Editing William Shakespeare

{{character infobox

|first_appearance=''[[Mario's Time Machine (PC)|Mario's Time Machine]]'' ([[List of games by date#1993|1993]])

|species=Human

 

 

'''{{wp|William Shakespeare}}''' (baptized April 26, 1564 - April 23, 1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor. Born in [[Stratford-upon-Avon]], he became successful as an actor and especially as a writer. Across his lifetime, he produced more than thirty plays and a hundred sonnets covering a variety of genres and styles, and is often heralded for the quality of his works. He flourished in the {{wp|Elizabethan era}} in no small part due to the contributions of [[Queen Elizabeth I]]. He married [[Anne Hathaway]] in 1582, and had three children ({{wp|Susanna Hall}}, {{wp|Judith Quiney}}, and {{wp|Hamnet Shakespeare}}).

A bust of William Shakespeare is stolen from [[Westminster Abbey]] in ''[[Mario is Missing! (PC)|Mario is Missing!]]'', and [[Luigi]] eventually finds it and returns it. Some people in the game also make allusions to his plays and poems: for example, when a tourist in [[London]] is shown the bust, he says, "{{wp|To be or not to be}}, it looks like Shakespeare to me."

[[File:William Shakespeare MTMSNES.png|thumb|left|William Shakespeare in the [[Mario's Time Machine (Super Nintendo Entertainment System)|SNES release of ''Mario's Time Machine'']]]]

In ''[[Mario's Time Machine (PC)|Mario's Time Machine]]'', William Shakespeare is in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1601, where he is preparing to unveil the first performance of his newest play, ''{{wp|Hamlet}}'', with [[Richard Burbage]] and the {{wp|Lord Chamberlain's Men}}. At this point, the [[Skull (Mario's Time Machine)|Skull]] that is needed for a pivotal scene in the play is stolen by [[Bowser]], who had traveled back in time. [[Mario]] later steals the Skull back and travels back in time himself in the hopes of returning it. However, Mario does not know that the Skull is a part of the play; if Mario visits William Shakespeare first, he attempts to introduce himself, but Shakespeare tells him to leave, as he is focused on the play and does not need to see a plumber. Thus, Mario is required to talk to other people beforehand (including Anne Hathaway and Richard Burbage). After confirming it, Mario visits Shakespeare and returns his Skull. Shakespeare is overjoyed to have the Skull, as they were about to start the play without it, and thanks Mario for his help. Mario then asks him if he could have a role in the play, but Shakespeare says that all of the roles are filled. As a consolation gift, he writes him an exit line: "Goodnight! Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow. All's well that ends well!" This is a combination of different lines from two of Shakespeare's plays: {{wp|Romeo and Juliet}}, when {{wp|Juliet}} says goodbye to {{wp|Romeo}}, and ''{{wp|All's Well That Ends Well}}'', said by Helena in two different situations.

William Shakespeare is also referenced by several characters in other time periods. In [[Alexandria]], [[Cleopatra]] jokes about someone writing a play about her, [[Julius Caesar]], and {{wp|Mark Antony}} living happily ever after, referencing Shakespeare's ''{{wp|Antony and Cleopatra}}''. In [[London]] circa 1595, a handmaiden of Queen Elizabeth I mentions that the queen is supporting the efforts of playwrights like William Shakespeare. In London circa 1843, [[Catherine Dickens]] claims that her husband, [[Charles Dickens]], is the greatest writer since William Shakespeare. Finally, in [[Novato]], after [[Mario]] introduces himself, [[David Grenewetzki]] expresses disbelief as to his identity and sarcastically calls himself William Shakespeare in response.

*[[Romano]] from ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!]]'' episode "[[Mario and Joliet]]" is based off of {{wp|Romeo}} from Shakespeare's tragedy ''{{wp|Romeo and Juliet}}''. The episode's title is a reference to the tragedy as well. Additionally, the [[Plumber's log]] entry for this episode is 1601 - the year Shakespeare is believed to have finished ''{{wp|Hamlet}}''.{{ref needed}}

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