The Elizabethan Age and Shakespeare

Changes in Society Growing Merchant Power Growing Merchant Power Trade and New World Trade and New World Navel Power – Spanish Armada Defeat Navel Power – Spanish Armada Defeat Aristocratic Discontent with Power of Monarch Aristocratic Discontent with Power of Monarch Henry VIII Henry VIII Mary Mary Rise of New Merchant Class Rise of New Merchant Class London Grows to 250,000 London Grows to 250,000 National Confidence National Confidence

As a Result – Repression! The Crown Tried to Suppress Civil Unrest and Religious Dissent The Crown Tried to Suppress Civil Unrest and Religious Dissent Crown Limited Public Assembly Crown Limited Public Assembly Church Cancelled Feast of Corpus Christi – 1548 Church Cancelled Feast of Corpus Christi – 1548 York Cycle Performed Last Time – 1569 York Cycle Performed Last Time – 1569Now… Morality Drama “Played Out” in Secular Arena Morality Drama “Played Out” in Secular Arena

Royal Censorship Crown and Towns feared riots and assemblies Crown and Towns feared riots and assemblies “Act for the Punishment of Vagabonds” – 1572 “Act for the Punishment of Vagabonds” – 1572 Itinerant Players and Entertainers Couldn’t Wander Throughout Country Itinerant Players and Entertainers Couldn’t Wander Throughout Country Players Had to Belong to a Nobleman’s Company Players Had to Belong to a Nobleman’s Company Protected as Servants Protected as Servants Licensed to Perform Licensed to Perform Shows Strong Bond Between Theater and Nobleman Shows Strong Bond Between Theater and Nobleman

Royal Patents Queen Elizabeth Granted Patents: Queen Elizabeth Granted Patents: Patent Granted Right to Perform in Public Patent Granted Right to Perform in Public “Comedies, Tragedies, Interludes, and Stage Plays” Submit Plays to Master of Revels for OK Submit Plays to Master of Revels for OK Sedition Laws – Playwrights Careful Sedition Laws – Playwrights Careful No Performances During Prayer Time and Plague No Performances During Prayer Time and Plague Elizabeth Saw Around 5 Performances a Year Elizabeth Saw Around 5 Performances a Year Paid 10 Pounds For Each Performance Paid 10 Pounds For Each Performance

Professional Companies Adult Companies: Adult Companies: Lord Chamberlain’s Men (Shakespeare’s Company) Lord Chamberlain’s Men (Shakespeare’s Company) Led by Burbage Family – James and Richard Led by Burbage Family – James and Richard Later Renamed The King’s Men Later Renamed The King’s Men Lord Admiral’s Men (Performed Marlowe Plays) Lord Admiral’s Men (Performed Marlowe Plays) Led by Edward Alleyn Led by Edward Alleyn Profit-making Corporations Profit-making Corporations Sharers or Stock-holders Sharers or Stock-holders Sharer: 180 Pounds/Year Sharer: 180 Pounds/Year Actor: 50 Pounds/Year Actor: 50 Pounds/Year Hired Man: 5-10 Shillings/ Week Hired Man: 5-10 Shillings/ Week Sharer Involved in All Aspects of Theatre for 3 Years Sharer Involved in All Aspects of Theatre for 3 Years

Rules of the House Lady Elizabeth’s Men – Fines 1614 Lady Elizabeth’s Men – Fines 1614 Lateness to Rehearsal – 1 shilling (12 pence) Lateness to Rehearsal – 1 shilling (12 pence) Lateness to Performance – 3 shillings Lateness to Performance – 3 shillings Intoxication During Performance – 10 shillings Intoxication During Performance – 10 shillings Missing Performance – 1 Pound (20 shillings) Missing Performance – 1 Pound (20 shillings) Wearing a Costume Outside Theatre – 40 Pounds Wearing a Costume Outside Theatre – 40 Pounds More Than a Year’s Wage for an Actor More Than a Year’s Wage for an Actor

Professional Companies Boys’ Companies Boys’ Companies Formed in the Choir Schools Formed in the Choir Schools Amateurs Amateurs Blackfriars Boys or The Children of Her Majesty's Chapel Blackfriars Boys or The Children of Her Majesty's Chapel Elocution and Deportment Elocution and Deportment Masques & “Railing” Comedy Masques & “Railing” Comedy After Professional After Professional Second Blackfriars Theatre Second Blackfriars Theatre Taken Over by King’s Men Taken Over by King’s Men

Theatres in London

Public Theatres Outside City of London Outside City of London Large, Open Polygonal Three Story Building – 2,000 Large, Open Polygonal Three Story Building – 2,000 Stage, Roof, Tiring House, Grave Trap Stage, Roof, Tiring House, Grave Trap Afternoon Performances Afternoon Performances Groundlings Paid 1 Penny Groundlings Paid 1 Penny

