Introduction to Introduction to ShakespeareShakespeare

The RenaissanceThe Renaissance

1500-16501500-1650 ““Rebirth” of arts, Rebirth” of arts,

culture, science culture, science Discovery of “New Discovery of “New

World”World” Copernicus: Sun-Copernicus: Sun-

centered Universe centered Universe (1543)(1543)

King Henry VIII = King Henry VIII = renaissance man (ideal)renaissance man (ideal)

Reformation of Catholic Reformation of Catholic ChurchChurch

Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandQueen Elizabeth I Queen Elizabeth I

reigned from 1558-reigned from 1558-1603 (45 years). 1603 (45 years). Period called Period called ElizabethanElizabethan

Govern. and Govern. and religion affected religion affected theater productionstheater productions

William William Shakespeare was Shakespeare was born in 1564born in 1564

Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan England

People were People were smaller smaller

Average man Average man 5’6”5’6”

Average woman Average woman 4’8”4’8”

Elizabethan Elizabethan (Shakespeare’s) England(Shakespeare’s) England

Life was not Life was not as as glamorous glamorous

No indoor No indoor plumbing.plumbing.

Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandAt HomeAt Home

Roofs were straw Roofs were straw “thatch.”“thatch.”

Pet dogs and Pet dogs and cats, mice, rats, cats, mice, rats, and bugs lived in and bugs lived in the roof.the roof.

If it rained the If it rained the roof got slippery roof got slippery and it rained and it rained “cats and dogs.” “cats and dogs.”

Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandAt HomeAt Home

Folks slept in beds Folks slept in beds cross-wisecross-wise

Anne Hathaway, Anne Hathaway, had a queen-sized had a queen-sized bed she shared bed she shared with two sisters with two sisters and six servant and six servant girls beforegirls before she she married Will married Will Shakespeare.Shakespeare.

Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandAt HomeAt Home

The floor of The floor of most thatched most thatched houses was houses was dirt. Only the dirt. Only the wealthy could wealthy could afford slate afford slate flooring. flooring.

Everybody else Everybody else was “dirt poor.”was “dirt poor.”

Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandAt HomeAt Home

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

Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandHygieneHygiene

People usually People usually bathed once-a-bathed once-a-year, in May. year, in May.

Men first, then Men first, then women, then women, then the kids – in the the kids – in the same water. same water.

Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandHygieneHygiene

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

Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandHygieneHygiene

Most weddings Most weddings were in June, were in June, when couple and when couple and the guests were the guests were still relatively still relatively body odor-free.body odor-free.

It was believed It was believed baths caused baths caused illness.illness.

Personal hygiene/healthPersonal hygiene/health

Bathing considered dangerousBathing considered dangerousBody odor strongBody odor strongChildhood diseasesChildhood diseasesChildren often died before 5 yearsChildren often died before 5 yearsSmall PoxSmall PoxBubonic PlagueBubonic Plague

Elizabethan EntertainmentElizabethan EntertainmentFashionFashion

Fashion was a major Fashion was a major pastime. Most pastime. Most Elizabethans wore Elizabethans wore their fortunes on their fortunes on their backs. They’d their backs. They’d rather be well-rather be well-dressed and dressed and penniless than rich penniless than rich and poorly dressed.and poorly dressed.

Most folks dressed Most folks dressed in the clothing of in the clothing of the social class the social class above them.above them.

ClothesClothes

One set used all One set used all year long, rarely year long, rarely washedwashed

Underclothing slept Underclothing slept in, infrequently in, infrequently changedchanged

Clothes handed Clothes handed down from rich to down from rich to poorpoor

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William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Born 1564, died 1616Born 1564, died 1616 In Stratford upon AvonIn Stratford upon AvonWrote 37 plays Wrote 37 plays Wrote over 150 sonnetsWrote over 150 sonnetsActor, poet, playwrightActor, poet, playwright

Shakespeare wrote:Shakespeare wrote:

Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a Comedies - light and amusing, usually with a happy endinghappy ending

Tragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endingsTragedies –serious dramas with disastrous endings

Histories – involve events or persons from historyHistories – involve events or persons from history

Types of PlaysTypes of Plays

• The Globe Theatre:The Globe Theatre:

• Open ceilingOpen ceiling

• Three stories highThree stories high

• No artificial lightingNo artificial lighting• Plays were shown Plays were shown

during daylight hours during daylight hours onlyonly

The TheatreThe Theatre

The GlobeThe Globe

Built in 1599Built in 1599Across the Thames- “Wrong side of Across the Thames- “Wrong side of

town”town”King’s Players - Shakespeare’s King’s Players - Shakespeare’s

companycompanyPenny admissionPenny admission It was closed during The PlagueIt was closed during The Plague

SpectatorsSpectators Wealthy people Wealthy people

got to sit on got to sit on benchesbenches

The poor (called The poor (called “groundlings”) had “groundlings”) had to stand and watch to stand and watch from the courtyardfrom the courtyard

There was much There was much more audience more audience participation than participation than todaytoday

Threw rotten Threw rotten vegetables at bad vegetables at bad performancesperformances

ActorsActors

Only men and boysOnly men and boys Young boys whose Young boys whose

voices had not voices had not changed played changed played the women’s rolesthe women’s roles

It would have been It would have been indecentindecent for a for a woman to appear woman to appear on stageon stage

Actors were not Actors were not highly regardedhighly regarded

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

Considered a Considered a tragedytragedy

Tells the story of two Tells the story of two teenagers who risk teenagers who risk everything for loveeverything for love

Shakespeare is Shakespeare is exploring which is exploring which is stronger: love or stronger: love or hatehate

““Romeo and Juliet”Romeo and Juliet”

Written in 1595Written in 1595 Set in Verona, ItalySet in Verona, Italy Themes: parental Themes: parental

control/rebellious control/rebellious teens; fate/freewill; teens; fate/freewill; impulsive impulsive behavior/self-behavior/self-control/what is control/what is love?love?

