William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

The Life and Times

Elizabeth EnglandQueen Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

London: leading center of culture and commerceHome and workplace to William

Shakespeare

Queen Elizabeth I

Social ClassesThe Nobility55 noble families

-dukes-earls-barons

Become noble 2 ways:1. Birth 2. Grant from a king or

queen

Nobility continuedMany died during the Wars of the

Roses-a series of civil wars fought in England

in the 15th century-often no sons to inherit their titles-royalty thought nobles a threat and

rarely appointed any

Gentry50% of population

KnightsSquiresGentleman\womenMost important, wealth is the keyLand passed to husband by wife’s

inheritanceAlso, consisted of solid citizens such as

members of parliament and justices of the peace

YeomenFarmersTradesmenCraft workersPossible wealth-put $ back into landLiterate workersSickness could change status

3 subclasses of Yeomen1. Freeholding

-owned land

-expanded land

-multiplied wealth

3 subclasses of Yeomen2. Leaseholders

-leaseholders-a lease could be for life-land may or may not be inherited by the son

3 subclasses of Yeomen3. Laborers-worked for wages on

lord’s land

-a cottage and 4 acres

-migrant workers as well

Yeomen

Freeholding→Leaseholders →Hired Laborers

The PoorConsisted of:-the sick -wounded soldiers-the disabled-the old

Elizabethan Poor LawsWorld’s first government sponsored

welfare program-financed by contributions from the

wealthy (not enough)-Poor tax on everyone

3 Goals of Poor Laws

1st-Unable to care for self, placed in hospitals or orphanages; older children given apprenticeship

3 Goals of Poor Laws

2nd-Able body that could work but didn’t

have jobs were given jobs usually in workhouses (make candles, soap,

rope) in exchange for a place to sleep and food

3 Goals of Poor Laws3rd-Discourage the permanently

unemployed, “rogues, vagabonds, and sturdy beggars”

Responsible for:MurdersTheftsAnd other great outrages

How To: Discourage the BadSince it was illegal under the

Elizabethan Poor Laws to be able to work but refuse to, an offender could be punished usually by one of the following ways:

WhippedBurned in the ear with a hot ironDeath

William ShakespeareStratford-Upon-Avon April 23, 15643rd of 8; 3 diedPlague outbreak in 1564 (lucky he

survived)

Shakespeare FamilyMother-Mary Arden (heiress)Father-John Shakespeare (glover)

Shakespeare had a solid educationKnowledge of Latin and GreekUniversity training

Shakespeare MarriesAnne Hathaway-1582He was 18She was 26 and prego! (baby born 8

months later) Daughter-SusannaTwins-Hamnet and JudithHamnet died at age 11

Lost Years7 years of Shakespeare’s life is

undocumented between Stratford and London

Reappears around 1588; establishes himself as an actor and playwright

-comedy(Twelfth Night,Much Ado About Nothing)-history(Henry VI, Richard II, King John)-tragedies(Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar)

Shakespeare’s first play was Henry VI Part 1

1594-Lord Chamberlain’s Men-acting-writing-made a managing partner-most successful acting troupe-first to sell penny copies to the

literate

Shakespeare RetiresRetired to Stratford in 1611Died on April 23, 1616His will stated that his daughter

Susanna receive his property, his daughter Judith was given $600 and his wife Anne was left “my second best bed.”

The GlobeBuilt in 1598

-James Burbage in 1576 -Richard Burbage moved it

1 of 4 (Rose, Hope, Swan)Open-airOctagonal amphitheater3 stories highHolds 3000 spectators

The Globe

The Globe

The Globe

The Globe No roles for women (yes, the men

played the roles of women)1613- burned down during a

production of Henry VIII

The GlobeRebuilt and continued in operation until

1642Puritans shut it downTurned into apartmentsRediscovered in 1989 Reopened in 1997Faithful reproduction-Queen Elizabeth II-first production Henry V

Romeus and JulietRomeo and Juliet-1596Used Arthur Brooke’s 3000 line

narrative poem entitled “The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet” publised in 1562

Romeus and JulietShakespeare makes changes to the

long narrative-instead of a nine month romance he

changes it to four days (Sunday-Thursday)

-changes the beginning by starting with a brawl in the streets

-added the entire second scene

Romeus and JulietShakespeare adapted the poem into a

more exciting play and that is why he condensed some parts of the plots and added more exciting things such as street fights and he also added more personality to such characters as Mercutio.

Romeus and JulietBrooke condemns his “unfortunate

lovers” for neglecting authority and the advice of their parents

Rhomeo and JuliettaShakespeare also consulted a poem by

William Painter entitled “Rhomeo and Julietta” written in 1562

Romeo and JulietThemes, Motifs, and Symbols

Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

Theme-LoveLove is violent, ecstatic, and

overpowering.Supersedes all other values, loyalties,

and emotions.Overriding theme of the playShakespeare is uninterested in

portraying a dainty version of the emotion

Theme-Love and Death, Passion, and Violence

Death and violence permeate Romeo and Juliet

Always connected to LoveHate, violence, and death are obviousLove in the play is overwhelming and

blinding

Theme-Conflict between social institutions

Lovers struggle against public opposition

Honor results in brawls that disturb the public peace

Anger between the two families mixed with loyalty and honor to kin create conflict

The lovers rebel against their heritageBattle between responsibilities and

actions demanded by societies and family

Theme-FateA power related to the starsThe reader is aware of fate and the

lovers are aware of their fateFate works in all of the events

surrounding the lovers

MotifsMotifs are recurring structures,

contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.

Motifs-light/dark imageryMost consistent visual motif is between

light and dark or night and dayRomeo mediates about the sun and

the moonRomeo being forced to leave in the

morning after spending their one night together and they pretend that it is still night

SymbolsSymbols are objects, characters,

figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

Symbols“Romeo and Juliet” is not a symbolic

play. Romeo and Juliet may symbolize young love and the Prince may symbolize law, government, and public order. These characters seem to occupy these roles rather than symbolize them.