare partook of rather more pickled herrings than were good for him. And by the next day, it was evident that Shakespeare was suffering from far more than a hangover. Unfortunately, he quickly became feverish and never recovered. Deterioration was rapid and despite Dr John Hall’s most efficacious pills and potions, William Shakespeare died on the 23rd of April, St George’s day, 1616, if legend is to be believed his 52nd birthday.