Paste yoEssay topic: Research essay on Shakespearean Theatre.
1. Introduction
In this essay, I will investigate and analyse the biography and historical influence of William Shakespeare as well as the development of Elizabethan theatre and how he influenced it, lastly I will give a reflection following the elements of Macbeth and illustrate the research findings.
2. Body
2.1 Background
Born William Shakespeare and baptized on April 26, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. His personal history is difficult to understand or explain because of a lack of evidence. Researchers depend on two sources being his church documentation and his work, plays and sonnets as a source to investigate his history. Shakespeare’s written records give little or no sign of what inspired his art. He wrote plays that represent a variety of human emotions and conflicts. Shakespeare was the third child of Mary Arden was a local landed heiress and his father John was a leather merchant. He had three younger brothers, Gilbert, Richard and Edmund and two older sisters Judith and Joan. His father was a successful merchant and held official position as council member and bailiff, an office-resembling mayor before his birth. There is no proof on his education but he most likely went to King’s New School, considering his father’s influence at the time he most likely got free education.
In Worcester, Canterbury province in the year 1582, 28 November he got married to Anne Hathaway. She was originally from Shottery, a small village outside Stratford located west. She was twenty-six at the time and he was eighteen. They had three children. Susanna born on the 26, May 1583 and after two years his wife conceived twins Judith and Hamnet 2, February 1585. Unfortunately, Hamnet died at a tender age of eleven from unknown causes. The death of his son did not sit well with him as he disappeared and people were speculating as to what he was doing during this period of his disappearance known as the “Lost years”.
However, in 1592 there was proof that he was making a living as a playwright and an actor in London. There is also a possibility that he had a few plays produced. He wrote his first plays in the 1590s with the exception of Romeo and Juliet. He dramatized leaders and their weaknesses as well as their corrupt ways as a justification of the Tudor Dynasty. By 1600, he was writing comedies and may have written other plays before then. During this period, he also wrote tragedies such as Hamlet and Macbeth to name a few. Macbeth is considered a dark tragedy as it does not end with forgiveness and reconciliation instead it ends with death. The characters show realistic impression of human nature that are universal and timeless.
Scholars believe that Shakespeare’s death is a myth, as it is rumoured that he died on his birthday 23, April 1616 yet church records show his interred at Trinity Church on 25, April 1616.
2.2 Development of Elizabethan theatre and Shakespeare’s influence.
The Elizabethan era is a period when Queen Elizabeth rose to the throne. Popular entertainment was what the era deemed. During this time, violence broke out between Catholic leaders, Protestant and their followers. Queen Elizabeth was a tough leader who was not afraid of conflict. She honoured the Protestant edicts but made adjustments for Catholic supporters. The Queen acknowledged art as an important life legacy for her nation. She was devoted to theatre and gave permission for the construction of professional theatres for the first time in England. Many brilliant playwrights operated during her reign including the likes of Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson and the legendary William Shakespeare. This attracted about 15,000 theatre gores in a city of 150,000 to about 250,000 people. Shakespeare’s sensations of stage were written during this golden age. His sonnet, Spenserian stanza, and dramatic blank verse came to practice during this time. His plays were performed more than the other dramatists at Queen Elizabeth’s courts. They were viewed for entertainment and not literature. However, they did not measure acting as a suitable profession for women in as far as into the seventeenth century. They had men and young boys playing female roles.
Education during this period was available to the boy child. They were taught recitation and memorization techniques. Students were to articulate fluent Latin. A normal school day would be from 06:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. They would get corporal punishment. Lower grade boys would study grammar and vocabulary while upper grade boys did poetry and prose of writers. Nobel sons attended the university or the Inns of Court. Girls were not heartened for formal school unless they considered children of nobility. School focused on housewifery and chastity skills. Girls often found themselves in account management and household estates, reading, writing and skills such as dancing and music. England unarguably offered the best opportunities and universal education. Their literacy rate increased throughout the sixteenth century.
Religion was of the greatest importance to society for which Shakespeare wrote. Church attendance was compulsory and failure to do so was punishable with a fine. Regardless of the long distances, church goers had to travel the only exception was illness. Being Catholic was a crime and it was illegal for them to attend or hold a mass. Powerful people were improbable to punishment and the new oaths of faithfulness to the Church of England did not apply to the upper class. Wealthy Catholic families secretly had private chaplains. The Elizabethan policy allowed for the freedom of belief just as long as the English subject did not disobey the law or encourage speech-inciting people to rebel against the authority of the state.
