ELIZABETHAN DRAMA

UNIT 1- UGC-NET

Dr. Sagnik Banerjee

ELIZABETHAN AGE: AN INTRODUCTION
▪ The reign of Elizabeth I was also a turbulent period, but she successfully coped
with all the difficulties.
▪ England was threatened by the superpowers of the age – France and Spain.
▪ Elizabeth was excommunicated by the Pope in 1570. She was in constant fear for
her life. Nevertheless, English ships beat the Spanish Armada in 1588.
▪ Elizabeth managed to maintain a relative peace between the protestants and the
Catholics. She tried to unite her people, by insisting that they are all English.
▪ This worked well most of the time, and the people developed a sense of national
pride.
Public Life
▪ Gossip: Those who are “in the know” are
popular.
▪ Crowds and public squares were volatile
--> anything could set them off!
LIFE IN
▪ No free discussion of rulers =
High treason! Spies everywhere ELIZABETHAN
ENGLAND
• Punishments:
• Upper class = beheading
• Lower class = drawing and quartering
QUEEN ELIZABETH I
▪ Mary (a Catholic) dies and Elizabeth (a Protestant)
comes to the throne in 1558
▪ Under Elizabeth, the arts flourished and educational
institutions were established.
▪ England also became a military force -Defeat of the
Spanish Armada 1588
▪ Never married, so known as the “Virgin Queen”
▪ Followed by King James (1603-1625)
LONDON: SANITATION
Horrible! The Plague = incurable
▪ Streets were filthy
▪ No sewers or drains
▪ Overcrowding led to slums, filth
▪ Gutters were in the middle of the street ▪ Plague carried by fleas on rats --
▪ Garbage & chamber pots emptied in the
streets --piled up until a rain not known then
▪ Men walked in the middle of street to ▪ Thought to be God’s wrath on
protect the ladies wicked people
▪ Two outbreaks killed 1/4 of the
population in Shakespeare’s time
▪ Life expectancy = 48 years
▪ Time to travel to “New World” = 1-2
months
INTRODUCTION TO ELIZABETHAN DRAMA
▪ Elizabethan drama flourished during the reign of
Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603), marking a golden
age in English theatre. It reflected the Renaissance
spirit, characterized by humanism, creativity, and
national pride. The period saw the development of
professional theatres and an expansion of dramatic
themes beyond religious instruction.
▪ - was the most popular genre in English literature

▪ - Queen Elizabeth: the patron of drama writers

▪ - contrast:
▪ in medieval drama were miracles and mystery plays
▪ renaissance drama – undidactical, it has secular theme
and conflicts between
▪ characters, non-allegorical, played in streets, squares and
houses
▪ Elizabethan theatres:
ELIZABETHAN
▪ Two kinds: RENAISSANCE
▪ Outdoor or “public” DRAMA
▪ Indoor or “private”

▪ The three most important in London: The Globe – was a

roofless theatre and so
▪ plays were played by the daylight, there was
communication between the
▪ audience and the actors. Actors were only men and
played also women roles.
 ▪ Unlike the earlier religious
morality plays, Elizabethan
THE RISE OF drama centered on human
concerns, passions, and

SECULAR ambitions. The playwrights

explored issues of power,
love, betrayal, and identity.
THEMES Drama became a mirror of
human complexity and a
platform for entertainment.
THE EMERGENCE OF PUBLIC THEATRES
▪Permanent theatres like The Theatre
(1576) and The Globe transformed drama
into a public spectacle. These venues
allowed regular performances and the
growth of professional acting companies.
Theatres became vibrant cultural hubs in
London.
SHAKESPEARE’S THEATER: THE GLOBE
▪ Variety of tickets, from the pit
(groundlings) to the gallery
▪ Loud, obnoxious, intelligent crowds
▪ Performances lasted “at least two
hours,” and started around 2 PM (the
middle of the working day)
▪ Trumpet blew to signal the start
▪ Public - open to all, though could not
be advertised
▪ Showed type of play by color of the
flag
• White = Comedy
• Red = History
• Black = Tragedy
GLOBE THEATRE
INDOOR THEATRES
▪ - smaller, roofed
▪ - Performances were also shown in winter
▪ - 1576 – Blackfriar´s – a former monastery – was the first
one
▪ - By 1642, there were six private theatres in London
▪ - Private theatre rose in popularity from 1610 to 1642 and
were used only during
▪ the five warm months
 ▪ Elizabethan playwrights drew
CLASSICAL inspiration from classical Roman
playwrights such as Seneca, Plautus, and
Terence. Seneca’s tragedies inspired the
INFLUENCE themes of revenge and supernatural
elements, while Plautus and Terence
influenced comedic plots. These models
ON DRAMA were adapted to suit English audiences
and cultural contexts.
SOCIAL RANGE OF AUDIENCES
▪Elizabethan theatres attracted audiences from
all social backgrounds. While the groundlings
stood in the pit, wealthier patrons sat in the
galleries. This diverse attendance created a
unique environment where playwrights
catered to a wide range of tastes.
 ▪ Playwrights and acting companies

