William Shakespeare’s parents were John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. John Shakespeare was a glove maker by trade, and he also held various positions in the local government of Stratford-upon-Avon, including alderman and high bailiff. His involvement in public service suggests that he was a respected member of the community. Mary Arden came from a well-to-do farming family, which provided a stable background for William. This combination of a tradesman father and a landowner mother likely contributed to the cultural and social environment that influenced Shakespeare’s early life and his later works.
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