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Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Period

Toni Harkness Mrs. Posta English Bell 1 December 10, 2009

Things in the present world would not be the same if it wasn’t for the pass world. The famous play writer William Shakespeare made a big impact on the world in the Elizabethan period and today. His plays influenced many writers to produce their own work which has entertained people through time. William Shakespeare had a rough life when he was young. Shakespeare was born in 1564 to John and Mary Arden Shakespeare and was the oldest of six (Kay). For this time period, this was a big set family. When he was sixteen, Shakespeare’s younger sister Anne died at the age of eight (Kay). This was a bit common for people in this era. At age eighteen, Shakespeare married a lady named Anne Hathaway (Kay). They had three children by the names of Susanna, Judith and Hamnet, which Hamnet lived to be eleven (Kay). It must have been rough for someone to lose someone so close to them. He soon went on to write many forms of entertainment for the people of his day.

William Shakespeare wrote and produced many works of art. The most famous of his plays was __Romeo and Juliet__ (Kay). Many people have used that play and twisted it to make their own masterpieces. Other plays were __Love Labour’s Lost__, __Titus Andronicus__, and __Hamlet__ (Kay). All were liked by people in his time. Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets entertained and influenced many people even today. The entertainment and education of the Elizabethan period was very different from today. Many farmers received some education, but mostly worked in the fields while nobles hired private tutors for their children (Singman). Women received even less education than the farmers, unless it was for taking care of the house (Singman). The rules for learning were very unfair for people. Everyone, including the lower class, attended theaters for entertainment (Singman). Since the lower class had to watch the play from the ground level, I think they had the best seats of all for less. Dancing was a popular activity for all social classes also. People played sports like football (soccer), tennis, bowling, jousting, and they even hunted and fished (Singman). Although all people weren’t given a good education, they all had much fun with one another. Life was hard and difficult for many people. People in high ranking were no exceptions. Queen Elizabeth had a very complex personality. She could be elegant and crude, or sensitive and cruel (Lace). She was intelligent and well educated. She also liked drinking beer, spitting, picking her teeth, and cussing. Elizabeth was secretive and loved attention from men until she died in 1603. Not only were the people complex, but the clothing of the Elizabethan period were complex as well. Compared to today, clothes then were heavy and constricted. Popular fabrics were linen and wool which was dyed in a variety of colors (Singman). For wealthy people, gems, pearls, and jewels were used to decorate their clothes (Singman). The clothes and the queen were pretty but hard to handle in my opinion.

William Shakespeare did have a bit of a rough childhood. As he got older his work became well known and very famous. The Elizabethan period weren’t the only ones who would enjoy the work though. The people of today still acknowledge him and his work.