Perhaps one of the most influential artists who feature Renaissance humanism in their works is William Shakespeare. He produced thirty-seven plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems and various verses before his death in 1616 (Gaines). Studying his work, numerous authors have discovered that it is one of the truest representations of the Renaissance Humanism movement. This movement is identified with the transition from the medieval movement, mainly focused on God and faith, to a more individual approach to life. The focus has been more on human experiences and optimistic attitudes about what people really understand about themselves. In "Renaissance Humanism" Michelle Lee brings together numerous quotes from many authors analyzing the work produced during the humanism movement. The material cited in the article consistently continues to reference Shakespeare; like most of his work he embodies the humanist thought process. For a humanist, the purpose of cultivating reason was to lead to a better understanding of how to act. Many of the reasons cited in the article focus on two topics, divine providence and human free will. Both Paul Siegel and Richard Mallette assert that Shakespeare's work is a reflection of the Elizabethan worldview of his time. Mike Pincombe states that in the play Hamlet, the character of Hamlet is a literary humanist, a man of the theatre, and a Dane and all three of these traits would evoke a certain stereotype to audiences of the Elizabethan era. To the public they would have seen the man as someone who had classical learning, a sophistication about himself, respectable, highly educated, kind and urbanized. All these traits are those that emerge from Hamlet's character. Calvinism and…half of the paper…real training, how it will affect you in the future, and how acting on this information will hurt or boost your success in the future. Every person has successes and failures in life, the question becomes to what extent will you allow each of these to influence your future. Works Cited "Craig, W.J., Ed. 1914. The Oxford Shakespeare." Craig, W.J., ed. 1914. The Oxford Shakespeare. Np, nd Web. November 23, 2013. .Gaines, Barry. "Biography of William Shakespeare." Critical Insights: King Lear (2011): 18-24. Literary reference center. Network. 23 November 2013."Renaissance humanism". Shakespearean criticism. Ed. Michelle Lee. vol. 101. Detroit: Gale, 2006. No. pages. Literary Resource Center. Network. November 22, 2013. "The Renaissance in Europe, William Shakespeare." The Norton Anthology of World Literature. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2009. 1778-781. Press.