The name Shakespeare is known to almost everyone. The true identity of the great writer is still a mystery. There is not a single image that portrays Shakespeare's true identity. When you look at the pictures they are different and look like someone else. We know he was a well-educated businessman, well-versed in law and royalty, to begin with. The man to whom the works are attributed does not pose these qualities. Over the years, more and more people are asking the same question: who was the real Shakespeare? William Shaksper, born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, was given credit for Shakespeare's work seven years after his death. William lived in a small town where there were few educated men. (James/Rubinstein 1) His parents could neither read nor write, which greatly hinders the idea that they educated him at home. (James/Rubinstein 1) There is no evidence that William or his family owned or read books. (James/Rubinstein 6) We are led to believe that he attended a free school until he was about twelve years old. There is no documentation to support this, other than the words of his first biographer. (James/Rubinstein 4) There is also no documentation to show that he attended any school after the age of 12. (James/Rubinstein 1) We are sure he was a businessman, landowner and owned shares in a London theatre. (James/Rubinstein 3) There is no evidence that he actually wrote any plays for the company nor acted in any. Over the years we have still been unable to find any evidence that he wrote Shakespeare's work or that he was a writer of any kind. (James/Rubinstein 17) We have found six signatures belonging to William Shaksper of Stratford and none of them match each other or are spelled like Shakespeare's name. (A... middle of paper......qualities to be the real Shakespeare. We all have a different belief about who Shakespeare is. Without hard evidence we will never be sure. I am grateful that the work was written and shared with us. I'm just sorry that anyone felt they had to hide their work. I hope this question about authorship teaches us not to judge others. Shakespeare had powerful words that changed the world. Works cited Allen, Ron Who Were Shake -speare?: The Ultimate Who-dun-it. Diego, California: Silverado, 1998. Print.Blumenfeld, Samuel L. The Marlowe-Shakespeare Connection: A New Study of the Author Question Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2008 Print .James, Brenda and W. D. Rubinstein. Truth Will Come Out: Exposing the Real Shakespeare New York: Harper Perennial, 2007. Print. Reed, Edwin Coincidences, Boston: Coburn Pub., 1906. Print.