The Shakespeare Oxford Society argues it is unlikely that Shakespeare's plays could have been written by a man named William Shakespeare because his qualifications were not up to snuff compared to a learned man such as Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford.

Stratfordian scholars on the other hand believe a man named William Shakespeare did write these works.

Stratfordian's argue that there were no challenges to his authorship one hundred years after Shakespeare died. They also argue that Edward de Vere died in 1604 and therefore could not have written any of the plays afterward such as Macbeth which is dated 1606, The Winter's Tale dated 1609, The Tempest dated 1611 or Henry VIII which is dated 1613.

So much work and energy has gone into dating Shakespeare's works over the last 100 years that even many from the Oxfordian camp concede, but in turn, many from the Oxford side argue that Edward de Vere simply wrote the plays before he died, and that they were only used for performances as they were needed.

The Oxfords do weigh heavily on one item. The fact that even after 300 years of arduous research to find any documents which connect William Shakespeare to what might be the greatest literary works of all time none have ever been found.

Also, during the Elizabethan and Jacobean times it was popular to keep authorships hidden.

Stratfordian's also try to rule out de Vere by comparing his earlier poetry to that claiming to be written by Shakespeare saying it is inferior.

Over 80 Elizabethans have been recognized as potential authors of Shakespeare but only three other names carry weight in the argument , those of Bacon, Marlowe and Derby.

Francis Bacon was a writer, possessed much learning, and knew the law, but with Bacon's full life and other literary marvels it is impossible to believe that this same man could have also written 154 sonnets, a couple of long poems and 36 dramatical plays.

As for Christopher Marlowe, he died in 1593 at the age of 29. It is argued that there are severe irregularities in the coroner's inquest and that evidence suggests that Marlowe did not really die but instead, lived to write all of the work's penned under the name of Shakespeare. It is a bit absurd to believe this however when all other plays of Marlowe's are attributed to him. Why would he want the better plays not to be?

William Stanely the Sixth Earl of Derby has two documents that make him a candidate. One describes him as being "busied only in penning comedies for the common players." The other, written by his wife who coincidentally is the eldest daughter of Edward de Vere. The letter she wrote to a man named Robert Cecil contains a passage that quotes her as writing her husband to be "taking delight in the players."