2.3 A reflection on the elements of Macbeth that illustrate the research findings.
2.3.1 Characterization, dialogue and themes.
Shakespeare unsurpassed cleverness of characterization, created dense and prominent characters who related to just about anybody. Each character has a vital role in which they play to create an amazing plot.
Portrayed as a man with many sides, Macbeth shows three character traits- bravery, ambition and self-doubt throughout the play. Macbeth displays negative effects of ambition and guilt and the effect it has on a weak man. With that being said his character is linked with Uncontrolled ambition. His character shows that he is not tough enough to overcome guilt and self-doubt. At the beginning Macbeth is introduced to us a loyal and trustworthy warrior. “But all’s too weak: For brave Macbeth –well he deserves that name- Disdaining fortune, with his Brandished steel” (I, II). This shows how people value his fighting skills and courage. Banquo has the utmost respect for him as he refers to him as “noble partner”. This boosts the impression that he is brave, proficient and loyal. His encounter with the witches awakes him in a deep impatient ambition and a trend of self-doubt. After the first prophecy of being Thane of Cawdor, the thought of killing Duncan crossed his mind, which slowly defies his loyalty. He has a courageous and imperceptible character as he visits the witches at his own consensus in act (IV, scene 1), only to reveal his downfall. He refers to Lady Macbeth as “dearest partner of greatness” (I, v, 13).
Lady Macbeth serves as the chief influencer in Macbeth’s life. She relates with the theme of Gender and power. He trusts her with literally everything he has. During this time, women were considered as fragile and should only give birth and look pretty. They could never out smart or be equal to men. Her relationship with husband was different from other relationships at the time, as her husband would consult with her first before he could do anything. At the beginning of the play when the witches appeared before Macbeth the first person, he wrote to was his wife. Her desire to be queen turns her into a cruel character as she persuades her husband to kill Duncan. “Unsex here and fill from the tor top-full of Direst Cruelty!” (I, v, 41-43). “Look like th’innocent flower but be the serpent under’t” (I, v, 65-66). She fails at the end and becomes mentally disturbed. She ends up confessing her involvement in the murder and this is evident in chapter 5 of the book.
King Duncan presented as a formal speaker but his speeches are full of grace. In act 1, scene 2 we see how he addresses his kind host and when he was addressing matters of honour. “There’s no art to find the minds construction in the face” (I: 4, 11), he was admitting to his mistake for failing to spot previous Thane of Cawdor’s treachery. He has humility, something Macbeth lacks. He is an illustrative of God on earth, ruling by divine right. Duncan cannot fight his own battles and cannot see betrayal come his way. “This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air/ nimbly and sweetly recommends itself/ unto our gentle senses.” (1.6.1-3). Macbeth refers to the slain Duncan as having “silver skin lac’d with…golden blood” (Act II, scene 3). Royal blood is the divine right to rule, in the last scene Duncan’s son Malcom ascends to the thrown and is king. “By the grace of Grace/ we will perform.”
The three witches referred to as the weird sisters in the text. Their main purpose was to plant a seed of disruption in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s mind. They present themselves as ghost like creatures to Macbeth and Banquo. They fit in the theme of witchcraft, as they are witches and foresee the future. This is evident in act 1 scene 3 and act 4 scene 1. Ideally, they were there to make Macbeth aware of his fate but they do not give him the measures he has to take to get to the fate. Had Macbeth not allowed his ambition to overwhelm him, he would have not became a murderer and fate would have taken course.
2.3.2 Setting.
The origin of the play based on the movie is located in Scotland with a couple of scenes set in England. The scenes in Scotland range from Duncan’s camp at Forres to Macbeth’s castle inverness and Dunsinane.
3. Conclusion.
William Shakespeare is still considered as a respected man of dramatic arts, who wrote plays and acted in some during the 16th and early 17th century. He was not considered as a dramatic mastermind until the 19th century. He adopted new actions to improve his work during the 20th century and the beginning of the romantic period and Victorian period. Shakespearian studies are highly considered in performance and literature today. His ability to interpret real human emotions and situation makes him a phenomenal playwright.
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