Introduction to Shakespeare

The Renaissance “Rebirth” of arts, culture, science “Rebirth” of arts, culture, science Discovery of “New World” Discovery of “New World” Copernicus: Sun- centered Universe (1543) Copernicus: Sun- centered Universe (1543) King Henry VIII = renaissance man (ideal) King Henry VIII = renaissance man (ideal) Reformation of Catholic Church Reformation of Catholic Church

Elizabethan England Queen Elizabeth I reigned from (45 years). Period called Elizabethan Queen Elizabeth I reigned from (45 years). Period called Elizabethan Govern. and religion affected theater productions Govern. and religion affected theater productions William Shakespeare was born in 1564 William Shakespeare was born in 1564

Elizabethan England People were smaller People were smaller Average man 5’6” Average man 5’6” Average woman 4’8” Average woman 4’8”

Elizabethan (Shakespeare’s) England Life was not as glamorous Life was not as glamorous No indoor plumbing. No indoor plumbing.

Elizabethan England At Home Roofs were straw “thatch.” Roofs were straw “thatch.” Pet dogs and cats, mice, rats, and bugs lived in the roof. Pet dogs and cats, mice, rats, and bugs lived in the roof. If it rained the roof got slippery and it rained “cats and dogs.” If it rained the roof got slippery and it rained “cats and dogs.”

Elizabethan England At Home Folks slept in beds cross-wise Folks slept in beds cross-wise Anne Hathaway, had a queen-sized bed she shared with two sisters and six servant girls before she married Will Shakespeare. Anne Hathaway, had a queen-sized bed she shared with two sisters and six servant girls before she married Will Shakespeare.

Elizabethan England At Home The floor of most thatched houses was dirt. Only the wealthy could afford slate flooring. The floor of most thatched houses was dirt. Only the wealthy could afford slate flooring. Everybody else was “dirt poor.” Everybody else was “dirt poor.”

Elizabethan England At Home Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom, family got the middle, and guests got the “upper crust.” Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom, family got the middle, and guests got the “upper crust.”

Elizabethan England Hygiene People usually bathed once-a- year, in May. People usually bathed once-a- year, in May. Men first, then women, then the kids – in the same water. Men first, then women, then the kids – in the same water.

Elizabethan England Hygiene As the water got dirtier, and dirtier, they had to be careful not to “ throw out the baby with the bathwater.” As the water got dirtier, and dirtier, they had to be careful not to “ throw out the baby with the bathwater.”

Elizabethan England Hygiene Most weddings were in June, when couple and the guests were still relatively body odor- free. Most weddings were in June, when couple and the guests were still relatively body odor- free. It was believed baths caused illness. It was believed baths caused illness.

Personal hygiene/health Bathing considered dangerous Bathing considered dangerous Body odor strong Body odor strong Childhood diseases Childhood diseases Children often died before 5 years Children often died before 5 years Small Pox Small Pox Bubonic Plague Bubonic Plague

Elizabethan Entertainment Fashion Fashion was a major pastime. Most Elizabethans wore their fortunes on their backs. They’d rather be well- dressed and penniless than rich and poorly dressed. Fashion was a major pastime. Most Elizabethans wore their fortunes on their backs. They’d rather be well- dressed and penniless than rich and poorly dressed. Most folks dressed in the clothing of the social class above them. Most folks dressed in the clothing of the social class above them.

Clothes One set used all year long, rarely washed One set used all year long, rarely washed Underclothing slept in, infrequently changed Underclothing slept in, infrequently changed Clothes handed down from rich to poor Clothes handed down from rich to poor

William Shakespeare Born 1564, died 1616 Born 1564, died 1616 In Stratford upon Avon In Stratford upon Avon Wrote 37 plays Wrote 37 plays Wrote over 150 sonnets Wrote over 150 sonnets Actor, poet, playwright Actor, poet, playwright

Shakespeare wrote: Shakespeare wrote: Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a happy ending Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a happy ending Tragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endings Tragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endings Histories – involve events or persons from history Histories – involve events or persons from history Types of Plays

The Globe Theatre: The Globe Theatre: Open ceiling Open ceiling Three stories high Three stories high No artificial lighting No artificial lighting Plays were shown during daylight hours only Plays were shown during daylight hours only The Theatre

The Globe Built in 1599 Built in 1599 Across the Thames- “Wrong side of town” Across the Thames- “Wrong side of town” King’s Players - Shakespeare’s company King’s Players - Shakespeare’s company Penny admission Penny admission It was closed during The Plague It was closed during The Plague

Spectators Wealthy people got to sit on benches Wealthy people got to sit on benches The poor (called “groundlings”) had to stand and watch from the courtyard The poor (called “groundlings”) had to stand and watch from the courtyard There was much more audience participation than today There was much more audience participation than today Threw rotten vegetables at bad performances Threw rotten vegetables at bad performances

Actors Only men and boys Only men and boys Young boys whose voices had not changed played the women’s roles Young boys whose voices had not changed played the women’s roles It would have been indecent for a woman to appear on stage It would have been indecent for a woman to appear on stage Actors were not highly regarded Actors were not highly regarded

Romeo and Juliet Considered a tragedy Considered a tragedy Tells the story of two teenagers who risk everything for love Tells the story of two teenagers who risk everything for love Shakespeare is exploring which is stronger: love or hate Shakespeare is exploring which is stronger: love or hate

“Romeo and Juliet” Written in 1595 Written in 1595 Set in Verona, Italy Set in Verona, Italy Themes: parental control/rebellious teens; fate/freewill; impulsive behavior/self- control/what is love? Themes: parental control/rebellious teens; fate/freewill; impulsive behavior/self- control/what is love?

