William Shakespeare April 23, 1564 (?) - April 23, 1616.

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

April 23, 1564 (?)April 23, 1564 (?)

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April 23, 1616April 23, 1616

Popular EntertainerPopular Entertainer

ActorActorDirectorDirectorWriterWriterPartnerPartner

Contemporaries recognized his geniusContemporaries recognized his genius Modern-day examples of people who act, direct, Modern-day examples of people who act, direct,

write, and own: Robert Redford; Kevin Kostnerwrite, and own: Robert Redford; Kevin Kostner

Early LifeEarly Life

Born in Stratford, England Born in Stratford, England On the banks of the Avon RiverOn the banks of the Avon RiverSon of a glove-makerSon of a glove-maker

Christening – April 26, 1564Christening – April 26, 1564 Third of eight childrenThird of eight children Nov. 1582- Married Anne HathawayNov. 1582- Married Anne Hathaway

– 8 years older than he8 years older than he May 1583 – child Susanna baptizedMay 1583 – child Susanna baptized

(you do the math)(you do the math) Living in London (1592)Living in London (1592)

Business ManBusiness Man

Acting, writing, directing paid the billsActing, writing, directing paid the bills Real wealth – his share of the ticket Real wealth – his share of the ticket

receipts.receipts.– Part owner of the acting companyPart owner of the acting company– Part owner of the theater (Globe)Part owner of the theater (Globe)

(think Houston Astros’ owner)(think Houston Astros’ owner)- did send money home to his wife- did send money home to his wife- bought one of the largest home is - bought one of the largest home is Stratford for his familyStratford for his family- bought respectability – coat-of-arms- bought respectability – coat-of-arms

Criticisms of Criticisms of ShakespeareShakespeare

Education was limitedEducation was limited- - had church bells (not invented until medieval times) in had church bells (not invented until medieval times) in RomeRome

Didn’t travel and see the worldDidn’t travel and see the world– Never visited Italy; mistakes in playsNever visited Italy; mistakes in plays

Knew little of foreign languagesKnew little of foreign languages CommonerCommoner

– Wrote of intimate details that would have been Wrote of intimate details that would have been unknown to himunknown to him

Popular EntertainerPopular Entertainer

No cinema, no television, no footballNo cinema, no television, no football– Wealthy people hired musicians, actors, Wealthy people hired musicians, actors,

dancers and fencersdancers and fencers– Everyone else had to find entertainment: Everyone else had to find entertainment:

In London, it was In London, it was

TheaterTheater

Today: Go to a movie, then a bar or Today: Go to a movie, then a bar or nightclubnightclub

Then: Go to a play, then a tavernThen: Go to a play, then a tavern

Wrong Side of the Wrong Side of the RiverRiver

The lifestyles of the rich and famousThe lifestyles of the rich and famous- Fun to watch and read aboutFun to watch and read about

Theaters were disreputableTheaters were disreputable– Banned from London Banned from London – Built outside city limits (across the Thames Rivers)Built outside city limits (across the Thames Rivers)– Southwark (Red-light district)Southwark (Red-light district)

Prostitutes, charlatans, actorsProstitutes, charlatans, actors

Women prohibited from acting: immoralWomen prohibited from acting: immoral– Boys played female charactersBoys played female characters

The GlobeThe Globe•First Globe burned in 1613First Globe burned in 1613Second Globe torn down by Puritans in Second Globe torn down by Puritans in 16441644Circular outdoor theater – 100 feet acrossCircular outdoor theater – 100 feet acrossWooden “O”Wooden “O”Stage 50x25, jutted out into audienceStage 50x25, jutted out into audienceGoundlings – those who stood on the Goundlings – those who stood on the ground around the stage – paid the ground around the stage – paid the leastleastGalleries – seats that formed the walls of Galleries – seats that formed the walls of the theater – extra feethe theater – extra feeBox seats – cost even moreBox seats – cost even more3,000 attendees3,000 attendeesMost money spent on costumes, not setMost money spent on costumes, not set

Understanding his world helps to Understanding his world helps to understand his playsunderstand his plays

Will’s WorldWill’s World

Central themes are universal and Central themes are universal and unchangingunchanging– Lust, greed, ambition, jealousy, Lust, greed, ambition, jealousy,

cowardice, basic human emotionscowardice, basic human emotions

Attitudes about royalty and birthright Attitudes about royalty and birthright today are different however.today are different however.

