Google Doodle marks William Shakespeare's 400th death anniversary

Google has dedicated its doodle-of-the-day to the 'Bard of Avon' William Shakespeare on his 400th death anniversary. 

The doodle features Shakespeare at the centre with four illustrations from his most iconic plays on either side. 

From his left, it is ' Hamlet', with the Prince holding the skull, second is 'Julius Ceaser' with Brutus holding the knife behind Ceaser, next to which is Desdemona's handkerchief from 'Othello,' followed by the verandah romance of 'Romeo and Juliet'.

On the Bard's right is a shipwreck scene that can be from 'The Tempest' or from 'The Comedy of Errors,' next is 'King Lear' sitting on throne. Third is the famous witches from ' Macbeth' and finally it is the donkey-headed man Nick Bottom from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

Born on 26 April, 1564, William Shakespeare created 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, few other verses and some of uncertain authorship which made him the national poet of England.

He marked the English renaissance and Elizabethan Era of literature and broke the notion of 'lady on a pedestal' and brought her down to reality.

Shakespeare's philosophy "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players" opened a new window to the world of art.

Married to Anne Hathaway in 1582, this great dramatist took his last breath on 23 April, 1616.

-ANI