William Shakespeare

1564 - 1616

Life and TimesLife and Times• What we know about Shakespeare

comes from church documents and legal records.

– Some documents that we have are baptismal registration, marriage license, and records of real estate transactions.

• What we know about Shakespeare comes from church documents and legal records.

– Some documents that we have are baptismal registration, marriage license, and records of real estate transactions.

Shakespeare’s LifeShakespeare’s Life• Shakespeare was an actor• By 1594, he was a charter member of the

theatrical company called Lord Chamberlains Men, which later become The Kings Men.

• The Kings Men were supported by King James

• Shakespeare was an actor• By 1594, he was a charter member of the

theatrical company called Lord Chamberlains Men, which later become The Kings Men.

• The Kings Men were supported by King James

THEGLOBE

THEGLOBE

The GlobeThe Globe Located on the south bank of the Thames The most famous London Playhouse Flew a flag to announce a performance Acting companies used boys to play female

roles. Shakespeare was a member of Lord

Chamberlain’s Company. Later called the King’s Men.

Located on the south bank of the Thames The most famous London Playhouse Flew a flag to announce a performance Acting companies used boys to play female

roles. Shakespeare was a member of Lord

Chamberlain’s Company. Later called the King’s Men.

Theater continuedTheater continued

• In his play Henry V Shakespeare calls his theater the Wooden O

• Groundlings – people who stood around the stage for the price of a penny

• In his play Henry V Shakespeare calls his theater the Wooden O

• Groundlings – people who stood around the stage for the price of a penny

The New Globe

The New Globe

The wealthy’s view of the stageThe wealthy’s view of the stage

“The Heavens” as seen by the groundlings

“The Heavens” as seen by the groundlings

ELIZABETHANTHEATRE

ELIZABETHANTHEATRE

Values of the RenaissanceValues of the Renaissance

• Development of Humanism – focus on humanity and human potential in the arts rather than religion.

• Patrons – Wealthy individuals and families who supported this movement.

• Development of Humanism – focus on humanity and human potential in the arts rather than religion.

• Patrons – Wealthy individuals and families who supported this movement.

Values of the RenaissanceValues of the Renaissance

• “Renaissance Man” = ideal individual who mastered all areas of study – art, literature, philosophy, science

• “Renaissance Woman” = should know the classics of literature and be socially charming.

• “Renaissance Man” = ideal individual who mastered all areas of study – art, literature, philosophy, science

• “Renaissance Woman” = should know the classics of literature and be socially charming.

Renaissance LiteratureRenaissance Literature

• Humanists drew inspiration from the Greek and Roman Myths to understand human nature.

• Belief that human possibilities and the potential for accomplishment was limitless.

• Studied old styles to imitate them as well.

• Humanists drew inspiration from the Greek and Roman Myths to understand human nature.

• Belief that human possibilities and the potential for accomplishment was limitless.

• Studied old styles to imitate them as well.

History of Elizabethan TheatreHistory of Elizabethan Theatre

Traveling ActorsTraveling Actors• performed in the courtyards of taverns (inn-

yards)• built temporary stages to perform on• actors moved around from one venue to the

next. • the biggest Inn-yard had a max capacity of

500

• performed in the courtyards of taverns (inn-yards)

• built temporary stages to perform on• actors moved around from one venue to the

next. • the biggest Inn-yard had a max capacity of

500

Traveling ActorsTraveling Actors

• 'The Theatre'– 1st permanent theater – paid for by James Burbage (father of the actor,

Richard Burbage) – he obtained a lease/permission to build in

Shoreditch, London– Lord Chamberlain's Men used it from 1594 to

1596

• 'The Theatre'– 1st permanent theater – paid for by James Burbage (father of the actor,

Richard Burbage) – he obtained a lease/permission to build in

Shoreditch, London– Lord Chamberlain's Men used it from 1594 to

1596

The Amphitheaters The Amphitheaters

• The 'Theatre' was built similar in style to the Roman Coliseum, but on a smaller scale.

• Elizabethan amphitheatre was designed to hold a capacity of up to 3000 people

• The 'Theatre' was built similar in style to the Roman Coliseum, but on a smaller scale.

• Elizabethan amphitheatre was designed to hold a capacity of up to 3000 people

The AmphitheatersThe Amphitheaters

• Similar amphitheatres were later built to house blood sports, such as bear beating at the 'Bear Garden' and bull beating at the 'Bull Ring'.

• 1577- “The Curtain” opens in Finsbury Fields in Shoreditch, London

• 1587- “The Rose” theatre opens

• Similar amphitheatres were later built to house blood sports, such as bear beating at the 'Bear Garden' and bull beating at the 'Bull Ring'.

• 1577- “The Curtain” opens in Finsbury Fields in Shoreditch, London

• 1587- “The Rose” theatre opens

The theatre and the Bubonic PlagueThe theatre and the Bubonic Plague• constant outbreaks of “The Black Death” during

this time period • large audiences who were attracted to the

massive theatres posed a serious health hazard to the largely populated city of London

• 1593- all theatres were closed due to the Bubonic Plague

• constant outbreaks of “The Black Death” during this time period

• large audiences who were attracted to the massive theatres posed a serious health hazard to the largely populated city of London

• 1593- all theatres were closed due to the Bubonic Plague

Theatres Banned in LondonTheatres Banned in London

– Many Londoners were strict Protestants (Puritans, in fact)• abhorred the theatres and the people it

attracted• Objections to the theaters escalated from the

Church and City Officials.