The Theatre First Theatre Built in London – 1576 First Theatre Built in London – 1576 Built by James Burbage’s company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men Built by James Burbage’s company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men 10 Actors 10 Actors 10 Hirelings 10 Hirelings Musicians Musicians Stagehands Stagehands Fee Gatherers Fee Gatherers 5 Apprentices 5 Apprentices Swan Theatre 1596 Drawing by Johannes de Witt

Private Theatre Inside city of London Inside city of London Built on Liberties Built on Liberties Properties Once Owned by Monasteries Properties Once Owned by Monasteries Blackfriars Theatre Blackfriars Theatre Looked Like a Banquet Room Looked Like a Banquet Room Low Stage at Rounded End Low Stage at Rounded End Benches Benches Illuminated by Candles Illuminated by Candles 6 Pence 6 Pence Performed in Winter Performed in Winter Reputation for Satire Reputation for Satire Ben Johnson Wrote Masques Inigo Jones design Ben Johnson Wrote Masques Inigo Jones design

Court Theatre Performed at Court and Manor Houses Performed at Court and Manor Houses Masques Masques Plays Written in Verse Plays Written in Verse Mythological Subjects Mythological Subjects Dance, Costumes, Music Dance, Costumes, Music Special Effects Special Effects Court on Stage With Actors Court on Stage With Actors Expensive 4-21,000 Pounds Expensive 4-21,000 Pounds Inigo Jones’ Whitehall Theatre Inigo Jones’ Whitehall Theatre First to Use Changeable Scenery First to Use Changeable Scenery Wings-and-Backdrop Wings-and-Backdrop Model Throughout 18 th Century Model Throughout 18 th Century

Repertory Companies Performed Up to 200 Days a Year Companies Performed Up to 200 Days a Year Great Competition Great Competition Demand for New Plays Demand for New Plays Histories – Classical and English Histories – Classical and English Julius Caesar and Henry V Julius Caesar and Henry V Comedies – Romantic and City Comedies – Romantic and City Midsummer Night’s Dream and Measure for Measure Midsummer Night’s Dream and Measure for Measure Heroic Tragedies Heroic Tragedies Hamlet, The Duchess of Malfi (John Webster) Hamlet, The Duchess of Malfi (John Webster) Intrigue or Satire Intrigue or Satire The Malcontent (John Marston) The Malcontent (John Marston) Tragicomedy Tragicomedy Begin in Tragic Mode But End Happily Begin in Tragic Mode But End Happily The Tempest The Tempest

Influence of Classical Drama In Teaching Latin Schools and Universities Covered: Roman Drama Roman Drama Comedy of Plautus and Terence Comedy of Plautus and Terence Tragedies of Seneca Tragedies of Seneca Medieval Theatre Medieval Theatre Christian Providence Christian Providence Symbolism Symbolism Stage as Neutral Space - Bare Stage as Neutral Space - Bare Relationship Between Relationship Between Dramatic World and Audience Dramatic World and Audience

Shakespeare’s Inspiration Romantic Comedy Copied From Plautus’ Plays Romantic Comedy Copied From Plautus’ Plays Mistaken Identities, Separated Lovers, Irascible Old Man or Father, Wiley Servant Mistaken Identities, Separated Lovers, Irascible Old Man or Father, Wiley Servant Tragedy Influenced by Seneca’s Violent Plays Tragedy Influenced by Seneca’s Violent Plays See Next Slide for Details See Next Slide for Details Renaissance Plays: Renaissance Plays: Variety of Characters Variety of Characters Multiple Plots Multiple Plots Action Not Focused Just on Tragic Hero Action Not Focused Just on Tragic Hero

The Roman Revenge Tragedy The Wronged Hero Is Justified in His Revenge The Wronged Hero Is Justified in His Revenge Hero’s Revenge Is Aimed at Someone Equal in Power and Cunning – No Challenge; No Fun Hero’s Revenge Is Aimed at Someone Equal in Power and Cunning – No Challenge; No Fun Gloomy Atmosphere and Supernatural Elements Gloomy Atmosphere and Supernatural Elements Innocent, Wronged Woman is Obstacle to the Hero Achieving His Revenge Innocent, Wronged Woman is Obstacle to the Hero Achieving His Revenge Counterplot Begun By Antagonist Engulfs Hero As His Own Vengeance is Accomplished Counterplot Begun By Antagonist Engulfs Hero As His Own Vengeance is Accomplished Hero Gets Poetic Justice on Earth; Heaven Punishes Hero Hero Gets Poetic Justice on Earth; Heaven Punishes Hero

Language Bank Verse Bank Verse Unrhymed Iambic Pentameter Unrhymed Iambic Pentameter 10 Syllables with Alternating Stress 10 Syllables with Alternating Stress u/u/u/u/u/ u/u/u/u/u/ Prose Prose Emphasis Emphasis Develop Character Develop Character Originally, No Division Into Acts Originally, No Division Into Acts Rapid and Continuous Rapid and Continuous Little Scenery Change Little Scenery Change

