The Oxfordian Critics

The Oxfordian Critics are scholars who support the idea that Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, was the true author of William Shakespeare's plays and poems. They believe that Shakespeare, a commoner, likely did not have the education or background to write such sophisticated works, whereas de Vere, a nobleman with a rich literary background, did. These critics examine historical evidence, style, and context to argue that the Oxfordian theory offers a more convincing explanation for the authorship of the Shakespearean canon.