Mrs. McLean

3rd Hour

The Globe Theatre

“I believe that in a great city, or even in a small city or a village, a great theater is the

outward and visible sign of an inward and probable culture” (Laurence Olivier). When one hears

the words “best theater,” one would think of the theatre that Shakespeare performed his plays in.

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London is the most famous theatre that has ever existed because

of its advanced architectural features and the famous plays performed within it in the past.

The Globe Theatre’s unique physical features made it stand above other theatres of its

time. The Globe was a typical three-story building with a diameter of around 100 feet and it

could hold up to 3,000 spectators (Rebuilding the Globe). Plays were performed on a platform

that was about 43 feet wide and 28 feet deep (“Shakespeare’s Globe”). The most prominent

physical features, however, of the Globe were the trap doors on the stage floor and on the fake

ceiling which were used for assorted stage effects (“Shakespeare’s Globe”). Using the trap doors

on the fake ceiling and the ropes hanging overhead, actors could wear a harness and make flying

entrances (“Globe Theatre Special Effects”). These special effects must have had an exhilarating

impact on the audience. Competition was definitely fierce, as there were no copyright laws, and

such unusual and dramatic special effects would have attracted more spectators (“Globe Theatre

Flags”). To sum up, the complex physical features of the Globe Theatre helped it stand over

other theatres of its time.

Another reason the Globe Theatre was so popular was the quality of the plays performed.

Shakespeare's plays have a huge impact throughout history because of the morals, themes and

wit that the plays had. Shakespeare used puns that were bawdy, witty, and even poetic.

Shakespeare combined word play with abstract thinking, and used to mask deeper, more

emotional concepts and feelings. Shakespeare’s plays were also very lyrical and sometimes even

had singing. Examples of how the usage of song is important are evident in plays such as A

Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, and Macbeth, where Shakespeare uses singing to

move the audience’s hearts (“Music in Shakespeare’s Plays”). Shakespeare’s plays are so

popular because of their deep morals and important themes. Examples of some of these plays are

Macbeth, which teaches about the effects of ambition without moral constraints, and Hamlet,

which shows the many uncertainties that exist in people’s lives and how things are taken for

granted when people act or evaluate one another’s actions (Sparknotes). The morals and themes

within Shakespeare’s plays are so universal that the plays still appeal to audiences today. All in

all, because of the wit, universal themes, lyrical lines, and songs within Shakespeare’s plays, The

Globe attracted more people and became the most famous theatre ever.

In conclusion, The Globe became the most famous theatre in existence thanks to the

quality of the plays performed in it and its complex physical features. And this popularity then

helped The Globe popularize theatre, which then attracted even more spectators. Even today,

people still enjoy plays and the lessons and morals the plays contain. “The theatre was created to

tell people the truth about life and the social situation” (Stella Adler).

Works Cited

"Globe Theatre Flags." Globe Theatre. Web. 22 Feb. 2011.

"Globe Theatre Special Effects." Globe Theatre. Web. 23 Feb. 2011.

"Music in Shakespeare's Plays." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia

Britannica. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.

"Original Globe." Shakespeare's Globe. The Shakespeare Globe Trust, London, 2011. Web. 24

Feb. 2011.

"Rebuilding the Globe." Shakespeare's Globe. The Shakespeare Globe Trust, London, 2011.

Web. 23 Feb. 2011.

"Shakespeare's Globe." Shakespeare's Globe. Shakespeare Resource Center, 6 Feb. 2011. Web.

24 Feb. 2011.

"SparkNotes: Hamlet: Themes, Motifs & Symbols." SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study

Guides. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.

"SparkNotes: Macbeth: Themes, Motifs & Symbols." SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study

Guides. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.