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William Shakespeare:Life and Background to Romeo and Juliet
Who was Shakespeare?
Shakespeare’s Childhood
• William Shakespeare is often referred to as “the Bard” (Bard = poet)
• Born April 23rd, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, in England
• William Shakespeare’s father was a merchant • Because of his father’s social standing, William
was able to attend Stratford Grammar School until the age of fourteen for free. He studied Latin and Greek extensively in school.
• When he was 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway
• She was 8 years older than him, and they had 3 children together
Early Career • William Shakespeare eventually left his family
behind and moved to London where he joined Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a successful theater company.
• This company changed its name to The King’s Men in 1603. Shakespeare stayed a member of this company until he retired in 1610. While in the company, Shakespeare made his living three ways: he was part owner of the Globe theatre, he was an actor, and he was a playwright.
• During this time very little scenery was used on stage, but was accomplished by dialogue or conversation between characters.
The Globe Theater: Fast Facts
•Built in 1598 in the Bankside district of London•Open-air octagonal amphitheater that could seat up to 3,000 people•All shows occurred during the day (no lighting at night)•Performances dramatically increased in the summer– the theater was susceptible to bad weather in winter•No scene changes (props and costumes used)•Costumes were usually the same, regardless of the play– masks and props were used to indicate time period, setting, etc. •The “pit” was the floor surrounding the stage where “one-penny” spectators, or “groundlings,” stood•Theater brought together social elite and the poor
• People called “groundlings” stood in the pit directly below the stage, while wealthier seats, while the upper class sat in seats or the balcony.
• Like all other theaters in Elizabethan England, the Globe employed only male actors because women were not allowed to act. Most female roles were played by adolescent (young) boys.
The Globe Theater
The Globe Theater
• In 1613, the Globe burned down during a performance of Henry VIII. A canon was accidentally shot into the thatched roof and the whole theater was set ablaze.
• The theatre was rebuilt in 1614 without Shakespeare, because he had retired. Shakespeare died in 1616 at age 52. About 30 years later, Puritans assumed power in England and had the theater torn down.
ElizabethanCulture
• Shakespeare was alive during the late Renaissance, which in England is referred to as the Elizabethan era. This era is named after Queen Elizabeth, who was Britain's first female monarch and ruled from 1558-1603.
• The Renaissance was a time when the pursuit of scientific knowledge and celebration of the arts, such as theatre and music, flourished. It was also a time of violent punishment/torture. People were routinely killed for crimes as petty as stealing and trespassing. Thus, violence often plays an important role in Shakespeare’s works.
The Pillory
The Rack
The Wheel
Thumb Screws
Drama: Tragedy vs. Comedy
When we study William Shakespeare's plays, we usually categorize them into three genres: comedy, tragedy, and history. Shakespeare was well known for his word play (punning), or which is a technique that uses vocabulary that has more than one meaning. Romeo and Juliet, which was written in Shakespeare's early years (between 1595-1597), is considered a tragedy– it ends with death and destruction.
Background to Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet, however, is not an original story; Shakespeare retells a story that can be dated back to as early as fourth century Greece. Shakespeare uses a narrative poem called "Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet," which is written by Arthur Brooks, to get most of his information for his play. Shakespeare sets his Romeo and Juliet in the made-up town of Verona, Italy.
Romeo and Juliet: Fast Facts
•Set in Verona, Italy (exact time period unknown)•Written between 1595-1597•The story itself was not written by Shakespeare– based on an Arthur Brooks poem•Vendetta: a family feud; honor requiring death THEMES: •the nature of love and loyalty, •the role of family in shaping one’s life and decisions, •youth and naïve decision-making• the nature of fate and decision-making
