The Case for the Earlier Canon

Abstract

An unflagging feature of Ernst Honigmann’s work has been the project to persuade us of an earlier starting date for Shakespeare’s career in the theatre than is conventionally considered. The difficulties attendant on anyone trying to persuade any population or constituency, that what they have always thought is not necessarily the case, should not however be underrated. The levels of proof demanded for the unconventional theory are much more than those needed to keep the conventional one afloat since the latter is supported on a raft of tradition. It does not matter that as professionals dealing with Shakespeare we are aware that this tradition consists of discredited myths, disproved assertions and distasteful attempts to enlist our national poet in the cause of party politics or commercial promotion; there is still a disquieting tendency to allow it to inform the background to our critical thinking, and any attempt to challenge this deep-seated belief system tends to be greeted with ‘howls of anguish’ and ill humour — as indeed Honigmann predicted would meet his suggestion that Shakespeare was brought up as a Catholic.1