Plays Plays And More Plays
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Writing Speaking -> subcategory Writing.
Plays, Plays, and More Plays
Discovering Hidden Layers: Shakespeare's Posthumous Plays
Many might be surprised to learn that numerous plays attributed to William Shakespeare were published only after his death in 1616. Virginia Fellow’s compelling book, The Shakespeare Code, delves into these fascinating works and the intriguing theories surrounding them. It highlights that the First Folio, a celebrated collection of 36 plays, was published seven years after Shakespeare’s death, with half of these plays previously unseen.
Unveiling the First Folio
Published in November 1623, the First Folio was a significant literary event. Many of the unpublished plays were registered just in time for its release. Intriguingly, some earlier published plays appeared in altered forms. For instance, The Merry Wives of Windsor expanded by twelve hundred lines, while Titus Andronicus included a new scene, and Henry V was doubled in length.
Given Shakespeare left no manuscripts, questions arise. Who edited these plays? Where did the new content come from?
The Francis Bacon Theory
Virginia Fellows advocates that Sir Francis Bacon, rather than Shakespeare, was the true author. The link? Bacon’s work on code-writing, specifically the Bi-Literal Cipher he discussed in his 1623 treatise, De Augmentis Scientiarum. Just a month before the First Folio's release, Bacon’s insights into this cipher provide intriguing possibilities.
Bacon’s advocates believe his cipher techniques might reveal hidden messages within Shakespeare’s works. Elizabeth Wells Gallup even suggested the presence of this cipher, which requires substantial text. This need for extensive cover text could explain additions to existing plays or the creation of new ones.
Beyond Hidden Messages
While some focus on uncovering coded secrets, it’s just one possible explanation. The brilliance of the plays themselves suggests a far greater purpose. Bacon’s vision of The Great Instauration sought a comprehensive cultural and scientific transformation?"a quest well-aligned with the extraordinary quality of these plays.
Bacon’s Vision and Theatre’s Role
Disillusioned by the academic stagnation at Trinity College, young Bacon aspired to revolutionize knowledge, culture, and society. His writings aimed at fostering a golden age of enlightenment. In his 1620 work, The Great Instauration, and later in The New Atlantis, he envisioned societal transformation through new scientific methods and philosophical illumination.
The fourth step in Bacon’s method, "The Ladder of the Intellect," emphasized demonstrating insights through art and literature. As a child, Bacon recognized theatre’s potential in this quest when he wrote and performed The Philosopher King for the Queen. Theatre could effectively convey philosophical and moral principles to all, educated or not.
Many scholars propose that by writing plays attributed to Shakespeare, Bacon brilliantly achieved this step in his grand plan, infusing them with profound life lessons.
Conclusion
The plays published in the First Folio may be more than literary achievements; they could represent a strategic part of Bacon’s transformative vision. Whether coded or purely theatrical, they continue to captivate, their depth and artistry resonating through the ages.
References
- Bacon, Francis: The Advancement of Learning (1605); The Great Instauration (1620); De Augmentis Scientiarum (1623); The New Atlantis (1624).
- Fellows, Virginia M.: The Shakespeare Code (Snow Mountain Press, 2006).
- Wells Gallup, Elizabeth: The Biliteral Cypher of Sir Francis Bacon Discovered in his Works and Deciphered (1899).
For further exploration of the controversies surrounding Shakespeare’s works, see the article titled Shakespeare Cipher Stories.
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