ShakespeareMan of

the Theatre

Bevington, Chapter 2

Shakespeare joined the Lord Chamberlain’s Men

in 1594

• Their original home was THE THEATRE

• It was dismantled and rebuilt as THE GLOBE in 1599

• He acted in his own plays (Ghost of Hamlet’s father)

• His name appears in cast lists for at least two plays by Ben Jonson

• He is the only actor-writer of his time who was a share-holder

ELIZABETHAN THOUGHT

• Society was homogenous, largely Anglo-Saxon

• Jews had been expelled by Edward I in 1290

• Patriarchal authority was strong

Church of England was the established Church, but religious conflicts were common. Elizabeth I had many spies seeking out Catholics and other perceived threats to the crown.

England’s maritime strength brought wealth to London

The defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 stoked English nationalism. Shakespeare’s early histories were meant to praise the Tudors.

POLITICS• Henry VIII bore a daughter (Mary) by Catherine of

Aragon (Mary)• Church would not allow him to divorce, so he

chartered the Church of England

Anne Boleyn gave birth to Elizabeth

• Henry’s son, Edward VI (by Jane Seymour) succeeded him t the throne. His was a very brief reign

• Elizabeth succeeded Mary and reestablished the Church of England. Spies loyal to her sought out Catholics during her reign.

Anne Boleyn Edward VI Jane Seymour

Mary succeeded Edward and was

sympathetic to Spain and the Catholics

Queen Mary Queen Elizabeth

• Many modern scholars believe that Shakespeare’s family had strong ties to the Catholic Church and that was part of the reason why his father’s fortunes plummeted so profoundly

• James I, the first Stuart king, came to power when Elizabeth died

The rise of the Puritans eventually

brought about the execution

of King Charles I in

1649.

Concept of the universe

The medieval world was believed to be flat encircled by heavenly bodies

Copernian universeCopernicus suggest that the Earth wasn’t the center of the universe in 1543. Galileo’s work, published in 1610, further supported Copernicus.

Although Galileo’s work did not really have a profound effect on Shakespeare’s writing, the conflict between the conflicting views persisted.

MEDICINE Since Galen (2nd century AD) held that the body was composed of four humours as the four elements constituted life.

In England, Sir Francis Bacon brought scientific thought into a new age of experimentation and discovery.

Influence of Montaigne

Shakespeare was acquainted with the essays of MONTAIGNE which explored what it meant to be “human”-- a vital theme in all of Shakespeare’s writing.

“Unenlightenment…”

• Women were often treated as property

• It was a fiercely patriarchal society

• Attitudes towards Spaniards, Turks, Moors and Jews was disturbing

THE GREAT CHAIN OF BEING…

…Reflects a hierarchy of life

The character lists in his plays reflect a

hierarchyA Midsummer Night’s Dream

THESEUS, Duke of Athens

HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the AmazonsPHILOSTRATE, Master of the RevelsEGEUS, Father of HermiaHERMIA, daughter of Egeus, in love with LysanderLYSANDER, in love with HermiaDEMETRIUS, in love with Hermia and favored by EgeusHELENA, in love with DemetriusOBERON, King of the FairiesTITANIA, Queen of the FairiesPUCK, or ROBIN GOODFELLOWPEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTE, MUSTARDSEED, fairies

PETER QUINCE, a carpenterNICK BOTTOM, a weaverFRANCIS FLUTE, a bellows menderTOM SNOUT, a tinkerSNUG, a joinerROBIN STARVELING, a tailorLords and attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta

Who speaks the final lines in his plays?

ROMEO AND JULIETPrince Escalus

HAMLETFortinbras

MACBETHMalcolm

OTHELLOLodovico

THE TEMPESTProspero

KING LEAREdgar

FESTIVE RITES • A vital part of Elizabethan life

• Midsummer Night’s Dream is set against a solstice celebration

Twelfth Night is set against a backdrop of Christmas

The Merry Wives of Windsor ends with a pageant to Herne the Hunter

CHARACTERS IN HIS PLAYS wear masks and disguises

PUBLIC SPECTACLES AND

CEREMONIES WERE COMMON IN

SHAKESPEARE’S DAY

INCLUDING EXECUTIO

NS

The beheading of Mary, Queen of

Scots

Hanging and stocks

Animal Baiting

THEATRES were Public or Private

PRIVATE• PRIVATE (indoor) Blackfriars, Academic playing

spaces, Court

PUBLIC • PUBLIC (outdoor) in temporary stages, innyards

or permanent• playhouses like THE CURTAIN and THE GLOBEMainstage with heavens overheadDiscovery space• Trap door• Gallery above• Tiring house backstage• Auditorium...groundlings in pit, seats in galleries

Famous CompaniesThe Lord Chamberlain’s Men, (later the King’s Men)The Lord Admiral’s MenEarl of Leicester’s MenThe Queen’s Men etc.

Boys companies were popularChildren of St. PaulsChildren of the ChapelChildren of Blackfriars

Sometimes boy actors “graduated” to adult companies

Criminality and public lewdness

Puritan preachers railed against the theatre

Regulation of the theatres

Regulation of the theatres

Henry VIII instituted the office of the Master of the Revels to oversee productions at court. He grew in power and administered his office on behalf of the crown. Edmund Tylney was the master of the revels during Shakespeare’s lifetime...

In A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Philostrate performs the role of Master of the revels.

The Tudor and Stuart monarchs supported the student and provided theatre companies with licenses to perform.

ACTORS Will Kempe

Richard Burbage and Robert Armin

Since Shakespeare wrote most of his plays for the actors in his company, he was able to craft the roles and cast the plays in the best way possible.