The Shakespeare Stealer

Timothy Bright is the rector of a small parish in the English countryside. He is referred to throughout the novel as Dr. Bright because he studied medicine at Cambridge. After establishing himself as a rector, he went to an orphanage, seeking an apprentice. There, he adopted Widge and eventually trained him in a method of shorthand called charactery. Dr. Bright is abusive toward Widge and dishonest toward his parish. Ultimately, it is the charactery that Widge learns from Dr. Bright that precipitates the plot of the novel. This skill subjects Widge to danger, but it also helps him find a real community that cares for him.

Falconer, the alter ego of Simon Bass, is the primary antagonist of the novel. He is described as a tall man with a hooked nose, an unruly black beard, and a scarred face. Falconer dresses primarily in black, hooded cloaks, and boots. This apparel makes him look as foreboding and violent as he is. He rarely talks, but, when he does, he usually says something threatening or sinister. Falconer purchases Widge from Dr. Bright under the pretense of securing an apprentice for his master, Simon Bass.

In contrast, Bass is a mild-looking man with a well-trimmed beard and balding, red hair. He started out as a player with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men many years ago, but he left the company to pursue more criminal interests. Bass now has a playing troupe of his own and makes his living by stealing work from neighboring playwrights. Although Bass seems to be a fairly mild-mannered, genteel fellow, he has committed innumerable crimes and, to avoid being recognized, disguises himself as Falconer when he is in public. As Bass’s apprentice, Widge believes that Falconer and Bass are two separate men. He only discovers the truth right before Falconer’s death when the scarred man removes his mask to reveal that he is actually Simon Bass.

The character of Falconer/Simon Bass brings one of the book’s major themes to the forefront: identity. Through this character, Blackwood shows that actions—not a person’s station or class—reveal one’s true identity. While Bass seems relatively harmless, Falconer certainly isn’t—he kills a man in a duel and threatens to do the same to Widge. Once readers understand that Falconer and Bass are the same person, they can start to see the same maliciousness permeating Bass’s character too. Not only is he a thief, he is also willing to purchase and exploit a child for his own personal gain. Despite wearing the mask of Falconer, it is Falconer’s personality that captures Bass’s true self.

Sander shares a room with Widge and is an apprentice with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. He is much taller than Widge but thin, and he is outgoing and generous. Sander attempts to befriend Widge from the moment the two boys meet, and he remains a steadfast companion to Widge throughout the novel.

Through Sander, Blackwood demonstrates one of the central themes of The Shakespeare Stealer: the importance of friendship. Despite Widge’s initial abrasiveness, Sander never relents in his care and compassion for him. He helps Widge navigate the new world of the theatre, and he is patient with Widge as he struggles to learn to fence and memorize lines. Sander always does what he can to make Widge comfortable, including taking him to the countryside when Widge claims that London is too overwhelming. He also agrees to keep Widge’s secrets, including Widge’s mission to steal the script of Hamlet.

Sander’s actions teach Widge that true kindness is never accompanied by abuse. He offers Widge real friendship, which Widge initially does not understand. However, by watching Sanders’ interactions with other players, Widge begins to understand the concept of both friendship and family. Ultimately, Sanders’ companionship helps Widge discover what he wants out of life. This revelation inspires Widge to reject Bass’s orders when another player tries to steal the script of Hamlet.

Julia is a teenage girl who disguises herself as a boy named Julian so that she can become an apprentice with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. She is given many roles in the troupe’s plays due to her aptitude for fencing and acting. Throughout the first half of the book, she maintains her disguise as Julian and strives for more acting opportunities within the troupe. However, after an ill-fated duel reveals that she is a girl, she is immediately relegated to the sidelines of the theatre. When she no longer has the opportunity to perform on stage, she abandons the troupe in the middle of the night. Julia ends up becoming a lady’s maid until she can sail to France, which has no qualms about women performing on stage. At the end of the book, Julia is getting ready to sail to France in order to realize her dreams of becoming an actor.

Julia serves two important roles in the book. First, she befriends Widge while masquerading as Julian, and she remains his friend even after her secret is revealed. She helps him even when he inherits her role in Hamlet, which teaches Widge the true meaning of compassion and friendship. Secondly, she presents a complex view of femininity. Her role in the book shows the plight that women faced in Elizabethan England. In order to realize her dream, Julia must become Julian. This demonstrates that women had no autonomy in Elizabethan England, and Julia’s situation shows readers how this negatively impacted women’s lives and livelihoods.