Jealousy and Mistaken Identity in Shakespeare
             William Shakespeare's life is somewhat of a mystery to scholars due to the fact that most information that is known is very scattered and sparse. No one knows the exact date of Shakespeare's birth, but his baptism occurred on Wednesday, April 26, 1564. His father was John Shakespeare, a tanner, glover, dealer in grain, and town official of Stratford. His mother, Mary, was the daughter of Robert Arden, a prosperous gentleman-farmer. William Shakespeare and his family lived on Henley Street.
             A bond dated November 28, 1582 stated that William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway entered into a marriage contract. The baptism of their eldest child, Susanna, took place in Stratford in May of 1583. Hamnet and Judith, their twins were christened in the same church one year and nine months later. In May of 1597, Shakespeare purchased a residential property in Stratford called New Place. Due to the fact that his father had suffered financial problems prior to this date, it is assumed that Shakespeare must have achieved success by himself. On March 25, 1616 William Shakespeare revised his last will and testament. He died on April 23, 1616.
             There are certainly many things in which scholars cannot explain about the life of William Shakespeare, however the facts that do exist are enough to identify him as a real person. He was a writer who, for the last three hundred years, has continued to be a major influence on drama and poetry. Shakespeare wrote thirty-seven plays that are all very unique in their style and subject matter. The themes vary anywhere from extreme jealousy to silly humor. Two major themes that are apparent in a lot of Shakespeare's works are mistaken identity and jealousy.
             The idea of mistaken identity as a plot device in comedies dates all the way back to the writers, Menander and Plautus, in the Greek and Roman times. Shakespeare borrowed that devic...