Most biographies written about William Shakespeare attempt to explain his life chronologically, from his birth to his death. These stories aim to describe his life by discussing his works and achievements. The problem with this model is that there are only a limited number of ways humans can rewrite the same facts about the same person. Unlike most articles on Shakespeare, the essay titled “What Was He Really Like?” ”, written by Stanley Wells, internally focuses on who Shakespeare was as an ordinary person. Instead of discussing when Shakespeare married or explaining his life in relation to his works, Wells delves into the famous playwright's personality. Stanley Wells encourages the reader of “What Was He Really Like?” » look at William Shakespeare in a new light. Stanley Wells' main goal in writing "What Was He Really Like?" » was to examine Shakespeare internally. Instead of aimlessly trying to find unlikely connections between Shakespeare's life and his plays, Wells is curious about his personality. Although Wells emphasizes that the external aspects of Shakespeare's life are important, he believes that exploring Shakespeare's personality can help readers better understand the playwright's work. According to the essay, finding out what Shakespeare was really like is no easy task. Wells explains that "we have no letters, no diaries, virtually no recorded conversations, only two literary dedications, few personal comments from his contemporaries, just a handful of anecdotes from the decades after his death" (110). . Because so little is known about Shakespeare himself, the idea that he is a literary genius who is above all humanity has long persisted. Wells goes on to point out that although he is the author of an extraordinary work...in the middle of an article......for an old friend. The structure of “What Was He Really Like?” is important in the sense that it makes Stanley Wells' arguments easier to convey to the audience. In the essay titled “What Was He Really Like?” », Stanley Wells produces a new way to explore William Shakespeare. Wells is more concerned with discovering the playwright's personality than focusing on his external life. Wells helps us realize that William Shakespeare lived and died like a normal human being. The layout of Wells' essay fits perfectly with the tone and message he was able to convey to the audience. “What was he really like?” ” by Stanley Wells convinces the reader that William Shakespeare was an ordinary man with an extraordinary mind. Works Cited Wells, Stanley. "'What was he really like?'." Critical Inquiry 21.3 (2009): 107-111. Academic research completed. Internet. February 2. 2014.