Meaning | Philosophy on Instagram: "William Shakespeare (1564–1616) is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and one of the most influential figures in world literature. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, he rose from modest beginnings to become a playwright, poet, and actor whose works have endured for more than four centuries. Shakespeare’s plays — from the tragedies of Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello, to the comedies of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night, and the hist