William William ShakespeareShakespeare

Personal History, The Globe Personal History, The Globe Theatre, & LondonTheatre, & London

William Shakespeare: William Shakespeare: 1564-16161564-1616Born to a middle-class family in Born to a middle-class family in

Stratford-upon-Avon on Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23April 23..Not much is known about his early life; Not much is known about his early life;

people did not consider playwrights people did not consider playwrights important during that time.important during that time.

He studied Latin and Greek, as well as He studied Latin and Greek, as well as British and World history (this is evident British and World history (this is evident in his plays about historic figures like in his plays about historic figures like Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Richard III, and Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Richard III, and Henry IV)Henry IV)

Shakespeare’s Family:Shakespeare’s Family:At the age of 18, Shakespeare At the age of 18, Shakespeare

married Anne Hathaway (she was 26 married Anne Hathaway (she was 26 and pregnant!). This was November and pregnant!). This was November of 1582. Daughter born in May of of 1582. Daughter born in May of 1583.1583.

Had three children: Susanna, and Had three children: Susanna, and

twins- Judith and Hamnettwins- Judith and Hamnet

Stratford -upon- AvonWhere Shakespeare was born

Inside the HouseInside the House

Present DayPresent DayStratford-upon-AvonStratford-upon-Avon

In In 15941594, Shakespeare was a member , Shakespeare was a member of the of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, one Lord Chamberlain’s Men, one of the most popular acting of the most popular acting companies in Londoncompanies in London. He was the . He was the leading member of this group for the leading member of this group for the rest of his life.rest of his life.

By this time, at least six of his plays By this time, at least six of his plays had been produced.had been produced.

From 1592-1594, theatres were From 1592-1594, theatres were closed in England because of the closed in England because of the plague, a terrible illness that killed plague, a terrible illness that killed people infected in 2-4 days. people infected in 2-4 days.

As a result, Shakespeare began to As a result, Shakespeare began to write poems. His poems were write poems. His poems were successful, but not as successful as successful, but not as successful as his plays. his plays.

Public theatres reopened in 1594, Public theatres reopened in 1594, and he began to write again.and he began to write again.

In 1599, Shakespeare and six friends In 1599, Shakespeare and six friends became owners of The Globe, a new became owners of The Globe, a new outdoor theatre. outdoor theatre.

One of the largest theatres in London; it One of the largest theatres in London; it held approximately 3,000 spectatorsheld approximately 3,000 spectators..

In 1603, James I became King of England. In 1603, James I became King of England. He gave money to support Shakespeare He gave money to support Shakespeare and his fellow players…their company and his fellow players…their company became the became the King’s MenKing’s Men. In return, the men . In return, the men entertained the King’s court on a regular entertained the King’s court on a regular basis.basis.

Between 1599 and 1608, Between 1599 and 1608, Shakespeare wrote several comedies Shakespeare wrote several comedies and almost all of his tragedies: and almost all of his tragedies:

Comedies: Comedies: Much Ado About Nothing Much Ado About Nothing and and Twelfth NightTwelfth Night

History: History: Henry VHenry V Tragedies: Tragedies: Antony and Cleopatra, Antony and Cleopatra,

Hamlet, Julius Caesar, King Lear, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, King Lear, Macbeth, Macbeth, and and OthelloOthello

1609: 150+ of Shakespeare’s 1609: 150+ of Shakespeare’s sonnets were publishedsonnets were published

The Mystery of Shakespeare’s The Mystery of Shakespeare’s DeathDeath

Over his grave appear the words: Over his grave appear the words: GOOD FRIEND FOR JESUS SAKE FORBEARE,GOOD FRIEND FOR JESUS SAKE FORBEARE,

TO DIGG THE DUST ENCLOASED HEARE.TO DIGG THE DUST ENCLOASED HEARE.

BLEST BE Ye MAN Yt SPARES THESE STONES,BLEST BE Ye MAN Yt SPARES THESE STONES,

AND CURSED BE HE Yt MOVES MY BONES.AND CURSED BE HE Yt MOVES MY BONES.

During the Renaissance, when a burial ground During the Renaissance, when a burial ground became overcrowded, gravediggers would became overcrowded, gravediggers would empty all the old graves to make room for empty all the old graves to make room for new corpses. Shakespeare wanted his bones new corpses. Shakespeare wanted his bones intact!intact!

NO ONE KNOWS HOW HE DIED…NO ONE KNOWS HOW HE DIED…

During the last 8 During the last 8 years of his life, he years of his life, he only wrote four only wrote four plays. plays. The TempestThe Tempest (1610) was (1610) was supposedly his last supposedly his last play, but play, but Henry VIIIHenry VIII can be dated to can be dated to about 1613.about 1613.

He died on April He died on April 23, 1616 (same 23, 1616 (same day he was born!)day he was born!)

Fun Facts about WillFun Facts about Will He is responsible for over He is responsible for over 1,700 words1,700 words that we that we

use today like box office, hurry, and critic.use today like box office, hurry, and critic. He is also responsible for many phrases that He is also responsible for many phrases that

we use today like: we use today like: “ “Eaten out of house & home” or “Cruel to be Eaten out of house & home” or “Cruel to be

kind”kind” Suicide occurs an unlucky 13 times in his Suicide occurs an unlucky 13 times in his

plays.plays. He is one of the most recognized icons from He is one of the most recognized icons from

London, along with Big Ben, The Queen, and London, along with Big Ben, The Queen, and the double-decker buses.the double-decker buses.

