More than for any other writer, in Shakespeare the words are separated from life. He was a man so good at hiding what he felt that we cannot even be sure he tried something. We know that he used words with enormous effectiveness, and we can reasonably assume that he had feelings. What we don't know, and that we can only guess, is where the two intersected.
Bill Bryson's exploration of Shakespeare reveals a profound disconnect between the playwright's words and his personal life. Shakespeare's remarkable skill in using language makes it difficult to ascertain his true emotions or intentions. He maintained a level of obscurity about his feelings, leaving scholars and readers to speculate about the man behind the iconic works.
This separation between Shakespeare's expressed words and his inner life raises intriguing questions about the interplay of emotion and artistry. While it is clear that he commandingly wielded language, the mysteries surrounding his life leave us wondering how and when his personal experiences may have influenced his writing.
