Although Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe is now to be credited by Oxford University Press as Shakespeare's co-writer on three of the Bard's plays, conspiracy surrounds the two playwrights. The coincidences thus encourage us to think beyond the acceptance that William Shakespeare was the genius figure, never seen before and one of the most celebrated literary figures of all time. However, the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of his colleague, Marlowe, in conjunction with Shakespeare’s initial publication, Venus and Adonis appearing only weeks after Marlowe’s death is food for thought. Marlowe, certainly ‘had cause to fake his own death’ (2013, Bartels) which is aptly supported by ambiguities regarding the events that occurred and fragmentary witness reports. It is said and widely accepted the playwright fell victim to a stab wound above the right eye, which killed him instantly in a tavern brawl. A death that arguably reeks of Elizabethan dramatics and tragedy. When examined from a chronological perspective, it is reasonable to argue that Marlowe was simply murdered for his inability to honour his debts and Shakespeare coincidentally made his breakthrough shortly after. But when looking at the benefits of Marlowe faking his own death and the connections between his own work with that of William Shakespeare the evidence simply doesn't add up. This connection is bolstered by our understanding of Marlowe’s connections with Elizabeth I, some even deeming him to be a governmental spy entrenched in espionage. Reports such as this suggest that he did not adopt either of the religious warring factions of the period (Roman Catholicism or Protestantism.) It is comprehensively documented that (in claims ahead of his time) he was often found persuading ‘men to Atheism' (2013, Martin) in the public eye. Due to the scandalous nature of his character, he was frequently the sufferer of a change of identity throughout his life, due to both his misdemeanors and to conceal his identity as a pawn of the crown. One such pseudonym he adopted during this time, was that of William Shakes-bere, non-too dissimilar to the Shakespeare whose authorship is universally accepted within the majority of educational circles. It is certainly feasible then, due to a lack of evidence but for a pen name in London before Marlowe’s alleged death, that William Shakespeare was the product of a writer concealing their identity. Additionally, one would expect a writer of such great testimonial value to British literary heritage to be documented in some way other than the signing of poems and plays. Thus, it becomes inconceivable to think that there is not any such mention of the man, but for what is available in print. Robustly connecting the two, apart from coincidences of name is Shakespeare’s publication and content of his sonnets. Repeatedly these were representative of a man in exile and draped in anonymity due to a need to conceal identity. For example, Sonnet 68 from his collected works states, ‘The right of sepulchres, were shorn away, to live a second life on second head.’ (1821, Shakespeare) This concurrence subsequently is beyond any coincidental probability. Marlowe’s persistent publication under various pseudonyms during his lifetime, and the textual similarities and significance between the texts, clearly define Shakespeare to represent a pseudonymous construct rather than an actual literary figure, in an attempt to conceal and communicate the inspired genius of authorship through another vessel. Bartels, E., 2013. Christopher Marlowe In Context. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p.232. Martin, M., 2013. Dr Faustus The B Text. London: Broadview Press, p.307.

**TL:DR - Scholarly evidence from Shakespeare's time confirms William Shakespeare was a singular, real man who authored all of his plays.** - Multiple forms of evidence exist for the proposition that Shakespeare was a real person who wrote his own plays. Both during and soon after his lifetime, people deeply familiar with the literary world wrote about Shakespeare, corroborating his roots and authorship of 37 plays as well as over 150 sonnets. [See this source here for details](https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/william-shakespeare/shakespeare-authorship-question/). - In short, Ben Jonson, Francis Meres, and others make reference to Shakespeare as the man from Stratford who was a talented writer, discussing, among other things his plays, poems, and even writing technique. Meres in particular wrote about Shakespeare during Shakespeare's own time, making mention of other literary figures of the era, some of whom are later proposed to be the real Shakespeare. Meres writes separately about each of them, being "quite clear they're different people from Shakespeare," says Professor Jonathan Bate. - An external source of verification for Shakespeare's singular existence is the fact that he acquired a coat of arms for his family in the pursuit of saving their reputation. In doing so, he left a trail of evidence: One of the two men in the heralds' office, called William Camden, referred to Shakespeare as having a player's background as well as being a writer, poet, and dramatist. [See this source here again for more details](https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/william-shakespeare/shakespeare-authorship-question/). - Even Shakespeare's work being [varied](https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/variety-shakespeares-works-how-outstanding-writer-735220) is not a convincing piece of evidence for the opposition, for all authors can and often do display a range in their work. Source used: https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/william-shakespeare/shakespeare-authorship-question/

**Shakespeare could be one person but may have lifted work from other artists** - One of the reasons Shakespeare could be so prolific is because his work is {heavily based on other plays/poems/art and history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare%27s_plays), in a way his plays are adaptations. This cycle has carried on with many movies, plays and musicals [based on Shakespeare's work](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Plays_and_musicals_based_on_works_by_William_Shakespeare) - All art is inspired by other art and events, Shakespeare like other artists uses other works and events to inspire his work - There are rumours that some of Shakespeare's work was lifted or parts lifted from the work of [Emilia Bassano](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/06/who-is-shakespeare-emilia-bassano/588076/) , although historical evidence is not conclusive and she likely would not have been given the same literary opportunities and people would of been more likely to support Shakespeare