The Dark Lady:The Dark Lady:Mistress of ShakespeareMistress of Shakespeare

The Mystery Behind The MistressThe Mystery Behind The Mistress

For years, scholars, writers and many others have wondered For years, scholars, writers and many others have wondered about and researched to find out the identity of the mysterious about and researched to find out the identity of the mysterious Dark Lady. Even today no one has been able to pinpoint her Dark Lady. Even today no one has been able to pinpoint her identity. I have found that researching this topic is a very large identity. I have found that researching this topic is a very large task since there is so much information. Some resources task since there is so much information. Some resources conflict with each other, and there are many women who are conflict with each other, and there are many women who are suspected to have been Shakespeare’s mistress. By means of a suspected to have been Shakespeare’s mistress. By means of a long and tedious process, I have been able to narrow it all long and tedious process, I have been able to narrow it all down to one woman who I personally think is the best down to one woman who I personally think is the best candidate for the Dark Lady. She has a history that connects candidate for the Dark Lady. She has a history that connects her to the famous poet and it may even be true that she is the her to the famous poet and it may even be true that she is the original author of some Shakespeare’s many works. Who is original author of some Shakespeare’s many works. Who is this woman? That is what you are going to find out today.this woman? That is what you are going to find out today.

The SonnetsThe Sonnets

Shakespeare wrote 28 sonnets (127-154) that Shakespeare wrote 28 sonnets (127-154) that referred to a woman that he seemed to be referred to a woman that he seemed to be obsessed with.obsessed with.

Description of her physical characteristicsDescription of her physical characteristics Description of her personalityDescription of her personality

“…“…Therefore my mistress’ brows are raven Therefore my mistress’ brows are raven black, black,

Her eyes so suited, and they mourners seemHer eyes so suited, and they mourners seem

As such who, not born fair, no beauty lack,As such who, not born fair, no beauty lack,

Slandering creation with a false esteem:Slandering creation with a false esteem:

Yet so they mourn, becoming of their woe,Yet so they mourn, becoming of their woe,

That every tongue says beauty should look so.” That every tongue says beauty should look so.”

“…“…How oft, when thou, my music, music play’stHow oft, when thou, my music, music play’stUpon that blessed wood whose motion sounds…”Upon that blessed wood whose motion sounds…”

I have seen roses damasked, red and white,I have seen roses damasked, red and white,But no such roses see I in her cheeks;But no such roses see I in her cheeks;And in some perfumes is there more delightAnd in some perfumes is there more delightThan in the breath that from my mistress reeks.Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.I love to hear her speak, yet well I know I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound:That music hath a far more pleasing sound:I grant I never saw a goddess go,I grant I never saw a goddess go,My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.” My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.”

Dark Lady SuspectsDark Lady Suspects Mary Fitton-Mary Fitton- a woman of dark complexion who held a place a woman of dark complexion who held a place

on queen Elizabeth’s courton queen Elizabeth’s court Anne WhateleyAnne Whateley (Hathwey)- possible girlfriend or wife? (Hathwey)- possible girlfriend or wife? Jane Davenant-Jane Davenant- wife of the owner of the Crown Inn wife of the owner of the Crown Inn Emilia Bassano Lanier-Emilia Bassano Lanier- daughter of Babtista (ring a bell?) daughter of Babtista (ring a bell?)

Bassano Bassano Lucy MorganLucy Morgan (Black)- a black woman said to be a prostitute (Black)- a black woman said to be a prostitute Marie Mountjoy-Marie Mountjoy- Shakespeare’s landlady Shakespeare’s landlady Queen Elizabeth IQueen Elizabeth I - Queen of England (suggested because it - Queen of England (suggested because it

would mean that Shakespeare has royal bloodlines) would mean that Shakespeare has royal bloodlines)

Mary FittonMary Fitton

Her complexion

Her position on the Queen’s court

Her children and marriages

Anne Whateley (Hathaway?)Anne Whateley (Hathaway?)

Whateley lived in Temple Grafton 5 miles from Stratford (Shakespeare’s home town)

Hathaway lived in Stratford

His relationship with both?

Name mix up?

Queen Elizabeth IQueen Elizabeth I

Is she the Dark Lady?

Edward De Vere

The Virgin Queen

Jane Davenant

Crown Inn

“Godfather” Shakespeare

Othello

Lucy MorganLucy Morgan

A business with a convenient location

Her nicknames

What she looked like

Marie MountjoyMarie Mountjoy

Who was she?Who was she?

What “Domestic Dilemma?”What “Domestic Dilemma?”

Emilia Bassano LanierEmilia Bassano Lanier

The Family Business

Her Ethnicity

http://clatterymachinery.wordpress.com/category/emilia-bassano-lanier/

A complex signature or an obsession?

Is Emilia Bassano Lanier the Is Emilia Bassano Lanier the Dark Lady Dark Lady andand the True the True

Author of the Shakespearean Author of the Shakespearean Plays?Plays?

Does Emilia measure up?Does Emilia measure up?

