Notes on the History of Elizabethan England Shakespeare

Notes on the History of Elizabethan England Shakespeare Himself

King Henry VIII (Ruled England 1509 -1547) Known for breaking with Church + Many Wives (6)

Catharine Parr Catherine of Aragon 1509 -1532 July 1543 -1547 Catherine Howard Anne Boleyn 1532 -May 19, 1536 King Henry and His Wives Jane Seymour May 29, 1536 -1537 July 28, 1540 -1542 Anne Cleves Jan. 6, 1540 -July 12, 1540

Catherine of Aragon (1509 -1532) • Marries Henry to keep alliance with Spain • Bears 7 children; only Mary lives through infancy • Henry starts new church, annuls marriage, banishes Catherine

Anne Boleyn (1532 -May 19, 1536) • Gives birth to daughter, Elizabeth, 1533 • Henry accuses her of unfaithfulness • Beheaded May 19, 1536

Jane Seymour (May 29, 1536 -1537) • Gives birth to son, Edward, 1537 • Dies from complications in childbirth

Anne of Cleves (Jan. 6, 1540 -July 12, 1540) • Henry marries her for political reasons -alliance with Cleves (part of modern Germany) • Officially divorces her July 12, 1540

Catherine Howard (July 28, 1540 -1542) • Anne Boleyn’s 2 nd cousin • Anne of Cleves’ maid in waiting • She has affairs • Beheaded 1542

Catharine Parr (1543 -1547) • Henry’s last wife • Acts as Henry’s nurse when he becomes sick

England After Henry • When Henry dies, Edward comes to the throne (he was 9!) • Edward dies when he’s 16, and “Bloody Mary” takes the throne

Queen Elizabeth I (Ruled England 1558 -1603) • Mary (a Catholic) dies and Elizabeth (a Protestant) comes to the throne in 1558 • Under Elizabeth, the arts flourished and educational institutions were established. • England also became a military force -Defeat of the Spanish Armada 1588 • Never married, so known as the “Virgin Queen” • Followed by King James (16031625)

Defeating the Spanish Armada

Life in Elizabethan England Public Life • Gossip: Those who are “in the know” are popular. • Crowds and public squares were volatile --> anything could set them off! • No free discussion of rulers = High treason! Spies everywhere • Punishments: • Upper class = beheading • Lower class = drawing and quartering

Life in Elizabethan England Family Life • Children and parents = very formal – Never disobey – Children raised by nurses • Women had no legal rights LOVE • Romantic Love was ALWAYS discouraged -- a good match was more important • HONOR = very important! Defend family – All their money and possessions went to the husband – Literacy Rate was Low • (W-10% M-30%) – Single wealthy women were fought over – Married at the age of 11 or 12 – Father had the right to choose husbands for daughters -negotiated for power • Marriage = crucial to a woman – No legal rights without it

Heart of England = LONDON Tower Of London • Fort for protecting the city from invasions • Royal Palace • Prison

London: Sanitation Horrible! • Streets were filthy – No sewers or drains – Gutters were in the middle of the street – Garbage & chamber pots emptied in the streets --piled up until a rain • Men walked in the middle of street to protect the ladies The Plague = incurable • Overcrowding led to slums, filth • Plague carried by fleas on rats -- not known then • Thought to be God’s wrath on wicked people • Two outbreaks killed 1/4 of the population in Shakespeare’s time • Life expectancy = 48 years • Time to travel to “New World” = 1 -2 months

Theater’s Place in the World: One Side The Court • Elizabeth and James totally supported theater • Shakespeare’s company, “The King’s Men, ” were named for King James

Theater’s Place in the World: The Other Side City Officials • Time of Puritanism = Very conservative • Thought theater was evil, satanic, and destroyed public morals

Theater’s Place in the World Therefore: • Theater was not allowed in London proper, within the official city limits • Instead, all theaters were in Southwark, just across the Thames, and outside city lines

Shakespeare’s Theater: The Globe • Variety of tickets, from the pit (groundlings) to the gallery • Loud, obnoxious, intelligent crowds • Performances lasted “at least two hours, ” and started around 2 PM (the middle of the working day) • Trumpet blew to signal the start • Public - open to all, though could not be advertised • Showed type of play by color of the flag • White = Comedy • Red = History • Black = Tragedy

A Tour of the Globe

William Shakespeare: The Bard Himself

England-A Spiritually Divided Country • When Henry starts his own church, that splits the country into Catholic and Protestant • Shakespeare’s family has Catholic roots, but he supports the Queen

Shakespeare: Early Life Vital Stats: • Born April 23, 1564 • Dies April 23, 1616 • Early Life: Stratford on Avon, England • Marries Anne Hathaway (said she saved his life) • They have three kids: – Susanna, Hamnet and Judith • He moves to London in 1590 s

Stratford On Avon: Shakespeare’s Hometown Shakespeare’s Grammar School

London: The Big City

Shakespeare in London • Became a leading actor and playwright by 1592 • In 1594, Romeo and Juliet was first performed -- all male actors! • By 1595, he’s the hottest playwright in London • Writes 37 plays (2 per year) • Performed plays in theaters, palaces, inns, and homes of nobility • 1610 -- returned to Stratford

How Shakespeare Changed Theatre Before -- After -- • Performed by roaming troupes for a meal or bed. • Professional • Adds sets, lighting, multiple stages, and the box office. • Theater is new, akin to the start of TV • Actors considered vagrants • Performed lewd plays to religious ones.