Sexuality of William Shakespeare

The sexuality of William Shakespeare has been the subject of recurring debate. It is known from public records that he married Anne Hathaway and had three children together; scholars have analysed their relationship through these documents, and particularly through the bequests to her in his will. Some historians have speculated Shakespeare had affairs with other women, based on contemporaries' written anecdotes of such affairs and sometimes on the "Dark Lady" figure in his sonnets. Some scholars have argued he was bisexual, based on analysis of the sonnets; many, including Sonnet 18 are love poems addressed to a man (the "Fair Youth"), and contain puns relating to homosexuality.

Sexuality of William Shakespeare

The sexuality of William Shakespeare has been the subject of recurring debate. It is known from public records that he married Anne Hathaway and had three children together; scholars have analysed their relationship through these documents, and particularly through the bequests to her in his will. Some historians have speculated Shakespeare had affairs with other women, based on contemporaries' written anecdotes of such affairs and sometimes on the "Dark Lady" figure in his sonnets. Some scholars have argued he was bisexual, based on analysis of the sonnets; many, including Sonnet 18 are love poems addressed to a man (the "Fair Youth"), and contain puns relating to homosexuality.