How her music links her to her workHow her music links her to her work Her Hebrew heritage “speaks”Her Hebrew heritage “speaks” Feminism in EnglandFeminism in England Her Italian backgroundHer Italian background A major accomplishmentA major accomplishment Her own special kind of signatureHer own special kind of signature How Shakespeare’s script didn’t cut itHow Shakespeare’s script didn’t cut it

Works CitedWorks Cited

"Anne Hathaway Biography". "Anne Hathaway Biography". William Shakespeare Site-MapWilliam Shakespeare Site-Map. 2005. 31 Mar. 2009. <. 2005. 31 Mar. 2009. <http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-anne-hathaway.htm >>

Brand, Sylvia. "The Dark Lady in Shakespeare's Sonnets". Brand, Sylvia. "The Dark Lady in Shakespeare's Sonnets". Hausarbeiten.deHausarbeiten.de. 31 Mar. 2009 < . 31 Mar. 2009 < http://www.hausarbeiten.de/faecher/vorschau/98068.html>>

"Clattery MacHinery on Poetry". "Clattery MacHinery on Poetry". WordpressWordpress. 21 Dec. 2008. 30 Mar. 2009. <. 21 Dec. 2008. 30 Mar. 2009. <http://books.google.com/books> Path: Recent Posts; Posing Aemilia Lanyer (As > Path: Recent Posts; Posing Aemilia Lanyer (As Shakespeare: As His Dark Lady; And as she Posed).Shakespeare: As His Dark Lady; And as she Posed).

Cummings, Michael. "The Shakespearean Sonnet : An overview". 2003. 31 Mar. 2009. <Cummings, Michael. "The Shakespearean Sonnet : An overview". 2003. 31 Mar. 2009. <http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/xSonnets.html > >

"Dark Lady of the Sonnets". "Dark Lady of the Sonnets". About.comAbout.com. 30 MAr. 2009. <. 30 MAr. 2009. <http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&webtag=ab-shakespeare&tid=1481>>

Hudson, John. "Shakespeare's Plays Were Written by a Jewish Woman". 13 Mar. 2008. 31 Hudson, John. "Shakespeare's Plays Were Written by a Jewish Woman". 13 Mar. 2008. 31 Mar. 2009. <[[Mar. 2009. <[[http://www.productionconsolidated.com/John%20Hudson/jewcypress.htm ]]> ]]>

Jones, Richard. "Shakespeare's Dark Lady of the Sonnets". Jones, Richard. "Shakespeare's Dark Lady of the Sonnets". BNET Business NetworkBNET Business Network. 7 Dec. . 7 Dec. 2003. 23 Mar. 2009.<2003. 23 Mar. 2009.<http://walksoflondon.co.uk/64/shakespeares-dark-lady-of.shtml>>

Lee, Sidney. Lee, Sidney. A Life of William ShakespeareA Life of William Shakespeare. The Macmillan Company. 1917. 31 Mar. 2009.0< . The Macmillan Company. 1917. 31 Mar. 2009.0< http://books.google.com/books?id=jXULAAAAIAAJ > >

Love, Mark. "Emilia Lanier (The Dark Lady?)". Love, Mark. "Emilia Lanier (The Dark Lady?)". Public Broadcasting StationPublic Broadcasting Station. 2003. 23 MAr. 2009. <. 2003. 23 MAr. 2009. <http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/players/player34.html>>

Lynch-Giddings, Scott. "A Highly Speculative Chronology of William Shakespeare's Life and Times". Lynch-Giddings, Scott. "A Highly Speculative Chronology of William Shakespeare's Life and Times". Omnis Network LLCOmnis Network LLC. 31 Mar. 2009. <http://www.robinhoodplay.com/ShaxChron.htm#Start>. 31 Mar. 2009. <http://www.robinhoodplay.com/ShaxChron.htm#Start>

Price, Theodore. "Bernard Shaw's Price, Theodore. "Bernard Shaw's Dark Lady of the Sonnets".Dark Lady of the Sonnets". Shaw SocietyShaw Society. June 2006. 30 Mar. 2009. . June 2006. 30 Mar. 2009. <[[http://www.shawsociety.org/Price.htm ]]><[[http://www.shawsociety.org/Price.htm ]]>

Rowse, A. Rowse, A. William Shakespeare: A BiographyWilliam Shakespeare: A Biography. New York: Harper and Row, 1963.. New York: Harper and Row, 1963.

"Shakespeare: His Marriage and Relations With His Wife". 2002. 30.Mar. 2009. "Shakespeare: His Marriage and Relations With His Wife". 2002. 30.Mar. 2009. <http://www.theatrehistory.com/british/shakespeare003.html ><http://www.theatrehistory.com/british/shakespeare003.html >

"The Sonnets". The Eserver Poetry Collection. 19 February. 2009. "The Sonnets". The Eserver Poetry Collection. 19 February. 2009. <http://www.poetry.eserver.org/sonnets/><http://www.poetry.eserver.org/sonnets/>

Tait, Simon. "Unmasked: The Identity of Shakespeare's Dark Lady". Tait, Simon. "Unmasked: The Identity of Shakespeare's Dark Lady". BNET Business NetworkBNET Business Network. 7 Dec. . 7 Dec. 2003. 23 Mar. 2009. <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20031207/ai_n12748219>2003. 23 Mar. 2009. <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20031207/ai_n12748219>

Weis, Rene. Weis, Rene. Decoding a Hidden Life: Shakespeare UnboundDecoding a Hidden Life: Shakespeare Unbound. Henry Holt and Company. Oct. 2007. 30 Mar. . Henry Holt and Company. Oct. 2007. 30 Mar. 2009. <http://books.google.com/books> Path: Google Book Search; Shakespeare Unbound by Rene 2009. <http://books.google.com/books> Path: Google Book Search; Shakespeare Unbound by Rene Weis.Weis.