The Conspiracy Theory that Shakespeare Didn't Write Shakespeare

Video written by Tristan Purdy

[secondfinance]

Next video on Wendover Productions:
The logistics of 16th century conspiracy theories

[the_embarrassed_lemon]

When you're so early Shakespeare hasn't written Shakespeare.

[klopferator]

I remember the German MAD magazine made a joke about that in the early 90s, claiming that it wasn't Shakespeare who wrote the plays but another man with the exact same name.

[advisingbob]

People who believe our reality is a simulation: "Well yes, but actually no."
Those of us who know our reality is a Shakespearean tragedy: "Ironic."

[iflip_pizzas]

"But that's just a theory, A BOOK theory"

[Natasha-tuqs]

I feel this conspiracy theory is just rooted in snobbery. They did have grammar schools in those days, which provided an intensive education in the classics, and Shakespeare probably went to one. Also, dude could read, so is it that implausible that he might have read up on the history around which plays if his were based? Isaac Newton also had humble origins: does that mean Newtonian Mechanics and Calculus were not his inventions?

[yungsiete]

Shakespeare is one of the best British rappers to ever exist right next to 21 Savage

[DrinkWater]

This theory is the highest praise to Shakespeare. Dude was so good people literally can't believe it !

[MuchWhittering]

I think David Mitchell summed it up best on QI. It's not important who wrote those plays, because "Shakespeare", to most people, is just "The guy who wrote those plays". Given most people know nothing about him other than that fact, it's kind of irrelevant who actually wrote them.

[hw]

He really said "literary bangers" lmao that's how I'm describing all great books now 😂

[Chalky.]

Clearly the truth is that H. G. Wells went back in time with a selection of books to give to Shakespeare, which created the alternate timeline we are currently in.

[itaybron]

Fact: William Shakespeare did not exist. His plays were masterminded in 1589 by Francis Bacon, who used an Ouija board to enslave play-writing ghosts.

[FNLNFNLN]

Alternate theory: Shakespeare was a play obsessed dude who died in an alternate reality and got isekaied here.

[westcheap]

1:22 Yeah that's long, why not just say Stratfordian'ts?

[wrenrix]

Oh yes this gorgeous confusing convolution of a man

[LukeAmaral]

3:25 claims the guys from Wendover and HAI are not the same person
5:58 suggests the originals for Wendover and HAI on CuriosityStream are both his

[anthonyle]

Basically “hmm yes the floor is not the floor” or “ hmm the floor is made of floor”

[theprimest]

**English Teachers have left the chat**

[matthewwallack]

The last time I was this early people accepted that Shakespeare, was in fact, Shakespeare.

[harshbansal]

Damn, even Shakespeare had a ghostwriter ?