Elizabethan Drama Betül ALTAŞ

Greatest literary work of Elizabethan period or age was drama. As the queen Elizabeth ruled the country from 1558 to 1603, it was defined as Elizabethan period or age (Thornley & Roberts, 1986). However, the great Elizabethan literary age is not considered as beginning until 1579.

Before Elizabethan age began, several plays were written. They are not regarded as good but comedies are better than tragedies (Thornley & Roberts, 1986). Nicholas Udall wrote the first regular English comedy, entitled Ralph Roister Doister (1553). *tragedy

The poem includes humour that is particular to country people. Another comedy was Gammer Gurton’s Needle which was acted at Cambridge University in 1566. Lyly’s prose comedy Campaspe and his allegorical play Endimion were played in front of Elizabeth, probably by boy actors. *humour

These boys caused a lot of fun when they played the parts of Alexander the Great or philosopher Diogenes. * philosopher

The first regular English tragedy was: Gorboduc is about king Gorboduc of England and his family. It was in blank verse and performed in 1564. The blank verse is very poor work, because nothing is done on the stage. It was very dull (Thornley & Roberts, 1986). *blank verse, verse without rhymes.

The Spanish Tragedy (1592) by Thomas Kyd is an example of the tragedy of blood, popular at the time. Blood and death are important matters in the Tragedy. The Spanish Tragedy is like Shakespeare’s Hamlet. A ghost appears to the father of a murdered son. It is based on demanding revenge.

In Hamlet, a ghost appears to the son of a murdered father. A girl who is mad appears in the play, as in Hamlet. A man whose name is Horatio also appears in the play, as in Hamlet. It is said that Kyd once wrote a play, based on Hamlet’s story, and Shakespeare saw it.

The first great dramatist of the time was Christopher Marlowe. His first tragedy is Tamburlaine the Great (about 1587). It is in two parts. It is written in the great blank verse. Marlowe brought it to the stage. The play was well received.

Tamburlaine the Great 1st Part: The story is about power of Tamburlaine (Timur Lenk), a shepherd and robber. He is obsessed with power, luxury and beauty. His armies conquer Bajazet (Beyazıd), emperor of Turkey. Unfortunately, Bajazet is taken from place to place in a cage by Tamburlaine.

2nd Part: The story is about how Tamburlaine’s conquests are further extended. This bloody conquerer is so violent and his cruelty is extreme. He has three sons and he kills one of them when he refuses to follow his father into a battle. To him, there are always battles to fight. He has no opponent on the surface of this earth.

The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe The story is also violent (Thornley & Roberts, 1986). The governer of Malta taxes the Jews there. Barabas, a rich Jew, refuses to pay tax. His money is taken from him, so Barabas begins a life of violence to take his revenge. He poisons her daughter and kills his daughter’s lover.

He also helps the Turks (Ottoman Empire) to invade Malta. Therefore, Calymath (Selim) who is the Turkish leader and the son of the Turkish Sultan makes him governor. However, Barabas kills all the Turkish officers. In the end, he, himself, is thrown into a vessel of boiling water and he dies. *rhythm, the beat of English verse, based on the number of feet in a line and stress patterns. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMpfdpHPNDE

Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus (1588) is about man, Faustus who gives his soul to evil in return for power and richness. Marlowe’s Edward the Second (1593), perhaps his best play, deals with English history. Possibly, Marlowe helped Shakespeare with the writing of parts of Henry the Sixth and other early plays.

Marlowe’s contribution to other dramatists in Elizabethan age The use of powerful blank verse lines to strengthen drama. The development of character to heighten the sense of tragedy. Shakespeare added to these his own mastery of plot and his human sympathy. In doing so, drama reached its greatest heights. *plot, plan of a story or play

William Shakespeare An actor and a dramatist by 1592. Perhaps, he began his work as a dramatist by improving the work of other writers such as: Henry the Sixth Richard the Third (1593) Richard the Second (1595)

The rhythm of the blank verse is still strictly observed (Thornley & Roberts, 1986). Rome and Juliet (1594-5) is the first of Shakespeare’s tragedies. The plot of this story of pure and tragic love is known in all parts of the world.

Romeo and Juliet’s families are their enemies. The deaths of Romeo and Juliet are the only way out of their hopeless situation. The tragedy is deeply sad and moving.

1. The first of the comedies was probably: A Comedy of Error (1592-3?) 2. The order of the early comedies after A Comedy of Error may be: The Taming of the Shrew The Two Gentlemen of Verona Love’s Labour’s Lost A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595-6) shows Shakespeare’s growing power in comedy.

Merchant of Venice (1596-7) In this story, Antonio, a merchant, borrows money from Shylock to help his friend Bassanio. Bassanio wants to marry the rich and beautiful Portia. Shylock dislikes Antonio, but he agrees to lend the money only if he repays it at the right time.

When Antonio’s ships are wrecked , he cannot pay the money. Shylock wants him to pay a pound of his flesh. This case is taken to court but Antonio has no hope. Portia , a lawyer, tries to persuade Shylock to forgive Antonio but she doesn’t succeed. Shylock takes Antonio’s flesh without spilling some blood.

The story is nonsense and no one believes that living flesh can be part of an agreement at law (Thornley & Roberts, 1986). However, the play which was called a comedy was great (Thornley & Roberts, 1986). Shylock has been called the first great Shakespearian character, the first great tragic figure.

As you like it (1599), comedy Much Ado about Nothing (1598-9), comedy Twelfth Night (1600), comedy King Henry the Fourth (1597-8) Henry the Fifth (1599) The Merry Wives of Windsor (1601-?)

Julius Caesar Antony and Cleopatra (1606-7) Coriolanus (1607) Hamlet (1600-1) King Lear (1606?) Macbeth (1605-6) Othello (1604-5)

Cymbeline (1609-10) The Winter’s Tale (1610-11) The Tempest (1611-12)