THE ROLE OF depended on aristocratic patrons for

financial support and legal protection.
This system helped dramatists navigate

PATRONAGE censorship and sustain their careers.

Patronage added prestige and stability
to theatrical enterprises.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE – THE MASTER
OF THE AGE
▪Shakespeare remains the most influential
figure in Elizabethan drama. His plays
encompass the full range of human
experience, exploring themes like ambition,
jealousy, love, and redemption. His mastery of
language and deep understanding of
character are unmatched.
THOMAS KYD AND THE REVENGE TRAGEDY
▪Thomas Kyd’s The Spanish Tragedy
popularized the revenge tragedy genre.
Featuring ghosts, madness, and complex
plotting, it set a precedent for later works
like Hamlet. Kyd’s influence on
Elizabethan drama was profound.
GEORGE CHAPMAN – THE INTELLECTUAL
PLAYWRIGHT
▪George Chapman, known for his translation of
Homer, wrote dramas that combined
philosophical inquiry with poetic intensity. His
Bussy D’Ambois explores ambition, violence,
and personal integrity. Chapman’s plays
demanded intellectual engagement from
audiences.
 ▪ The Shoemaker’s Holiday
THOMAS portrays everyday
Londoners with warmth and

DEKKER’S optimism. His plays

celebrate honest labor and
middle-class virtue. Dekker’s
HUMANISTIC realistic and compassionate
tone made his work
VISION appealing
audience.
to a broad
 ▪ Women Beware Women and
THOMAS The Changeling depict the
dark undercurrents of desire
MIDDLETON – and power. Middleton’s
cynical tone reflects a
DARK society in moral decline. His
dramas are filled with
SATIRIST intrigue
ambiguity.
and moral
 ▪ The Duchess of Malfi and
The White Devil explore
themes of cruelty,
revenge, and power.
JOHN WEBSTER –
Webster’s poetic
TRAGEDY AND
TERROR language and haunting
imagery leave a lasting
impact. His tragedies are
among the darkest in the
period.
 ▪ Though male actors played
all roles, female characters
WOMEN IN in Elizabethan plays were
often strong and complex.

ELIZABETHAN Characters like Lady

Macbeth and the Duchess of
Malfi challenged traditional
DRAMA gender roles. These
portrayals offered nuanced
views of female agency.
COMMON THEATRICAL DEVICES
▪Elizabethan drama used soliloquies, asides,
and disguises to deepen character and plot.
These techniques fostered dramatic irony and
audience engagement. They remain key
features of classic theatrical style.
SYMBOLISM ▪ Symbolism played a central role, with
recurring images like blood, storms, and

AND STAGE madness enhancing themes. Visual

metaphors replaced elaborate sets. The
imagination of the audience was crucial

IMAGERY to the stage experience.

▪ Despite a shift to secular themes, plays
often engaged with religious questions.
Sin, repentance, and salvation were key
issues in works like Doctor Faustus and
INFLUENCE OF
Hamlet. The Reformation’s influence is
evident throughout the drama. RELIGION
 ▪ Elizabethan dramatists used richly
poetic and rhetorical language to
THE POWER convey complex ideas and emotions.
Blank verse became the preferred
medium, offering rhythm without the
OF LANGUAGE constraints of rhyme. Language was
central to character development and
dramatic impact.
 ▪ The soliloquy became a defining feature
of Elizabethan tragedy. It allowed
characters to express private thoughts
USE OF SOLILOQUY directly to the audience, deepening
emotional intimacy. Shakespeare
mastered this technique in plays like
Hamlet and Macbeth.
MINIMAL ▪ Elizabethan theatre used minimal

SCENERY, scenery, relying instead on costumes,

props, and the audience’s imagination.
The playwrights’ descriptive language

MAXIMUM painted vivid settings. This economy of

staging encouraged focus on action and
dialogue.

