Elizabethan Era Shakespeare’s Theater Garcia 2005

Queen Elizabeth I 1533~1603 Reigned 1558 ~ 1603 Daughter of Henry VIII & third in line for the throne “Virgin Queen” (married to England) Highly popular and influential political leader Led England into a Renaissance of arts and sciences Loved art, music, poetry, dancing and THEATRE; Shakespeare gave 32 performances at her court

Elizabethan Life: Life Expectancy Low life expectancy, about 42 years old Wealthy lived longer Reasons: influenza, high infant death, sanitary conditions, Bubonic Plague

Elizabethan Leisure Life Queen Elizabeth influenced England’s Renaissance Period Very prosperous time for Poetry and Drama Writers sought the Queen’s approval to obtain patronage Limited to high social class and males: most people were illiterate

Elizabethan Fashion

Medicine

Beliefs Elizabethans believed in fate Highly superstitious Many physicians still believed planets’ alignment determined a person’s health Good and Evil in the world--nothing in between God determined who would be punished or rewarded: “God’s will” Children had no rights. Had to obey their parents Women had to obey husbands

Bubonic Plague Bacteria that lived in rats Humans were infected by fleas that lived on rats Transmitted through water sources 1563: Major outbreak in London. Took 80,000 lives Broke out again in 1578 when Queen Elizabeth took action. Ordered doctors to create cure and ordered public houses closed Plague was stopped by The Great Fire of London (1666) that killed the rats Plague greatly influenced Elizabethan life

William Shakespeare 1564-1616

Globe Theater Where most of Shakespeare’s plays were first presented Plays were held during warmer months and during the day (no electricity) Stage was a platform thrust into the pit Theater brought social classes together Playwright wrote for diverse audiences

Lower Tiers: “Groundlings” Lower social class Rowdy crowd, would eat, talk and yell out when inspired to Responded best to dirty jokes and action, such as sword fights and clowns

Upper Tier: High Social Class More educated class Enjoyed plays that contained action, intrigue, elevated language and characters based on the upper class

Staging Little to no props or scenery Costumes were based on how upper class dressed Women were not allowed to act in plays until late 17th century (considered “daring”) Women’s roles played by men or young boys

How different is life today, compared to the Elizabethan Age? Garcia 2005