Influences of Social Conventions
Influences of Social Conventions
By Super Students Mrs. Jestice English 1 May 9th, 2014 Background
William Shakespeare • Born on April 16th 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. • Disappeared from records from Stratford-upon-Avon in 1587 • An English Poet and Playwright • Wrote and collaborated on over 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and several poems • Plays consisted of comedies, histories, tragedies, and romances Essential Question
Are the social conventions of the period represented in Shakespeare’s work and, if so, how? Thesis
The social conventions are reflected in William Shakespeare’s plays through Queen Elizabeth, Nobles and Commoners, and the social life and ladder throughout Queen Elizabeth's rein. How were nobles and commoners represented in Shakespeare’s work?
Claim #1 Romeo and Juliet: Demonstrates how two people of different families or social classes could fall in love even though they are not supposed to fall in love.
1st Support Explanation Romeo represents the commoners and Juliet represents the Nobles, or vice verse, and how they were not supposed to fall in love, however, they did.
Love’s Labour’s Lost is a comedy about a King and his three companions who decide not to be involved with
women for three years. However, they do not keep the vow, and fall in love with others.
2nd Support In the comedy, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Shakespeare has a King and his three companions swear off the company of women for three years. The men fall in love with a Princess and her ladies. After the princess dies, the men fall in love with people they should not. This falling in love is against the social conventions of Elizabethan times
Explanation Shakespeare used the Fool in many of his plays. The Fool was typically a commoner or peasant who used their wits to outsmart people of a higher social class.
3rd Support In most of Shakespeare’s plays, he introduces a fool. The fool is typically witty and outsmarts those who are supposed to be smarter. The Fool usually makes others look like a fool, but does it so as not to anger the upper class.
Explanations Claim #2
How did Queen Elizabeth influence Shakespeare's work? Queen Elizabeth paid Shakespeare to write plays for her. Her influence is seen throughout his work. She would request certain types of works for him to write.
1st Support Often Queen Elizabeth would have Shakespeare write certain genres of plays depending on what she wanted. Queen Elizabeth requested Shakespeare to write The Merry Wives of Windsor when she desired a comedy and wanted to see the fat knight in love.
Explanation nd 2 Support Queen Elizabeth would go to his plays in a disguise so no one would know she was there and because women were seen as lesser people. Shakespeare modeled several of the strong women in his plays after Queen Elizabeth and in some cases had them wear disguises. (Yale.edu) One of the strong women in Shakespeares’ plays was Lady Macbeth. Many believe Queen Elizabeth was Shakespeare’s influence for the character.
Additionally, Rosalind and Viola in As You Like It disguise themselves as men for protection and eventually climb the social ladder to success. Explanation Queen Elizabeth would may requests to have parts of plays changed depending on whether she liked the play or did not.
3rd Support In the play The Merry Wives of Windsor, Falstaff was originally named Oldecastle. Queen Elizabeth made Shakespeare change the name because there was a Royal family with the name Oldecastle. Shakespeare changed the name to Falstaff.
Explanation Shakespeare’s work was influenced by women such as Queen Elizabeth by the social ladder and village life through the Queen’s reign. Claim #3 In the late 1500s, early 1600s, nobles and knights were the highest ranked officials.
“Knights are not noble, but they are gentry. Knighthood is not hereditary.” (Elizabthan.org) 1st Support Explanation Women had no rights at this period and even in his plays, women were not ranked highly; nobles and knights were in his plays.
Also, Queen Elizabeth kept the rules the same: men believed to be the superior gender, and so did Shakespeare.
Religion in Queen Elizabeth’s and King Henry’s reign applied to Shakespeare’s work.
“In sixteenth century England…Catholic church... Catholic was John Shakespeare, William's father… Mary Shakespeare, William's mother, also had roots in the Catholic church; consequently…studied the Bible. obligated under King Henry VIII's rule to renounce their Catholic faith or suffer financial loss. This political enforcement and family influence may explain why William Shakespeare established general Christian motifs in "Romeo and Juliet.” (Voices.yahoo.com)
2nd Support Queen Elizabeth paid Shakespeare to write her plays.
Shakespeare only wrote for Queen Elizabeth so most of the towns in England only abided by one religion, the view of the Queens. Explanation Elizabethan women were subservient to men and dependant on their male relatives to support them.
“William Shakespeare was part of a society where women were subservient to men. Women were the property of their father until they married. Once married they became the property of their husband. “(Paul)
3rd Support Women did not work outside of their home, only men worked, same as his playwrights.
Queen Elizabeth influenced his work because it gave him the idea to write about the lives in England.
Explanations Claim #4
The social conventions in Stratford Upon Avon, England were represented in Shakespeare’s work In Stratford Upon Avon, there was a plague breakout in 1593 through 1594. (Wiki Answers)
The plague was common in Stratford Upon Avon.
1st Support Shakespeare consistently brings up a plague in his plays, especially in Romeo and Juliet.
“A plague o’ both your houses! … A plague o’ both your houses!...A plague o’ both your houses!” Mercutio. Act 3: Scene 1, pg. 1047-1048, lines 95, 105, 113.
Shakespeare was born in Stratford Upon Avon so he talked about plagues he witnessed as a child.
Explanation nd 2 Support In Stratford, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway and had 2 children; Hamnet and Judith; Hamnet died at age 11. (“William Shakespeare”) Because Hamnet was named Hamnet, Shakespeare wrote a play named Hamlet, both people died.
Hamlet died of poison, Hamnet died from the Bubonic Plague.
Explanation The village jobs such as blacksmiths, carpenters, shoemakers, brewers, and bakers in Elizabeth’s reign, were announced and produced in Shakespeare’s plays, such as Romeo and Juliet. (Lambert, Tim)
3rd Support In Romeo and Juliet, barley processing was introduced as well as in England. Shakespeare took his hometown adventures and experiences, and added them to his work.
“Court and tax records show that over a 15-year period Shakespeare purchased grain, malt and barley to store and resell for inflated prices.” (Sam Marsden)
Explanation The social conventions reflected in Shakespeare’s plays include Queen Elizabeth, nobles, commoners, knights and the society interactions through the Queen’s reign. Because Shakespeare’s views and writing were directed by the Queen, he was influenced right and left by her rules, religions, social conventions and people in general. Through this research I have learned more about literature, writing, theatre, Shakespeare and the influence power, religion and money can play on another’s life and work.
Conclusion Alchin, Linda. ". " . NP., 16 May 2012. Web. 7 May 2014. http://www.elixabethan-cra.org.uk/elizabethan- life.htm. Alchin, Linda. ". " . NP., 16 May 2012. Web. 7 May 2014. www.william-shakespeare.info/elizabethan- women.htm Dionysius, Paul . "Womens Place In Elizabethan Society." Womens Place In Elizabethan Society. N.p., 8 Oct. 2009. Web. 9 May 2014.
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