I think they might just be representations of the people, not the people themselves. But that's just me. I wouldn't be surprised, all those playwrights are a little loopy, even today.
It's more the fact that most construction companies prefer a full education before letting on apprentices. Dad wouldn't kill me, he never even went to school and I'm pretty sure even if you add up the equivalents, he only got to about freshman year before kicking the education system in the teeth.