Period+3+Francis+Bacon+2

Positive 1: -Bacon was a lawyer, and the plays attributed to Shakespeare show a usage of legal expertise. A person of Shakespeare's known background could not have gained such knowledge. The plays also demonstrate their author's classical scholarship, and Bacon had had a fine education--while the Stratford actor's meager schooling could scarcely have provided such depth of learning. Evidence also shows that Shakespeare, if he even went to school, didn't go very long because he had to help his dad (who had financial issues).

- Bacon kept a private notebook, called the Promus which was published in 1883. Scientists revealed that the author of "Shakespeare's" plays had used a lot of the entries that were written in the play. The only person that had seen the notebook during the times of the plays was Bacon, so the only logical conclusion is that Bacon wrote the plays.

- Bacon had good reasons for hiding his authorship. His secret ambition was to be a man of letters, but it was beneath the prescribed dignity of a nobleman to allow such "entertainments" as poetry and plays to appear under his own name; such avocations could only reduce one's prestige at court. Also, the opinions expressed in historical plays could endanger an author given the shifting favoritisms of government policy makers. To disarm such suspicions, Bacon adopted the name William Shakespeare as a pseudonym. Later, by coincidence, he found a semiliterate actor of that name and rewarded him handsomely for lending his identity as a cover.

Positive 2: -The style of Shakespeare's writing reflects the religious, philosophic, and educational messages all reflect Francis Bacon's personal opinions. Bacon furthermore visited many of the foreign countries forming the background for the plays (Necessary to create the authentic local atmosphere. There is no record of William Shakspeare's ever having travelled outside of England).

-There's no record exists of William Shakspeare as having ever played a leading role in the famous dramas he is supposed to have written or in others produced by the company of which he was a member. If he was indeed the writer, wouldn't he have put himself in a higher role in his plays?

-There is no real evidence William Shakespeare was the author of the works attributed to him. It was common in Shakespeare's time for noblemen to write works under pseudonyms, ensuring that is was secret authorship. Bacon wrote in codes and ciphers, and in many of the plays there are hints and clues that Bacon was the real author. Francis Bacon wanted protection, it was common in his day.

Negative 1 William Shakespeare is credited to be the best writer of his time and even ours today. People have concocted theories that Shakespeare is not the author of the famous works entitled to him but are the works of others. How can this be; when Shakespeare’s signature is written on his works? If Shakespeare is not the author, then why are there no works written during the years claimed as his “Lost Years?” According to others, Shakespeare is illiterate. Then why are there claims he went to grammar school? Shakespeare is the man behind the works of novels read today. First, Shakespeare’s name is signed at the bottom of his works. For example, the volume Loves Martyr by Robert Chester contained short poems by several theatrical poets. One of these poems known as "The Phoenix and the Turtle" is signed "William Shakespeare." Richard Field, who had also printed Shakespeare’s two narrative poems, printed this volume. Next, Stratford native Richard Field, with a dedication William Shakespeare, published the narrative poem Venus and Adonis. In addition, the Rape of Lucrece was published, also signed by William Shakespeare. Finally, good evidence that William Shakespeare wrote the plays and poems bearing his name is the fact that his name appears on them as the author. Second, Shakespeare had disappeared out of site and mind for at least a decade. The day he left school, age 16, to help his father at work until the document of his marriage to Ann Hathaway, Shakespeare had shown on existence for a good ten years. Since he there were no documents of his presence, then there were no scriptures of his either during this period. In turn, if others claim to own his works, then how do they account for this gap of time? Therefore, Shakespeare is the only author that matches the time line of the works. Third, Shakespeare attended a grammar school until age 16. There are no records that Shakespeare ever attended the school because of a fire in the school that probably had destroyed his records. Also, if there was on fire it was considered that since his family was poor that Shakespeare got into the school on his father’s well-known loyalty, which in this case there would be no document of him ever attending the school. It is stated the Shakespeare’s parents were illiterate, therefore make him illiterate as well. That is not true in some case, kids, like Shakespeare, were able to receive higher education than their parents. Finally, Shakespeare participated in grammar school that contributed to his ability to write masterpieces. In conclusion, evidence demonstrates that one and the same man, William Shakespeare, is the author of the plays and poems that bear his name. Shakespeare had not written during his decade of non-existence, so any claims to his works during this time are not valid. Shakespeare did attend school, even if there is no paper to prove it. The novels read today are none other than William Shakespeare’s works.

Negative 2 For decades, people have been reading and performing the works of Shakespeare. He is considered the greatest writer of his day, and was never questioned. Recently, people have been questioning the author of Shakespeare’s works. According to sources, it can be proven that Francis Bacon did not write the works of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon was the same man who was an actor and shareholder at the Globe Theater. Shakespeare still went to school, even if there are no records to prove it. The cipher system mentioned by Baconians was made up to give Bacon credit for Shakespeare’s works. Shakespeare did write the works accredited to him. Evidence shows that William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon was the same Shakespeare that was a shareholder at the Globe Theater, and also an actor in the plays written by William Shakespeare. William’s father applied for and was granted a coat of arms. This allowed all of his sons to add “gentleman” after their names. It was William Shakespeare, gentleman, who acted in the plays at the Globe Theater. This shows that Shakespeare was an actor in his own plays. Sources say that Francis Bacon wrote the works of Shakespeare, and that this can be proven by a cipher system in the plays and poems. It is said that different forms of the name “Bacon” can be found. These forms include the following: Bacan, Bakon, Baccen, Boccen, Buchen, Bachone, Baucan, Baccoun, and Beechen. With so many combinations of words in the works of Shakespeare and so many words to be found, how can we tell that the cipher system was real? There is no way to tell. This system was made up by enemies of Shakespeare to prove that he did not write his works. Experts say that Shakespeare could not have written the works accredited to them because there is no record of an education. This is not solid evidence because it those days, record-keeping was poor. Records of Shakespeare’s education could have been lost or destroyed over the years. The most practical reason that there are no records of Shakespeare’s education is that there was a fire in the school where he was thought to have completed grammar school. If the records were burned, there is no way to tell whether Shakespeare did or didn’t have an education. This piece of evidence is not strong enough to be used against him. In conclusion, there is overwhelming evidence to support that Francis Bacon did not write the plays and poems of Shakespeare. He was an actor in his own plays, and an attendee of grammar school. There is not substantial evidence to prove that anyone wrote the works of Shakespeare other than the man whose name appears on them.