The interview with Prof. Stanley Wells, “The real William Shakespeare” (Sept. 14), was interesting and educative, particularly to researchers of Shakespeare. The authorship of Shakespeare's plays is still under scrutiny, and a researcher has even claimed that most of the plays attributed to William Shakespeare were written by a Russian dramatist, Shokospurov.
A. Balagangadharan , Pollachi
It is said that the name “Shakespeare” is spelt in at least 50 different ways. Whichever way it is spelt, the Bard of Stratford-upon-Avon will remain the greatest lyricist and poet ever. Speculation on the real identity of Shakespeare has been a fascinating literary hobby for long. Some in Palakkad used to claim that Shakespeare was in fact one Seshappa Iyer from Kalpathy! Some more literate would identify him as one Shakaspika Warrior from Ottapalam! The more serious discussions on his identity as in the film “Anonymous,” as Prof. Wells puts it, “thrive on controversy.” The poet's education may be limited to high school in the Stratford grammar School, but he proved to be a real genius.
As a poet and playwright, Shakespeare used landscape to place and illuminate people' actions, emotions and thoughts. His brilliant mixed metaphor, “Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer/The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune/Or take up arms against a sea of troubles ...” graphically brings out the tragic dilemma in Hamlet's mind. Only William Shakespeare could have done it.
Col. C.V. Venugopalan (retd.) , Palakkad
To be or not to be/That is the question/Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of Shakespeare-baiters/or to take arms against a sea of denials? Hats off to Prof. Wells for exposing the vested interests who would keep on saying Shakespeare was not Shakespeare. Whatever it may be or rather, whoever it may be, what's in a name? That which we call a rose smells as sweet by any other name!
P.U. Krishnan , Udhagamandalam
