Elizabethan England What was life like in Shakespeare’s Day?

Shakespeare lived in the “Elizabethan Age” Queen Elizabeth I ruled during most of Shakespeare’s life, from During her reign, England was a prosperous, powerful nation. Agriculture-based economy, with a strong military Social classes determined status Lowest class: the peasants. Very poor, unskilled masses

Social Classes in Elizabethan England: The next highest class was the laborers. These people worked on various farms that were owned by others. They were paid very little for their work. The next highest class was the gentleman class. These people were merchants, vendors and business owners. Some of these people did very well. The highest class of all was the noble class. These people were landowners and royalty. Money was never a problem for these people.

The Haves and Have-Nots: During this time, there was a huge gap between those who had and those who had not. This inequality resulted in a rising number of slums in London and peasant riots in the countryside. Prostitution was rampant and police protection was minimal. England’s population grew to 5 million people during Elizabeth’s reign.

Elizabeth’s nickname was “The Virgin Queen” because she never married. Instead, she used her beauty to gain power over the leaders of other powerful countries. She was able to fill England’s treasuries and accumulate personal power by stringing along the crown princes of Europe. What a player!

“A plague on both your houses!” The bubonic plague brought an end to Elizabeth’s golden age. The disease, transmitted through fleas and a lack of hygiene, killed one third of Europe’s population between 1500 and 1600!

William Shakespeare “Will the real Will Shakespeare please stand up?” There is some controversy over who really wrote Shakespeare’s plays…

William Shakespeare, The Early Years: Born in Stratford-on-Avon, England, in His exact date of birth is not known, but it is celebrated on April 23, the Feast of St. George. He was the third of seven children born to John and Mary Shakespeare. His father was a tanner and glove-maker, and was also a prominent political figure in Stratford. His father died in 1601 and left very little to William.

Shakespeare’s Family Home Who art thou that standeth in fronteth of my houseth?

William Shakespeare: Attended a very good grammar school, where he studied Latin, some Greek, and science, but not ENGLISH! Married Anne Hathaway in 1582, while he was 18. Anne was at least 7 or 8 years older than Willy! First daughter, Susanna, was born Twins, Judith and Hamnet, were born in By 1592, William was an established playwright in London – one problem, though – theaters were closed most of the time because of the Plague!

There is a significant period of time in Shakespeare’s life, before he becomes an established playwright, that remains a mystery to modern historians. Above, “The Bard’s” schoolroom. Where’s Willy?

Acting in the days of Shakespeare: Actors were considered in the same class as vagrants and criminals. Many considered them to be liars because they were pretending to be what they were not. It was illegal for actors to perform unless they were “servants” of a nobleman. If found “masterless,” actors might be whipped, and their right ears burned. Women were not allowed to act on stage, so all male and female roles were played by men.

Acting in the days of Shakespeare: Playwrights, like Shakespeare, were looked down on by many. Some people thought acting was low-class, immoral work. Also, these people often chose to attend plays instead of church. In 1598, Shakespeare applied for and was granted a coat of arms. This is important because it gave him the standing of a gentleman.

Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets. The plays were comedies, tragedies, and histories, or a mixture of these three with a little romance thrown in for good measure.

Most of Shakespeare’s plays, including his famous tragic romance Romeo and Juliet, were performed at London’s Globe Theatre. The Globe Theatre was built across the Thames river from London proper in The Globe Theatre burned down in 1613 when a cannon was fired on stage during a production of King Henry VIII.

William Shakespeare: “A Man of All Ages” Remember one thing, Shakespeare wrote plays for one reason: MONEY! When the Globe burned down, Shakespeare retired and went home to Stratford. He died on April 23 (his birthday?!) in 1616, a wealthy and famous playwright. How old was he when he died? 52

The Globe Theater "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages." --From As You Like It

The Globe Theater: The original theater was built in It burned down in 1613 (did I say that already?)! The Globe was rebuilt and reopened It remained open until 1642 until the Puritans closed it. It was pulled down in 1644 because room was needed to build tenement dwellings!

The Globe Theater: An 8-sided theater that could hold up to 2500 people. Seating areas consisted of 4 levels, with each level mirroring the audience’s socio- economic class. Admission to the first level, the “yard” or “pit” was 1 cent. Closest to the stage, this was where the poorest members of English society watched the play. Because they had to stand the whole time, the “groundlings” could get very rowdy!!

The Globe Theater: Admission to the lowest level of seats was 2-3 cents. Usually reserved for those of the laborer class who wanted to separate themselves from the “groundlings.” Admission to the next-highest level of seats was 10 cents. Usually reserved for those of the gentleman class. Admission to the highest level of seats, the gallery, was 20 cents. Usually reserved for the noble class.

The Globe Theater The stage was split into 3 levels, with the main action occurring on the main stage, with the second and third levels serving as balconies and the heavens. The stage also had a trap door with a level beneath it, usually called “hell.”

The Globe theater was rebuilt in the 1990’s thanks to the hard work and determination of American actor Sam Wanamaker. Unfortunately, Sam died before the rebuilding was finished. Sad face.

The Globe Theater:

The Globe was also called the Wooden “O” because it was built in a circle and, in the center of the building, the roof was open to the sky. This open roof design allowed natural light to illuminate the stage. Plays were only held during the day.

Shakespeare died almost 400 years ago. Ben Johnson, one of Shakespeare’s contemporaries, would later write of the Bard, “He was not of an age, but for all time,” His remains lie undisturbed in the Church of the Holy Trinity.

Go. And readeth. And be happy.