Tragedy in Shakespeare’s Time

Tragedy in Shakespeare’s Time

1. 'Renaissance' Period

   • Cultural rebirth of Europe
   • Approximately 1350-1550
   • 'The revival of European art and literature'

2. Humanism

   • Originated in Florence and Naples, Italy
   • ' turning away from medieval socialism and reviving interest in ancient Greek and roman thought'
     • Change in the overwhelming concerns of the people
       • From God to humans (middle ages to renaissance)

3. Greek Tragedy

   • Greek literature wouldn’t have made it to England directly
     • Would've been read by the Romans
       • Roman Literature influenced by Greek literature would've made it to England
   • Aristotle's Poetics
     • Highly influential via Roman literature
     • 'The earliest surviving literary theory'

4. Religion

   • Catholic vs Protestant
     • Kings and Queens
       • King Henry the 8th broke away from the Catholic faith when he was unable to divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and was excommunicated from the Catholic Church
         • King Henry founded the Church of England, he became 'The Supreme Head'
       • Henry's successor, Mary the first - 'Bloody Mary' - was a devout catholic. She attempted to reverse England's religious reformation and is known for burning protestants at the stake
         • Bloody Mary's reign only lasted four years, ending with her death. The throne went to her younger half sister, Elizabeth. Elizabeth the first was a protestant like her mother, Anne Boleyn, switching the religion of England back to Protestantism.
       • By the time Queen Elizabeth claimed the throne, England was divided by religion. Many Catholics attempted to assassinate Queen Elizabeth in favour of a Catholic ruler. Even after her death, Catholics still attempted to kill her successor, James the first.
         • The gunpowder plot
     • Society is unsettled in Shakespeare's time
       • Conflict becomes a strong theme across his plays
   • 'The chain of being'
     • The idea that God has given everyone and everything the place that it is destined to be in. To change or go against this 'chain of command structure would be to work against/defy Him.
       • You can see this in most of Shakespeare's plays. The anger of God can be seen through Shakespeare's use of storms or other things only an omnipotent being could control