People have often asked, “Why is knowing the real author of the plays and sonnets of William Shakespeare important?”

To me, there are three reasons why knowing the real author is important.

First, there is currently a movement called “Cancel Culture” which means to thrust someone out of society as a way to show disapproval. Cancel culture might exert social pressure on people to avoid Shakespeare because his play may not follow our current thoughts and beliefs. However, what if the problem really has to do with the author? For example, we know that the *man from Stratford* never traveled outside of England. Both his parents were illiterate as were his two daughters.

But the *real* author of Shakespeare (Edward de Vere ) was a pioneer for racial equality, feminism, and social equality. It has been proven that he DID travel to Italy and if you were to use push pins on a map, the places in Italy where he visited in 1575 are the SAME places as the 13 plays of Shakespeare. Is this just a coincidence?

Therefore, we know that Edward de Vere interacted with Africans (Moors), Italian women, and Jews. He also visited France and Bohemia. Also, de Vere’s three daughters were all well-educated. And Edward de Vere was part of a secret rebellion to overthrow QE’s restrictive government.

When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. Suddenly, we can see how the plays of Shakespeare are talking about current events. The succession of QE, how it relates to history. Edward de Vere tried to educate ignorant people who had never traveled outside of England telling them that Jews bleed the same blood as you. Remember, Edward de Vere was imprisoned in the tower of London for falling in love with a “dark”- skinned woman (Anne Vavasour). England at that time was a racist country where Blacks and Jews were discriminated against, so, would you have had the courage to write a play called Othello where the main character is a black man? Yet nothing happened to the man from Stratford.

Second, do most teachers and educators reward plagiarism? No. In fact, if a university student is found to have plagiarized an essay, he or she may be asked to leave the school. So, just imagine if it is true that Shakespeare has unfairly been given credit for the entire catalog of Edward de Vere! What does that say to educators? It was “okay” because it happened over 400 years ago? No.

Third, and possibly the most important reason concerns the idea broached in Hang Shakespeare – and Shakey’s Madness is that the “real” author suffered from bipolar disorder and so did Edward de Vere. A careful reading of the sonnets reveals the real author’s repeated complaints of insomnia, as well as the “highs” and “lows” of a manic depressive person. Bipolar disorder is a growing epidemic today. By making the “real” author a real, living, breathing human being (and not a so-called Stratford genius) but someone who encountered his own share of physical and mental ailments, the works of the true author become more meaningful and relevant. Students might actually be able to relate to him better.

Have you been experiencing the feeling of hopelessness and despair, as well as the giddy feeling of being at the top of your game?  So did the “real” author of plays like Macbeth, King Lear and Twelfth Night. You are not alone!

This link offers signs of bipolar disorder and even if you do not read or agree with Hang Shakespeare or Shakey’s Madness you might want to check it out.

Robert Boog is a real estate broker and amateur songwriter who lives with his wife in Valencia, Ca. Who was a better writer, Marlowe or Shakespeare?