The funeral Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's earliest tragedies and was probably written in 1594 or It was 'often played publicly before it was printed in Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's earliest tragedies and was probably written in 1594 or It was 'often played publicly before it was printed in 1597.

Romeo - Is a Montague - 16 years old - Cute, smart, sensitive - Impulsive and immature - He doesn’t care about the feud - Romantic heart

Lady Montague Romeo’s Mom Romeo’s Mom Dies of grief after Romeo’s death Dies of grief after Romeo’s death

Lord Montague Romeo’s dad Romeo’s dad Worries about Romeo’s sadness Worries about Romeo’s sadness Patriarch (head man) of the Montagues Patriarch (head man) of the Montagues

Balthasar Romeo’s servant Romeo’s servant He goes to tell Romeo that Juliet is dead (he doesn’t know that it is a fake death) He goes to tell Romeo that Juliet is dead (he doesn’t know that it is a fake death)

Abraham Montague’s servant Montague’s servant Fights Sampson and Gregory in the beginning Fights Sampson and Gregory in the beginning

Benvolio Romeo’s cousin & friend Romeo’s cousin & friend Tries to break-up fights. Keep the peace. Tries to break-up fights. Keep the peace. Counsels Romeo about love and make him feel better. Counsels Romeo about love and make him feel better.

Mercutio Related to the prince Related to the prince Good friends W/ Romeo Good friends W/ Romeo Bad temper Bad temper Doesn’t like emotional people Doesn’t like emotional people Believes love is about the physical contact and nothing else. Believes love is about the physical contact and nothing else.

Juliet -is a capulet, 13 yrs old -is a capulet, 13 yrs old Begins as a naïve child, Begins as a naïve child, She doesn’t have as much freedom as Romeo b/c she is a girl She doesn’t have as much freedom as Romeo b/c she is a girl SO she sneaks around to see Romeo SO she sneaks around to see Romeo She totally trusts Romeo She totally trusts Romeo Juliet is very close with the nurse. Juliet is very close with the nurse.

Lord Capulet Juliet’s dad Juliet’s dad He truly loves Juliet, but does not know her feelings and dreams He truly loves Juliet, but does not know her feelings and dreams Bad temper when things don’t go his way Bad temper when things don’t go his way He commands respect and propriety He commands respect and propriety Patriarch of the Capulets Patriarch of the Capulets

Lady Capulet Juliet’s mom Juliet’s mom Ineffectual mother- relies on the nurse to “mother” Juliet Ineffectual mother- relies on the nurse to “mother” Juliet She married young, had Juliet around age 14, and is eager for her to marry Paris She married young, had Juliet around age 14, and is eager for her to marry Paris

Nurse Has cared for Juliet since she was born Has cared for Juliet since she was born Vulgar, long-winded, loyal and a confidante to Juliet Vulgar, long-winded, loyal and a confidante to Juliet At end though, they have a falling-out over Romeo At end though, they have a falling-out over Romeo

Gregory & Sampson Servants to the Capulets Servants to the Capulets Start a fight w/ Montagues at the beginning of the play Start a fight w/ Montagues at the beginning of the play

Tybalt Juliet’s cousin Juliet’s cousin Vain, fashionable, very into proper etiquette, prideful Vain, fashionable, very into proper etiquette, prideful He is well-trained in sword fighting and someone to fear He is well-trained in sword fighting and someone to fear He loathes Montagues He loathes Montagues

Prince Escalus Prince of Verona Prince of Verona He is concerned with maintaining public peace He is concerned with maintaining public peace Related to Mercutio and Paris Related to Mercutio and Paris

Paris Related to the prince Related to the prince Preferred by the Capulets to marry Juliet Preferred by the Capulets to marry Juliet He treats Juliet inappropriately after Capulet says he can marry her. He treats Juliet inappropriately after Capulet says he can marry her.

Rosaline The woman who Romeo is obsessed with at the beginning of the play. The woman who Romeo is obsessed with at the beginning of the play.

The Apothecary Like a pharmacist Like a pharmacist He sells the poison to Romeo. He sells the poison to Romeo. Values money more than morals Values money more than morals

Friar Lawrence Friend to Romeo and Juliet Friend to Romeo and Juliet Kind, civic-minded Kind, civic-minded Secretly marries R & J in hopes that their marriage will end the feud. Secretly marries R & J in hopes that their marriage will end the feud. He is a Catholic holy man and also familiar with potions and herbs. He is a Catholic holy man and also familiar with potions and herbs.

Friar John A Catholic holy man asked to tell Romeo about Juliet's false death. A Catholic holy man asked to tell Romeo about Juliet's false death. He is held up in a quarantined house and so never gets the message to Romeo. He is held up in a quarantined house and so never gets the message to Romeo.

Things to think about… What would you do if your parents did not approve of someone you were dating? What would you do if your parents did not approve of someone you were dating? How important is the opinion of your family in decisions that you make? How important is the opinion of your family in decisions that you make? Does violence solve problems? Does violence solve problems?