How Shakespeare Named His Powerful Female Characters

April is a great month for a multitude of reasons: the start of Spring, Easter, Earth Day, and of course, the late, great William Shakespeare’s birthday. Shakespeare is largely regarded as one of the most prolific writers to have ever walked this earth, and his plays and poetry are studied feverishly throughout classrooms all over the world. To celebrate the birth of this influential literary figure, Invaluable created a neat visual that discusses some of his most notable, emotional-complex female characters and the origins of their names. Learn how the playwright decided upon some of his most memorable characters’ names from Juliet to Portia, and how each represents their physical and behavioral attributes. Check out the visual below, and be sure to reread your favorite Shakespearean play in honor of his birth in April.