ReligionReligion– Today, separation of church and stateToday, separation of church and state

– Then, the two are not easily Then, the two are not easily separatedseparated integral role as background in Will’s playsintegral role as background in Will’s plays

– Shakespeare was born in a newly Shakespeare was born in a newly protestant country that was rooted in protestant country that was rooted in Catholicism Catholicism

– Buried in a church, rare for actorBuried in a church, rare for actor



Natural Order (theory)Natural Order (theory)– Kings were kings; peasants were peasantsKings were kings; peasants were peasants– Born into a class; married within you class; lived Born into a class; married within you class; lived

your live by your classyour live by your class– Might move up slightly if extremely successfulMight move up slightly if extremely successful– Social position a consequence of birthSocial position a consequence of birth

In practice, change did occur, but large-scale In practice, change did occur, but large-scale changes invited disasterchanges invited disaster– Marriages were arrangedMarriages were arranged– Marriages for politics, avoid war, not for loveMarriages for politics, avoid war, not for love

If you mess around with Natural order, If you mess around with Natural order, expect earthquakes, plagues, and storms expect earthquakes, plagues, and storms (often an omen in plays)(often an omen in plays)

Kings were to act as kings; servants as Kings were to act as kings; servants as servantsservants


Natural Order (continued)Natural Order (continued) GodGod

– AngelsAngels– MankindMankind

KingsKings PrincesPrinces GentryGentry PeasantsPeasants SlavesSlaves

– AnimalsAnimals

Kings received their right to rule from God; to oppose the king was to oppose God.

Plays often centered around desire of dukes, earls, etc. not peasants (upset the natural order too much)

Will’s Will’s World/Aristocracy World/Aristocracy King/QueenKing/Queen Princes/Princess—children of monarchPrinces/Princess—children of monarch Duke/Duchess – next highest Duke/Duchess – next highest Marquess/Marquis – not used oftenMarquess/Marquis – not used often Earl, Thane, Count/Countess – ruled a Earl, Thane, Count/Countess – ruled a

countycounty Baron/Baroness - “Lord” or “Lady”Baron/Baroness - “Lord” or “Lady” Knight – lowest member of aristocracyKnight – lowest member of aristocracy


Nature versus nurtureNature versus nurture– Some behavior was inbornSome behavior was inborn

Birth fixed your social status and your Birth fixed your social status and your character traitscharacter traits

Astrology was a part of everyday lifeAstrology was a part of everyday life BastardsBastards

– People of noble birth acted nobly People of noble birth acted nobly – People born illegitimately acted People born illegitimately acted

illegitimately.illegitimately.


Body and MindBody and Mind– Medicine was simplistic; believed in humors: Medicine was simplistic; believed in humors: – Black bile; phlegm; blood, yellow bileBlack bile; phlegm; blood, yellow bile

Good health required a balance of the Good health required a balance of the fourfour

Imbalance of the four dictated one’s Imbalance of the four dictated one’s personalitypersonality– Melancholic, phlegmatic (lethargic), Melancholic, phlegmatic (lethargic),

sanguine (Jovial), or choleric (angry).sanguine (Jovial), or choleric (angry).

““He’s in a bad humor.”He’s in a bad humor.”


Racial PrejudiceRacial Prejudice– Not politically correctNot politically correct– Jews, blacks, anyone else who did not Jews, blacks, anyone else who did not

fit the English mold faced discriminationfit the English mold faced discrimination– Shakespeare grew up in this Shakespeare grew up in this

environmentenvironment– Plays reflect the societyPlays reflect the society– He did avoid stereotypes; made He did avoid stereotypes; made

complex characterscomplex characters

William Shakespeare April 23, 1564 (?) - April 23, 1616.

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