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.

Claim #1

How were nobles and commoners

represented in Shakespeare’s work?

1st Support

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.

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.

2nd Support

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.

Explanation

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

3rd Support

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.

Explanations

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.

Claim #2

How did Queen Elizabeth influence Shakespeare's

work?

1st Support

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.

Explanation

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.

2nd 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)

Explanation

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.

3rd Support

Queen Elizabeth would may requests to have parts of plays changed depending on whether she liked the play or did not.

Explanation

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.

Claim #3

Shakespeare’s work was influenced by

women such as Queen Elizabeth by

the social ladder and village life

through the Queen’s reign.

1st Support

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)

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.

2nd Support

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)

Explanation

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.

3rd Support

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)

Explanations

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.

Claim #4

The social conventions in Stratford Upon Avon, England were

represented in Shakespeare’s work

1st Support

In Stratford Upon Avon, there was a plague breakout in

1593 through 1594. (Wiki Answers)

The plague was common in Stratford Upon Avon.

Explanation

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.

2nd Support

In Stratford, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway and

had 2 children; Hamnet and Judith; Hamnet died at

age 11. (“William Shakespeare”)

Explanation

Because Hamnet was named Hamnet, Shakespeare

wrote a play named Hamlet, both people died.

Hamlet died of poison, Hamnet died from the Bubonic

Plague.

3rd Support

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)

Explanation

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)

Conclusion

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.

Citations

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. <http://www.slideshare.net/dionysiuspaul/womens-place-in-elizabethan-society>.

Ed, Paul F. Grendier.vol.4.New York, Charles Schribner's sons, 2004. p96-98. COPYRIGHT 2004 Charles Scribners sons, COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale.Cengage Learning

Humphrey, Sarah. “Queen Elizabeth's Influence on Disguise in Shakespeare's Plays and Spenser's The Faerie Queene”, .NP., 2008. Web. 8 May 2014. http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/nationalcurriculum/units/2008/1/08.01.07.x.html

Lambert, Tim. "A BRIEF HISTORY of STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, Warwickshire, England. A History of Stratford upon Avon.N.P,. n.d. Web.7 May 2014. http://www.localhistories.org/stratford.html.

Marsden, Sam. "Shakespeare was a tax-evading food hoarder, study claims." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 31 Mar. 2013. Web. 9 May 2014. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/william- Shakespeare/9963602/Shakespeare-was-a-tax-evading-food-hoarder-study- claims.html>.

Milward, Peter. Shakespeare's religious background. Chicago: Loyola UP, 1985. Print. William, Shakespeare,. Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. New York: Pocket Books, 1992. Print.

Ross, David. "Elizabethan Life." Elizabeth I and Elizabethan Life in English. N.p., n.d.web7 May 2014. http://www.elizabethian-era.org.uk/elizabethan-life.htm.

Shakespeare, William. “Romeo and Juliet”, The language of Literature. Ed.Authorn.Applebee.Evanston, IL;Mcdougal Littell Inc., 2006.990,1102. Print

William Shakespeare." .n.p n.d.web.7 May 2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/william.shakespeare.com