Introduction to Shakespeare and his World

1. Introduction to Shakespeare and his World To be, or not to be, that is the question…

3. He was not of an age, but for all time.Ben Jonson (1573-1637) • William Shakespeare is, without a doubt, the most famous writer ever to have lived.

4. His works have been translated into just about as many languages that exist, his plays have been performed all over the world, and writers from his own time and after all sing his praises with few exceptions • Voltaire called him a drunken savage

5. Did You Know? • There are many variations of spelling Shakespeare’s name. • There are 6 different versions of Shakespeare’s actual signature • Shaxpeare, Scheackespyrr, Schaeaxpierre

6. What do we know about Shakespeare? 1564-1616

7. He was somewhat of an enigma—a man who was certainly not university-educated, yet who wrote works that are studied in universities around the world. • There are great gaps in his biography known as ‘the lost years’, and very little is known about his private life.

8. Background of the Bard • Parents John & Mary Shakespeare • Educated at Stratford Grammar School • Learned business as an apprentice for his father • Married Anne Hathaway November 28, 1582 • He was 18, she was 26! • She was also pregnant when they got married • Children: Susanna-1583, Judith and Hamnet (twins)- 1585 • His only son died in 1596

9. This house on Henley Street in Stratford-Upon-Avon is the birthplace of William Shakespeare. He was born on April 23rd, 1564 (so it is believed, based on christening records of the day). Brief Bio

10. This would have been considered a respectable dwelling for the Shakespeare family. • William spent his childhood in the house on Henley Street • It’s now a museum • One of the notable things about the house is a pane of glass in one of the upper room's windows, which has etched signatures from many well-known authors, including Charles Dickens and Sir Walter Scott.

11. Plaque at the site of the house where Shakespeare died

12. Shakespeare bought this place in 1597 • This no longer exists-only gardens and the foundation • It was said to have been a substantial house built of timber and brick (a new innovation for the time period), with many rooms and at least 10 fireplaces.

13. Story of Destruction • After having been in the family for many years, it was eventually acquired by a man named Reverend Francis Gastrell in the mid 1700s.

14. Fed up with the constant stream of visitors to the site (it was already a tourist attraction!), he engaged in a conflict with the townspeople by cutting down a mulberry tree on the property that was said to have been planted by Shakespeare.

15. The townspeople retaliated by breaking his windows, and in a fit of pique, the Reverend had the house demolished. • You can visit the site today and the museum beside it which belonged to Thomas Nash, the husband of Shakespeare's granddaughter, Elizabeth

16. Shakespeare’s final resting place

17. April 23rd 1616 (on his B-Day) Good frend for Iesus sake forbeare, To digg the dvstencloasedheare. Blest be ye man yt spares thes stones, And cvrst be he yt moves my bones. In Modern English, this would say: Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed by the man that spares these stones, And cursed by he that moves my bones.

18. Today, Stratford-Upon-Avon is a bustling tourist centre, devoted almost solely to William Shakespeare. Modern Day Stratford-Upon-Avon

19. Shakespeare is actually Queen Elizabeth?! Judge for yourself 

20. Gower Portrait of Elizabeth and Droeshout Engraving of Shakespeare • Is this a hint that Elizabeth is the true author of the plays

26. The Chandos Portrait

27. Chandos Portrait • Offers idealized image of the Bard • Gold earring-modern touch! • Painted Sir William Davenant (godson of the Bard)

29. Cobbe • Thought to be the REAL portrait • Kept in a family home-said to be from 1610ish

30. Queen Elizabeth

31. Queen Elizabeth I –( 1558-1603 ) • Ruled England for 45 years. • Nicknamed “the Virgin Queen” and produced no heir to the throne • Restored Protestantism and formalized the Church of England • During her reign, the economy was weakened by inflation, food shortages, and high rent. • Outbreak of the black plague, food riots, Catholic conspiracies, threats of invasion, etc. • During the Elizabethan Period, hundreds of people were convicted as witches and executed

32. Queen Elizabeth • Bastard daughter of King Henry VIII and Ann Boleyn (2nd of 6 wives) • Henry had Ann beheaded for “treason” • Younger sister of “Bloody Mary.” • “Virgin Queen”? • A tease and a player

34. Her “loving” parents

37. King James I– ( 1603-1628 ) • Renamed Shakespeare’s acting troupe “The King’s Men” • Believed in the supernatural and interested in witchcraft • Religious and believed in the existence of supernatural evil • Commissioned a translation of the bible from Latin to English • Published a book about witchcraft called “Demonologie“ in 1597

38. View of Witchcraft • Witches and witchcraft were a morbid fascination • Between 1560-1603, hundreds of people (nearly all women) were convicted as witches and executed • Witches could predict the future, bring on daytime and nighttime, cause fogs and storms, and change into animals

39. If convicted, people would be subjected to torture and death by hanging or burning at the stake • King James I was fascinated by witchcraft

40. Signs of possession were: trance, change of appearance, inability to pray, visions, disturbed behavior, lack of fear, indifference to life, and invitations to evil spirits to possess one’s body. • Shakespeare’s audience were religious Christians who believed in heaven and hell

41. The Renaissance • 1500-1650 • “Rebirth” of arts, culture, science • Discovery of “New World” • Copernicus: Sun-centered Universe (1543) • King Henry VIII = renaissance man (ideal) • Reformation of Catholic Church

42. Conditions in London-BAD! • Thames River polluted with raw sewage • Trees used up for fuel • Poverty

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

44. Living Conditions • No running water • Chamber Pots • Open Sewers • Crowded

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

46. When in a play... • Only men were permitted to perform • Boys or effeminate (having feminine qualities)men were used to play the women • Costumes were often the company’s most valuable asset • Costumes were made by the company, bought in London, or donated by courtiers

47. Staging Areas • Stage -- platform that extended into the pit • Dressing & storage rooms in galleries behind & above stage • Second-level gallery & upper stage -- famous balcony scene in R & J • Trap door -ghosts • “Heavens”- angelic beings

48. English Theater • Plays were most often performed in outdoor theaters • Performances took place during the day so that the stage would be illuminated by natural light

49. The Globe Theater