Tourism is known as the largest tourist industry. It also has great importance because of how much you can get educated in different cultures. So, the European personality that I have chosen, that has led to the creation of tourist sites, concentrating in Europe, is William Shakespeare. After more than 400 years, he is very important to us because he is one of the most important literary figures of the English language for his performances with complex cultural and political backgrounds, his plays are highly popular and frequently studied and reinterpreted. To add, the genius of the characters and plots of Shakespeare is that they portray real people with a wide range of emotions. Many tourists visit Europe to follow in his footsteps, learn about him, and get to know more about his famous poems and plays through festivals, attractions, accommodations, parks, statues, and many more.
To start, much of the information retrieved is from an independent charity since 1847 called The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/william-shakespeare/william-shakespeare-biography, 2019 ). In summary, they educate us on William Shakespeare, an English poet, playwright, writer, and actor in the Renaissance era, of his works, and his life. He was born on April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, located in the United Kingdom, and it is also believed that he died close to his birthday in 1616. He is the third oldest child out of eight from John Shakespeare, a leather merchant, and Mary Aiden, a local landed heiress. We estimate that William started his education at 5 or 6 at the Stratford Grammar School but for university, there are no records of him going. At age 13, he was forced to drop out due to his dad’s financial problems. Scholars still think that he might have attended the King’s New School, also located in Stratford. At age eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway because she got pregnant at 26 years old. Their first child, a girl named Susanna, was born on May 26, 1583. Two years later, on February 2, 1585, twins Hamnet and Judith were born. Hamnet later died of unknown causes at age 11. There was a moment when there wasn’t any research on him for a couple of years after the death of his son. Many historians decided on calling that period of Shakes: “The lost years”. Furthermore, the website explained that:
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“However, Shakespeare was very innovative, adapting the traditional style to his own purposes and creating a freer flow of words. With only small degrees of variation, Shakespeare primarily used a metrical pattern consisting of lines of unrhymed iambic pentameter, or blank verse, to compose his plays.”
Shakespeare's early plays were composed of complex metaphors and rhetorical phrases. Many say that he went into hiding where he tries enhancing his dramatic skills and writing. In the conventional style of the day, Shakespeare's early plays were composed with complex metaphors and rhetorical phrases that did not always fit naturally with the plot or characters of the story. Shakespeare was and still is known and loved by everyone around the world that he was then nicknamed “English National Poet” or the “Bard of Avon”.He got that name because he was born in Stratford-upon-Avon and the word “Bard” means poet. As an example of his popularity, many people heard of his famous quotes: “To be, or not to be: that is the question” and “Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?”. This shows that he had a big influence on English literature and gave us a view of how things were during those times.
The most famous attraction is obviously Shakespeare’s birthplace, today it is a historical museum in Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, and where he lived for his first 24 years. For most of the tickets, it is £17.50/adult, £11.50/child, and £16.50/concession. Another must-see attraction is Shakespeare’s New Place. It used to be the second-largest house in town, that William bought in 1597. Although the house was demolished in 1759, it was replaced as a garden to commemorate the importance of the site (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit/shakespeares-new-place/,2019). Also, you have the possibility of buying a full ticket where you have twelve unlimited entries to visit three other places like Mary Arden’s Farm, Anne Hathaway’s cottage, and Hall’s Croft. The annual report made by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust from all of these five Shakespeare family homes and gardens says that they calculated over 835,000 visitors from around the world for the (https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/about-us/annual-reports/,2018). Lastly, Shakespeare's Globe is a world-renowned venue for performing arts, cultural attractions, and a learning center situated on the bank of the Thames River in London, UK. The theater, owned by Shakespeare’s company, is a unique tool for presenting Shakespeare’s work and the playhouse that he himself wrote. This concept is perfect since you are informed of him and his work through performance. Last year the number of visitors was 138,00 students out of 923,000 visitors in total. There are many statue memorials dedicated to him around the world. By naming some, there is one inside the Holy Trinity Church, in his hometown, designed by William Kent and created by Peter Scheemakers, and another where he is sitting at Bancroft Gardens in Stratford. Furthermore, almost everyone has heard and read Romeo and Juliet. Then they should know that it takes place in Italy in a town called Verona. You are able to visit Romeo and Juliet’s homes, which are not far apart from each other. In a website called Romeo and Juliet Guide, it illustrates that ever since Shakespeare wrote the play, the town gained more popularity and it is now known as the “city of love” in Italy.
As for festivals dedicated to the English poet, they have a festival called “Shakespeare Festival in Turkey” organized by the English Language and Literature Department at SDU in Isparta on 5-20 April 2019. Another one called the “5th Shakespeare Festival in Serbia-Programme” is announced to start on the 28th of June and end on the 3rd of July (http://esfn.eu/, 2019). These festivals present many of Shakespeare’s plays, readings, and lectures. Depending on the festival, the first one is introduced in Turkish and English. But the other festival, performing 37 of Shakespeare’s plays, is interpreted in different languages.
Moving on to accommodations, the best one is called Mercure Stratford upon Avon Shakespeare Hotel; a half-timbered house that became a four-star hotel inn. For only the price of $80-100 (depending on the season), you have free Wi-fi, room service, pet friendly, and more. It is also a five-minute walk to Shakespeare’s birthplace. The information on how many people are staying is not given, but TripAdvisor informed us that there are in total 78 rooms available and many previous visitors come because it is easy access to the town.
In conclusion, this poet may have died but what he left with his written plays and poems will always be remembered. He will always have a reputation as an idle, important to history, not only in Europe but around the globe. He has created a significant impact on various attractions like Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Shakespeare’s New Place, and Shakespeare’s Globe were created or remained to get to experience like if you were inside his poems.
- Ed. (2019, October 2). Shakespeare Quotes: Top 50 Famous Shakespeare Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/quotes/famous-shakespeare-quotes/.
- Shakespeare's New Place. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit/shakespeares-new-place/.
- Mabillard, Amanda. Shakespeare's Lost Years. Shakespeare Online. 12 Nov. 2000. < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/shakespearelostyears.html >.
- Shakespeare's Globe USA. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/join-and-support/shakespeares-globe-usa/.
- Memorials and Statues of William Shakespeare. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-statues-and-memorials.htm.
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