The Curious History Of Anne Hathaway Shakespeares Wife

Very little is known about Anne Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare and that mystery has fascinated historians for centuries. With only a handful of records surviving from her lifetime, Anne s story has been shaped by speculation, myths, and modern reint... Very little is known about Anne Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare and that mystery has fascinated historians for centuries. With only a handful of records surviving from her lifetime, Anne’s story has been shaped by speculation, myths, and modern reinterpretations. Here’s a closer look at the mystery surrounding Shakespeare’s wife. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons ) Was Her Name Really Anne Hathaway? Historical records from Shakespeare’s marriage mention both “Anne Hathaway” and “Anne Whateley,” leading some historians to debate whether a clerical mistake was made or whether the Bard was connected to two different women. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons ) She Was Likely Older Than Shakespeare: Anne is believed to have been around 26 when she married the 18 year old Shakespeare in 1582. Their age gap was unusual for the time and added to later speculation about their relationship. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons ) Their Marriage Was Probably Rushed: Their daughter Susanna was born less than six months after the wedding, which led many historians to assume Anne was already pregnant before marriage. However, experts note that this was not especially scandalous in Elizabethan England. (wikimedia commons) (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons ) Shakespeare’s “Second-Best Bed” Sparked Endless Debate: In his will, Shakespeare famously left Anne his “second-best bed,” which many interpreted as an insult. Modern scholars now believe it may actually have been the couple’s marital bed and held sentimental value. (wikimedia commons) (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons ) Historians Still Don’t Know What Their Marriage Was Really Like: Because no personal letters or diaries survive, historians cannot say for certain whether the Shakespeares had a happy marriage. Much of Anne Hathaway’s image has been shaped by later writers projecting their own ideas onto her story. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons ) New Evidence Suggests They May Have Lived Together in London: A recently analysed 17th-century letter fragment suggests Anne may have spent time with Shakespeare in London and even handled financial matters, challenging the long held belief that the couple lived mostly apart. (wikimedia commons) (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons ) Very little is known about Anne Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare and that mystery has fascinated historians for centuries. With only a handful of records surviving from...