– Many Londoners were strict Protestants (Puritans, in fact)• abhorred the theatres and the people it

attracted• Objections to the theaters escalated from the

Church and City Officials.

Theatres Banned in LondonTheatres Banned in London

– Respectable citizens added even more objections

• about the rise in crime • the bawdy nature of some plays • fighting• drinking • not to mention the risk of the spread of the Bubonic

Plague

– Respectable citizens added even more objections

• about the rise in crime • the bawdy nature of some plays • fighting• drinking • not to mention the risk of the spread of the Bubonic

Plague

Theatres BannedTheatres Banned– 1596- authorities were unwilling to

ignore the growing complaints any longer• public presentation of plays and all

theaters within the city limits were banned.

• all theaters located in the city were forced to move to the South side of the River Thames – outside the City limits of London

– 1596- authorities were unwilling to ignore the growing complaints any longer• public presentation of plays and all

theaters within the city limits were banned.

• all theaters located in the city were forced to move to the South side of the River Thames – outside the City limits of London

Plague Strikes AgainPlague Strikes Again

• 1603- Bubonic Plague again ravages London

– killing 33,000 people and – all theatres are closed until the deadly

outbreak subsides.

• 1603- Bubonic Plague again ravages London

– killing 33,000 people and – all theatres are closed until the deadly

outbreak subsides.

Elizabethan WomenElizabethan Women

A Patriarchal SocietyA Patriarchal Society• Patriarchal

– men were considered the leader and women their inferiors.

• Women were "the weaker sex"– in terms of physical AND emotional strength

• It was believed that women always needed someone to look after them.

– married woman- her husband looked after her – single or widowed- her father, brother or some

other male relative took care of her

• Patriarchal– men were considered the leader and women their

inferiors.

• Women were "the weaker sex"– in terms of physical AND emotional strength

• It was believed that women always needed someone to look after them.

– married woman- her husband looked after her – single or widowed- her father, brother or some

other male relative took care of her

Women and EducationWomen and Education• Many wealthy women were highly educated

– Queen Elizabeth– Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke

• Women were not allowed to go to school or to university

– educated at home by private tutors (if they could afford it)

• Women were not allowed to enter the professions of– law– medicine– politics

• Many wealthy women were highly educated– Queen Elizabeth– Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke

• Women were not allowed to go to school or to university

– educated at home by private tutors (if they could afford it)

• Women were not allowed to enter the professions of– law– medicine– politics

Women and ProfessionsWomen and Professions• Women could work in domestic service

– cook– maid– lady’s companion

• Also allowed to write works of literature IF the subject was suitable for women

– translation– religious works

• Women could work in domestic service– cook– maid– lady’s companion

• Also allowed to write works of literature IF the subject was suitable for women

– translation– religious works

Women and ProfessionsWomen and Professions

• Women were not allowed to act on or write for the public stage

• Acting was dishonorable for women – they did not appear on the English stage until

the 16th Century• In Shakespeare's plays,

– the roles of women were often played by young boys. 

• Women were not allowed to act on or write for the public stage

• Acting was dishonorable for women – they did not appear on the English stage until

the 16th Century• In Shakespeare's plays,

– the roles of women were often played by young boys. 

The Rights of WomenThe Rights of Women• Women were not allowed to vote at all

– only men of a certain social position were allowed to vote

• Women could not inherit their father's titles – passed from father to son – only exception was the throne

• the crown could pass to a daughter and she would be granted all the power and Majesty of any king

– this allowed Mary, and then Elizabeth, to reign

• Women could not inherit estates, but could be heiresses to property

• Women were not allowed to vote at all– only men of a certain social position were allowed

to vote

• Women could not inherit their father's titles – passed from father to son – only exception was the throne

• the crown could pass to a daughter and she would be granted all the power and Majesty of any king

– this allowed Mary, and then Elizabeth, to reign

• Women could not inherit estates, but could be heiresses to property

MarriageMarriage• The rights of the man

– head of the household and the marriage– had the legal right to chastise his wife.

• This did not mean, that he was able to be a petty tyrant.

– was expected to take care of her and make sure she had all that she needed

– most important - to love her and be a good father to any children they had

• The rights of the man – head of the household and the marriage– had the legal right to chastise his wife.

• This did not mean, that he was able to be a petty tyrant.

– was expected to take care of her and make sure she had all that she needed

– most important - to love her and be a good father to any children they had

Marriage and DivorceMarriage and Divorce• If he felt the need to chastise his wife,

– then he was not allowed to be cruel or inflict bodily harm.

• If a man abused his wife– he could be prosecuted – prevented from living with her

• There was no divorce during this time period– Marriage lasted as long as the couple both lived

• If he felt the need to chastise his wife, – then he was not allowed to be cruel or inflict bodily

harm.

• If a man abused his wife– he could be prosecuted – prevented from living with her

• There was no divorce during this time period– Marriage lasted as long as the couple both lived

Separation and AnnulmentSeparation and Annulment• If a couple wanted to separate

– they needed to obtain an annulment, – if granted, this meant that their marriage was never

lawful

• Henry VIII– married 6 times– only regarded Jane Seymour and Katherine Parr as his

legal wives.

• If a couple wanted to separate– they needed to obtain an annulment, – if granted, this meant that their marriage was never

lawful

• Henry VIII– married 6 times– only regarded Jane Seymour and Katherine Parr as his

legal wives.

The EndThe EndThe EndThe End