Audience Gallery Patrons Gallery Patrons Educated Educated Interested in Ideas and Words Interested in Ideas and Words Appreciate Humor and Character Development Appreciate Humor and Character Development Pit Groundlings Pit Groundlings Uneducated Uneducated Want Sex, Action, Violence, Comedy, and More Sex Want Sex, Action, Violence, Comedy, and More Sex Short Attention Span Short Attention Span Keep It Snappy Keep It Snappy Just Like Today Just Like Today

Spectacle Elaborate Clothing Elaborate Clothing Elizabethan Mostly Elizabethan Mostly Mechanical Properties Mechanical Properties

Clowns Will Kempe Will Kempe Richard Tarleton

Women Boy and Men Actors Played Women’s Parts Boy and Men Actors Played Women’s Parts Hierarchical Society Despite “Virgin Queen” Hierarchical Society Despite “Virgin Queen” Absence From Stage Shows Absence From Power Absence From Stage Shows Absence From Power French Troupe of Women at Blackfriars in 1629 French Troupe of Women at Blackfriars in 1629 Met With Hostility and Ridicule Met With Hostility and Ridicule Aristocratic Women Attended Theatre Aristocratic Women Attended Theatre A Few Wrote Plays A Few Wrote Plays Elizabeth Cary -- Tragedy of Miriam 1613 Elizabeth Cary -- Tragedy of Miriam 1613

Use of Theatre Monarchs – Spin Control Monarchs – Spin Control Knew Images Had Power Knew Images Had Power Shaped People’s Understanding of Royal Might Shaped People’s Understanding of Royal Might Playwrights and Audience Playwrights and Audience Magical Image of Human Possibilities Magical Image of Human Possibilities Power to Transform Self and World Power to Transform Self and World Puritan Critics Thought Theatre Seduced with False Reality Puritan Critics Thought Theatre Seduced with False Reality No! Theatre Reflected Concerns and Reality of Society No! Theatre Reflected Concerns and Reality of Society

William Shakespeare Born Stratford-upon-Avon Second of Eight Children Local Grammar School 4-15 Married Anne Hathaway 1582 Left for London By 1591 Writing Plays 1594 Lord Chamberlain’s Men 1616 Died in Stratford

Praise From Ben Johnson “I remember that the players have often mentioned it as an honor to Shakespeare that in his writing, whatsoever he penned, he never blotted out a line….He was ….honest, and of an open and free nature; had an excellent fancy, brave notions, and gentle expressions wherein he flowed with that facility that sometime it was necessary he should be stopped….Many times he fell into those things could not escape laughter…But he redeemed his vices with his virtues. There was ever more in him to be praised than to be pardoned.”

Structure in Shakespeare’s Plays Exposition Exposition Speech that Introduces the Audience to the Characters and Situation Speech that Introduces the Audience to the Characters and Situation Introduces Conflict and Explains How the Order of the Play's World has been Disrupted Introduces Conflict and Explains How the Order of the Play's World has been Disrupted Complication Complication Actions of the Characters Disrupt the Established Social Order Actions of the Characters Disrupt the Established Social Order Chaos By the Middle of the Play Chaos By the Middle of the Play Resolution Resolution Social Order is Restored by End of Play Social Order is Restored by End of Play

Themes in Shakespeare’s Plays Tension Between Idea of Order and Reality of Disorder Tension Between Idea of Order and Reality of Disorder How Do You Find That Tension? Look for the Broad Patterns Look for the Broad Patterns What Makes the Play Unique? What Makes the Play Unique? Look at the Language Look at the Language Look at the Complex Ways Characters Act Look at the Complex Ways Characters Act

History of Theatre is History of Adaptation

Shakespeare’s Plays Slice and Dice = Mincemeat? Slice and Dice = Mincemeat? Even in Shakespeare’s Time Plays Altered Even in Shakespeare’s Time Plays Altered King Lear Rewritten With Happy Ending in 1681 King Lear Rewritten With Happy Ending in 1681 Staged into 19 th Century Staged into 19 th Century Same True Today in Stage and Film Same True Today in Stage and Film

As We Look at Hamlet, Consider How We Change It For Today (Yes, It’s Video Time. Bring on Mel!)

Hamlet

Everyone’s A Critic "Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't." (Act II, Scene II). "Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't." (Act II, Scene II).

Good Will Hunting Want some Extra Credit? Want some Extra Credit? In Globe Find 10 Things That Are Interesting Or Unusual About Shakespeare and His World. In Globe Find 10 Things That Are Interesting Or Unusual About Shakespeare and His World. Check out the specific directions at the bottom of the Lecture Notes. Check out the specific directions at the bottom of the Lecture Notes.