He was writing Romeo & Juliet at the same He was writing Romeo & Juliet at the same time he was writing A Midsummer Night’s time he was writing A Midsummer Night’s Dream; therefore, there are many parallels Dream; therefore, there are many parallels and shared lines!and shared lines!

The Theatre and Society of The Theatre and Society of the Timethe Time

1588: Under Elizabeth I, England 1588: Under Elizabeth I, England defeated the Spanish Armada. defeated the Spanish Armada. England was becoming a dominant England was becoming a dominant sea power and an emerging colonial sea power and an emerging colonial empire.empire.

As the country increased in As the country increased in importance, her literature, art, and importance, her literature, art, and music began to flourish.music began to flourish.

This time period was called the This time period was called the Renaissance.Renaissance.

RenaissanceRenaissance (meaning “rebirth”): (meaning “rebirth”): the the flourish of art, scholarship, and flourish of art, scholarship, and literature that took place from the literature that took place from the 1414thth-17-17thth centuries in Europe. centuries in Europe.

Queen Elizabeth

““Now is the winter of our Now is the winter of our discontent…” discontent…”

–Richard III–Richard IIIThe Renaissance wasn’t the best The Renaissance wasn’t the best

time to live in England:time to live in England:HUGE gap between the rich and poorHUGE gap between the rich and poorMost people can’t find jobsMost people can’t find jobsFamine and plague are everywhereFamine and plague are everywherePopulation grows faster than the cropsPopulation grows faster than the cropsEconomic recession across the continentEconomic recession across the continent

Bubonic Plague or “The Bubonic Plague or “The Black Death”Black Death”

The plague was transmitted by the The plague was transmitted by the fleas that lived on rodents and fleas that lived on rodents and animals (especially rats).animals (especially rats).

In 1563, an outbreak claimed 80,000 In 1563, an outbreak claimed 80,000 lives in England (20,000 in London lives in England (20,000 in London alone)alone)

1000 died weekly in August; by 1000 died weekly in August; by October it was 1800/weekOctober it was 1800/week

Not even Queen Elizabeth was safe…Not even Queen Elizabeth was safe…in 1563, she moved her court to in 1563, she moved her court to Windsor Castle, erected gallows, and Windsor Castle, erected gallows, and ordered that anyone coming from ordered that anyone coming from London was to be hanged to prevent London was to be hanged to prevent the spread.the spread.

Speaking of plague…Speaking of plague…

Doctors believed that illness resulted from Doctors believed that illness resulted from an imbalance in the an imbalance in the four four humorshumors (fluids) (fluids) of the human body: bile, phlegm, choler, of the human body: bile, phlegm, choler, and blood. and blood.

To restore balance, doctors removed blood To restore balance, doctors removed blood by having leeches suck it out.by having leeches suck it out.

Most popular operation: amputation without Most popular operation: amputation without anesthesia of course anesthesia of course

Entertain Entertain me! me!

Leading amusements of the day:Leading amusements of the day:Bear or bull-baitingBear or bull-baitingRooster-fightingRooster-fightingBrawling and rioting (thanks to the Brawling and rioting (thanks to the

endless supply of beer)endless supply of beer)Witch burnings Witch burnings Public executions (severed head and all)Public executions (severed head and all)Theatre (including plays by Theatre (including plays by

Shakespeare)Shakespeare)

All the World’s a Stage:All the World’s a Stage:

Reign of Elizabeth IReign of Elizabeth IBefore the rise of permanent theatres, Before the rise of permanent theatres,

players would perform anywhere they players would perform anywhere they could erect a stage and draw a crowd could erect a stage and draw a crowd (village halls, inn yards, bear-baiting (village halls, inn yards, bear-baiting arenas, or privately for the nobles)arenas, or privately for the nobles)

1576, actor James Burbage built 1576, actor James Burbage built England’s 1England’s 1stst real theatre: “The Theatre” real theatre: “The Theatre”

Lord Chamberlain’s Men performed Lord Chamberlain’s Men performed there from 1594-1599there from 1594-1599

1594: London aldermen banned all 1594: London aldermen banned all playhouses in the city limits (Burbage died playhouses in the city limits (Burbage died in 1597, and the landlord planned to in 1597, and the landlord planned to dismantle The Theatre)dismantle The Theatre)

His sons dismantled The Theatre His sons dismantled The Theatre themselves and hauled the pieces across themselves and hauled the pieces across the Thames River to a site in Southwark. the Thames River to a site in Southwark. Six months later The Globe Theatre Six months later The Globe Theatre opened (1599).opened (1599).

The GlobeThe Globe

No surviving drawings or detailed No surviving drawings or detailed written descriptionswritten descriptions

Shakespeare referred to it as “this Shakespeare referred to it as “this wooden O” and open to the sky (no wooden O” and open to the sky (no roof)roof)

Building had to be small enough to Building had to be small enough to make the actors heard, but large make the actors heard, but large enough to seat 2,500 to 3,000enough to seat 2,500 to 3,000

http://www.athenalearning.com/programs/playing-shakespeare/interactive-globe-theatre

Shakespeare’s Theatre…Shakespeare’s Theatre…

The GLOBEThe GLOBE