Justice Stevens Renders an Opinion on Who Wrote Shakespeare's Plays

WSJ ^ | APRIL 18, 2009 | JESS BRAVIN

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In his 34 years on the Supreme Court, Justice John Paul Stevens has evolved from idiosyncratic dissenter to influential elder, able to assemble majorities on issues such as war powers and property rights. Now, the court's senior justice could be gaining ground on a case that dates back 400 years: the authorship of Shakespeare's plays.

Justice Stevens, who dropped out of graduate study in English to join the Navy in 1941, is an Oxfordian -- that is, he believes the works ascribed to William Shakespeare actually were written by the 17th earl of Oxford, Edward de Vere. Several justices across the court's ideological spectrum say he may be right.

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...[S]ince the 19th century, some have argued that only a nobleman could have produced writings so replete with intimate depictions of courtly life and exotic settings far beyond England. Dabbling in entertainments was considered undignified, the theory goes, so the author laundered his works through Shakespeare, a member of the Globe Theater's acting troupe.

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Not all members of the court are persuaded. "To the extent I've dipped in, I'm not impressed with the Oxfordian theory," says Justice Anthony Kennedy. The spread of Oxfordianism on the court "shows Justice Stevens's power and influence," Justice Kennedy says. Of the nine active justices, only Stephen Breyer joins Justice Kennedy in sticking up for Will. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito declined to comment.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Not to repeat everything you just wrote, I agree with you.

I have a small paperback book which I value....

“The Elizabethan World Picture” by E.M.W. Tillyard.

You are not going to believe this. I have the book in my hand, it has turned yellow, and I can’t find a publishing date on it. Certainly I can research it on the internet; but right now it will have to hold.

For the students who are studying literature of that period, it gives the philosophy of the period. One can then understand where these folks were coming from in their writings.