Categorization and Authorship in Shakespeare's Plays

The Categorization of Shakespeare's Plays in the First Folio

The First Folio, published in 1623, is a seminal publication that compiled William Shakespeare's plays posthumously. It categorizes thirty-six plays into three genres: comedies, histories, and tragedies. This division has been foundational for Shakespearean scholarship. However, it is important to note that the First Folio does not include all of Shakespeare's plays. "Pericles, Prince of Tyre" and "The Two Noble Kinsmen" were later added to the comedies, and "Edward III" was included among the histories in subsequent editions, despite their absence from the original folio. Modern scholarship often recognizes additional genres, such as "late romances" and "problem plays," which reflect the evolving nature of Shakespeare's work and its interpretation over time.

Collaborative Authorship in Shakespeare's Plays

William Shakespeare frequently collaborated with other playwrights, a common practice in the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. The extent of these collaborations and the specific contributions of co-authors are still debated by scholars. "The Two Noble Kinsmen" is a recognized collaboration with John Fletcher. Other plays, such as "Titus Andronicus" and "Timon of Athens," have been suggested to involve co-authorship based on stylistic analyses. "Edward III" is thought to be a joint effort with Thomas Kyd, and "Henry VIII" is widely accepted as a collaboration with Fletcher. There are also suggestions that Thomas Middleton may have revised "Macbeth" and "Measure for Measure," while George Wilkins is believed to have contributed to "Pericles, Prince of Tyre."

Shakespeare's Lost Plays and the Question of Apocryphal Works

The Shakespearean canon is intriguing not only for its extant works but also for its lost plays and those of dubious authorship. "Love's Labour's Won" is a play referenced in contemporary records but has not been found, leading to theories that it might be an alternative title for a known play or a genuinely lost work. "Cardenio" is another lost play, which Lewis Theobald claimed to have adapted into "Double Falsehood" from Shakespeare's manuscripts, though the authenticity of this claim is debated. Plays such as "Arden of Faversham" and "Edmund Ironside" exhibit linguistic features that suggest Shakespeare's involvement, but their authorship remains unconfirmed.

Shakespeare's Alleged Contributions to Other Works

In addition to his known oeuvre, Shakespeare is speculated to have contributed to other plays of the period. "Sir Thomas More" includes a scene (Hand D) that many scholars attribute to Shakespeare. "The Spanish Tragedy" has additions in its later editions that may also be his work. Other plays, like "The London Prodigal" and "A Yorkshire Tragedy," were once attributed to Shakespeare and included in the Third Folio, but subsequent stylistic analysis has questioned these attributions. The ongoing scholarly pursuit to uncover Shakespeare's potential contributions underscores the complexities of authorship in early modern drama and the continuous fascination with his literary legacy.