Perhaps one of the most influential artists characterizing Renaissance humanism in his work is William Shakespeare. He produced as many as thirty-seven plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and various verses before his death in 1616 (Gaines). In studying his work, many authors have found it to be one of the most accurate depictions of the humanist movement of the Renaissance. This movement is identified with a shift from the medieval movement, primarily focused on God and faith, to a more individual approach to life. There was more emphasis on human experiences and the optimistic attitude about what people actually understood about themselves. In “Renaissance Humanism,” Michelle Lee brings together numerous quotes from numerous authors analyzing the work produced during the humanist movement. The elements cited in the article systematically continue to refer to Shakespeare; how much of his work embodies the humanist thought process. For a humanist, the purpose of cultivating reason was to provide a better understanding of how to act. Most of the reasons cited throughout the article focus on two topics: divine providence and human free will. Paul Siegel and Richard Mallette both cite that Shakespeare's work is a reflection of the Elizabethan worldview of his time. Mike Pincombe states that in the play Hamlet, the character Hamlet is a literary humanist, a man of the theater and a Dane and that these three traits would evoke a certain stereotype to audiences in the Elizabethan era. To the public, they would see the man as someone who had a classical culture, a refined personality, respectable, highly educated, kind and urbanized. All these traits emerge from the character of Hamlet. Calvinism and...... middle of paper ...... training is true, how will it affect you in the future, and will acting on this information harm or propel it your success in the future. Every person experiences successes and failures in life, the question is to what extent you will allow each of them to influence your future. Works Cited “Craig, WJ, Ed. 1914. The Oxford Shakespeare.” Craig, WJ, ed. 1914. The Oxford Shakespeare. Np, and Web. November 23, 2013. .Gaines, Barry. “Biography of William Shakespeare.” Critical Insights: King Lear (2011): 18-24. Literary reference center. Internet. November 23, 2013. “Renaissance Humanism.” Shakespearean criticism. Ed. Michelle Lee. Flight. 101. Detroit: Gale, 2006. N. pag. Literary Resource Center. Internet. November 22, 2013. “The Renaissance in Europe, William Shakespeare. » The Norton Anthology of World Literature. New York: WW Norton &, 2009. 1778-781. Print.