ShakespeareMan of the Theatre

1. ShakespeareMan of the Theatre Bevington, Chapter 2

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

3. 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

4. ELIZABETHAN THOUGHT • Society was homogenous, largely Anglo-Saxon • Jews had been expelled by Edward I in 1290 • Patriarchal authority was strong

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Mary succeeded Edward and was sympathetic to Spain and the Catholics Queen Elizabeth Queen Mary

10. 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

11. The rise of the Puritans eventually brought about the execution of King Charles I in 1649.

12. Concept of the universe The medieval world was believed to be flat encircled by heavenly bodies

13. Copernian universe Copernicus 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. “Unenlightenment…” • Women were often treated as property • It was a fiercely patriarchal society • Attitudes towards Spaniards, Turks, Moors and Jews was disturbing

18. THE GREAT CHAIN OF BEING… …Reflects a hierarchy of life

19. The character lists in his plays reflect a hierarchy A Midsummer Night’s DreamTHESEUS, Duke of Athens HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons PHILOSTRATE, Master of the Revels EGEUS, Father of Hermia HERMIA, daughter of Egeus, in love with Lysander LYSANDER, in love with Hermia DEMETRIUS, in love with Hermia and favored by Egeus HELENA, in love with Demetrius OBERON, King of the Fairies TITANIA, Queen of the Fairies PUCK, or ROBIN GOODFELLOW PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTE, MUSTARDSEED, fairies PETER QUINCE, a carpenter NICK BOTTOM, a weaver FRANCIS FLUTE, a bellows mender TOM SNOUT, a tinker SNUG, a joiner ROBIN STARVELING, a tailor Lords and attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta

20. Who speaks the final lines in his plays? ROMEO AND JULIET Prince Escalus HAMLETFortinbras MACBETH Malcolm OTHELLOLodovico THE TEMPESTProspero KING LEAR Edgar

21. FESTIVE RITES • A vital part of Elizabethan life • Midsummer Night’s Dream is set against a solstice celebration

22. Twelfth Night is set against a backdrop of Christmas

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

24. CHARACTERS IN HIS PLAYS wear masks and disguises

25. PUBLIC SPECTACLES AND CEREMONIES WERE COMMON IN SHAKESPEARE’S DAY

26. INCLUDING EXECUTIONS The beheading of Mary, Queen of Scots 

27. Hanging and stocks

28. Animal Baiting

29. THEATRES were Public or Private

30. PRIVATE • PRIVATE (indoor) Blackfriars, Academic playing spaces, Court

31. PUBLIC • PUBLIC (outdoor) in temporary stages, innyards or permanent • playhouses like THE CURTAIN and THE GLOBE Mainstagewith heavens overhead Discovery space • Trap door • Gallery above • Tiring house backstage • Auditorium...groundlings in pit, seats in galleries

32. Famous Companies The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, (later the King’s Men) The Lord Admiral’s Men Earl of Leicester’s Men The Queen’s Men etc. Boys companies were popular Children of St. Pauls Children of the Chapel Children of Blackfriars Sometimes boy actors “graduated” to adult companies

33. Criminality and public lewdness Puritan preachers railed against the theatre

34. Regulation of the theatres

35. 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.

36. ACTORS Will Kempe

37. Richard Burbage and Robert Armin

38. 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.