The Elizabethan World

The Elizabethan era was a time of great change and upheaval in England. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the country experienced a period of religious reformation, economic growth, and exploration.

The Protestant Reformation had a major impact on the religious landscape of England, and the Queen's reign was marked by religious tolerance towards Catholics despite the establishment of the Church of England. During this period, England also experienced a period of economic expansion and growth, as the country began to explore new markets and trading opportunities.

This period also saw the establishment of the colonial East India Company, which would become a major force in the global economy. Finally, the Elizabethan era was a time of exploration, as English explorers ventured to the New World and beyond. These explorations would have a lasting impact on the culture and literature of England, and Shakespeare was no exception.

For example, in his epic poem The Rape of Lucrece, Caribbean colonialism is referenced as a metaphor for sexually oppressed women. By the time Tarquin has committed his terrible act, “like a late-sack’d island, [she] vastly stood”.

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, theater was not officially sanctioned by the government and was, in fact, considered a criminal activity. This was due to the fact that the Church of England had declared all forms of theater to be immoral and a threat to public order.

Despite this, theater flourished in the period, in part due to the development of professional theater companies. The authorities accepted that they were unable to enforce the theoretical ban on theater and so, it was allowed to continue.

The situation changed during the reign of King James I, starting in 1603, who was a great supporter of theater. He granted a royal patent to the Lord Chamberlain's Men, which allowed them to perform in the newly-built Globe Theatre. However, all plays had to be run past government censors, meaning that many plays had Royalist messages.

King James's royal patent was a major turning point for theater in England, as it gave the profession a certain level of legitimacy and allowed it to flourish. This period also saw the emergence of some of the greatest playwrights of the time, including William Shakespeare. Thus, it can be seen that the legal status of theater in Elizabethan and Jacobean England had a major impact on the development of the art form.

“The purpose of playing […] is to hold as ‘twere the mirror up to Nature” - Hamlet

In Elizabethan and Jacobean England, theater was a popular form of entertainment and was enjoyed by people from all social classes.

The popularity of theater was due in part to the fact that it was relatively inexpensive and accessible to all. Theaters were often located in the poorer areas outside the London city walls, and tickets were affordable even for those on a limited budget. This meant that theater was accessible to people from all walks of life, and it was not seen as an activity that was only for the wealthy.

Theatre in the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods was seen as a way to express social and political opinions, and it was often used as a platform for veiled criticism.

For example, in Measure for Measure, Shakespeare criticizes heavy-handed policing as a reaction to new laws in London. Instead, Shakespeare asks his audiences to “condemn the fault and not the actor of it”.

This meant that theater was seen as a powerful tool for social change and was embraced by many people. Theater was also seen as a form of education, as it allowed people to explore different ideas and themes.

The Elizabethan and Jacobean eras were a time of great religious and political controversy. The Reformation had taken hold in England, and Church of England Protestantism was established as the official religion.

This caused a great deal of tension between those who supported the Church of England and those who were loyal to the Catholic Church. Shakespeare, like most English people at the time, seems to have been a supporter of the Church of England.

Many of the plays that are set in Southern Europe – such as Romeo and Juliet and Othello – feature characters who are violent, jealous, and Machiavellian. This is a stereotype of Catholics that contemporary audiences would certainly have recognized

“The devil can cite scripture for his purpose” - The Merchant of Venice

Additionally, the country was divided between those who supported older, medieval-style monarchy and those who wanted more modern systems of government.

These tensions were reflected in works such as Julius Caesar, the tensions between individual and collective power are explored.

The religious and political controversies of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras had a profound impact on the works of Shakespeare, as well as those of his most influential contemporaries, Christopher Marlowe, and Ben Jonson.

Through their works, these playwrights were able to show the world the consequences of societal divisions and the importance of understanding and respecting each other's beliefs.

The Elizabethan world was a vibrant and exciting place, with a variety of influential figures in the arts and politics. Many of these figures were contemporaries of William Shakespeare, and it is likely that he interacted with them in some way.

One of the most influential figures of the time was Francis Bacon, a philosopher and statesman (Lord Chancellor) who wrote extensively on the sciences, politics, and literature. Bacon was a great admirer of Shakespeare's work and wrote a number of essays praising his plays, especially Shakespeare’s shunning of the revenge doctrine in Hamlet.

Another important figure was the Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley. He was a patron of the arts and a close friend of Shakespeare, and it is likely that he provided financial support for some of his works.

This led to Shakespeare dedicating his poem Venus and Adonis to the Earl in 1603. Southampton was also a great admirer of the playwright, and wrote a number of poems and letters praising his work, leading some scholars to speculate that they engaged in a romantic relationship.

The Elizabethan era was a time of great change in many aspects of life, including ideas about love, marriage, gender and sexuality.

“Frailty, thy name is woman” - Hamlet

During this period, the traditional view of marriage as a union between a man and a woman was very much still in place, though King James was rumored to have engaged in a series of homosexual relationships.

What had begun to change was the increasing prominence of the concept of marriage for love, rather than financial stability. This was reflected in the literature of the time, with many authors exploring the idea of love in their works. For example, Shakespeare explored romance against the wishes of parents in Romeo and Juliet.

'I would not wish any companion in the world but you.' - The Tempest

Shakespeare’s plays often feature characters who challenge traditional gender roles and explore the complexities of love. For example, in Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice and Benedick begin as enemies but bond over their common interests.

In his comedies, Shakespeare often uses the conventions of romantic love to create humorous situations, while his tragedies often explore the darker side of love, such as the pain of unrequited love and the consequences of betrayal.

The theatrical conventions of Elizabethan England were quite different from those of today. At the time, the audience was expected to be an active participant in the performance, and the actors relied heavily on their reactions to shape the performance.

The plays were often performed in the open air, with the audience standing around the stage, and the actors had to be able to project their voices to the back of the crowd. The plays were also highly physical, with actors often engaging in sword fights and other stunts.

Elizabethan plays were also heavily reliant on stock characters, such as the fool, the villain, and the hero. These characters were often used to represent certain aspects of society, and their actions and words were used to comment on the issues of the day.

'Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.' - Twelfth Night

Shakespeare was able to use these characters to great effect, creating complex and nuanced characters that could represent different sides of an issue. His use of these conventions helped to create some of the most memorable characters in literature.