IMAGINATION
MUSIC AND ▪ Music was integral to Elizabethan
performance, enhancing mood and

SOUND aiding transitions. Drums, trumpets, and

songs were used to emphasize key
moments. Sound effects often conveyed

EFFECTS supernatural or battle scenes effectively.

THE ROLE OF CLOWNS AND FOOLS
▪Comic relief was often provided by clowns or
fools, who also offered sharp commentary on
events. Shakespeare’s fools, like the one in King
Lear, combined wit with wisdom. These
characters could speak truths others could not.
CITY COMEDY ▪ Some playwrights turned their attention

AND to urban settings and middle-class

characters. City comedies portrayed the
lives of tradesmen, merchants, and

EVERYDAY schemers in London. These plays offered

social satire and a break from courtly or
tragic themes.

LIFE
COLLABORATION IN PLAYWRITING
▪Many Elizabethan plays were written
collaboratively, especially for speed and
variety. Playwrights like Middleton and
Dekker often co-authored works to meet
demand. This collective creativity enriched
the theatrical output of the time.
THE ROLE OF ▪ Companies such as the Lord
Chamberlain’s Men and the Admiral’s

ACTING Men became dominant forces in theatre.

They had their own actors, repertories,
and playwrights. Their success helped

COMPANIES professionalize acting as a career.

MALE ACTORS ▪ All roles, including female characters,
were performed by men or boys.
Despite this, Elizabethan drama offered
AND FEMALE some of the most enduring and powerful
female roles in theatre. The portrayal of
women on stage often questioned
ROLES gender expectations.
 ▪ Elizabethan theatre encouraged a

AUDIENCE dynamic relationship between actors

and audience. Groundlings reacted
vocally, while nobles watched from the
INTERACTION galleries. This immediacy shaped how
plays were written and performed.
 ▪ The royal court had a strong influence on

INFLUENCE OF theatre. Court performances were

prestigious and could secure royal favor.
Plays sometimes included flattering
THE COURT depictions of monarchy or subtly
critiqued political dynamics.
CENSORSHIP AND CONTROL
▪ All plays had to be licensed by the Master of the Revels.
Dramatists had to navigate sensitive political and religious
topics carefully. Clever allegory and metaphor were often
used to address controversial themes.
 ▪ The printing press helped preserve

THE IMPACT many Elizabethan plays. While few were

published during the playwrights’
lifetimes, key texts survived through

OF PRINTING quartos and collected editions. The First

Folio (1623) was especially significant
for Shakespeare’s legacy.
THE ▪ Tragedy became the most respected
dramatic form of the era. It explored

POPULARITY human limitations, fate, and ethical

dilemmas. Tragic heroes, often noble
and flawed, captured the imagination of

OF TRAGEDY audiences.
 ▪ Comedies featured clever servants,

COMIC mistaken identities, and happy endings.

They reinforced social harmony while
poking fun at pretension and folly. Love
CONVENTIONS and marriage were frequent themes that
mirrored the festive spirit of the age.
MORAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL THEMES
▪ Elizabethan plays addressed profound moral and
philosophical issues. Themes such as justice,
ambition, mortality, and the human condition
recurred across genres. These concerns reflected
the intellectual energy of the Renaissance.
THE DECLINE OF ELIZABETHAN DRAMA
▪By the early 17th century, the spirit of
Elizabethan drama began to wane. Changing
tastes, political unrest, and the rise of
Puritanism affected theatre. The closing of
theatres in 1642 marked the end of this
vibrant era.
 ▪ Elizabethan drama laid the foundation

ENDURING for modern English theatre. Its themes,

characters, and language continue to
influence writers, directors, and

LEGACY scholars. The works of Shakespeare and

his contemporaries remain vital to
cultural history.
 ▪ Elizabethan drama reflects the artistic
brilliance and humanistic spirit of the
English Renaissance. Through poetic

CONCLUSION language, complex characters, and

theatrical innovation, it captured the
imagination of generations. Its influence
endures as a cornerstone of world
literature.
THANK YOU