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The funeralThe funeral

Romeo and Juliet is Romeo and Juliet is one of one of Shakespeare's Shakespeare's earliest tragedies earliest tragedies and was probably and was probably written in 1594 or written in 1594 or 1595. It was 'often 1595. It was 'often played publicly played publicly before it was before it was printed in 1597. printed in 1597.

RomeoRomeo

- Is a MontagueIs a Montague- 16 years old16 years old- Cute, smart, Cute, smart,

sensitivesensitive- Impulsive and Impulsive and

immatureimmature- He doesn’t care He doesn’t care

about the feudabout the feud- Romantic heartRomantic heart

Lady MontagueLady Montague

Romeo’s MomRomeo’s Mom Dies of grief after Dies of grief after

Romeo’s deathRomeo’s death

Lord MontagueLord Montague

Romeo’s dadRomeo’s dad Worries about Worries about

Romeo’s sadnessRomeo’s sadness Patriarch (head Patriarch (head

man) of the man) of the MontaguesMontagues

BalthasarBalthasar

Romeo’s servantRomeo’s servant He goes to tell He goes to tell

Romeo that Juliet Romeo that Juliet is dead (he is dead (he doesn’t know that doesn’t know that it is a fake death)it is a fake death)

AbrahamAbraham

Montague’s Montague’s servantservant

Fights Sampson Fights Sampson and Gregory in and Gregory in the beginningthe beginning

BenvolioBenvolio

Romeo’s cousin & Romeo’s cousin & friendfriend

Tries to break-up Tries to break-up fights. Keep the fights. Keep the peace.peace.

Counsels Romeo about Counsels Romeo about love and make him feel love and make him feel better.better.

MercutioMercutio

Related to the princeRelated to the prince Good friends W/ RomeoGood friends W/ Romeo Bad temperBad temper Doesn’t like emotional Doesn’t like emotional

peoplepeople Believes love is about the Believes love is about the

physical contact and physical contact and nothing else.nothing else.

JulietJuliet

-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 She doesn’t have as

much freedom as much freedom as Romeo b/c she is a girlRomeo b/c she is a girl

SO she sneaks around SO she sneaks around to see Romeoto see Romeo

She totally trusts She totally trusts RomeoRomeo

Juliet is very close with Juliet is very close with the nurse.the nurse.

Lord CapuletLord Capulet

Juliet’s dadJuliet’s dad He truly loves Juliet, He truly loves Juliet,

but does not know her but does not know her feelings and dreamsfeelings and dreams

Bad temper when Bad temper when things don’t go his things don’t go his wayway

He commands respect He commands respect and proprietyand propriety

Patriarch of the Patriarch of the CapuletsCapulets

Lady CapuletLady Capulet

Juliet’s momJuliet’s mom Ineffectual mother- Ineffectual mother-

relies on the nurse relies on the nurse to “mother” Julietto “mother” Juliet

She married She married young, had Juliet young, had Juliet around age 14, around age 14, and is eager for and is eager for her to marry Parisher to marry Paris

NurseNurse

Has cared for Juliet Has cared for Juliet since she was bornsince she was born

Vulgar, long-Vulgar, long-winded, loyal and winded, loyal and a confidante to a confidante to JulietJuliet

At end though, At end though, they have a falling-they have a falling-out over Romeoout over Romeo

Gregory & SampsonGregory & Sampson

Servants to the Servants to the CapuletsCapulets

Start a fight w/ Start a fight w/ Montagues at the Montagues at the beginning of the beginning of the playplay

TybaltTybalt

Juliet’s cousinJuliet’s cousin Vain, fashionable, Vain, fashionable,

very into proper very into proper etiquette, pridefuletiquette, prideful

He is well-trained He is well-trained in sword fighting in sword fighting and someone to and someone to fearfear

He loathes He loathes MontaguesMontagues

Prince EscalusPrince Escalus

Prince of VeronaPrince of Verona He is concerned He is concerned

with maintaining with maintaining public peace public peace

Related to Related to Mercutio and ParisMercutio and Paris

ParisParis

Related to the Related to the princeprince

Preferred by the Preferred by the Capulets to marry Capulets to marry JulietJuliet

He treats Juliet He treats Juliet inappropriately inappropriately after Capulet says after Capulet says he can marry her.he can marry her.

RosalineRosaline

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

The ApothecaryThe Apothecary

Like a pharmacistLike a pharmacist He sells the He sells the

poison to Romeo.poison to Romeo. Values money Values money

more than moralsmore than morals

Friar LawrenceFriar Lawrence

Friend to Romeo and Friend to Romeo and JulietJuliet

Kind, civic-mindedKind, civic-minded Secretly marries R & J Secretly marries R & J

in hopes that their in hopes that their marriage will end the marriage will end the feud.feud.

He is a Catholic holy He is a Catholic holy man and also familiar man and also familiar with potions and herbs.with potions and herbs.

Friar JohnFriar John

A Catholic holy man A Catholic holy man asked to tell Romeo asked to tell Romeo about Juliet's false about Juliet's false death. death.

He is held up in a He is held up in a quarantined house quarantined house and so never gets and so never gets the message to the message to Romeo.Romeo.

Things to think about…Things to think about…

What would you do if your What would you do if your parents did not approve of parents did not approve of someone you were dating?someone you were dating?

How important is the opinion How important is the opinion of your family in decisions of your family in decisions that you make?that you make?

Does violence solve Does violence solve problems?problems?