Brush Up Your Shakespeare Term paper
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Hankins 1
L. A. Sherman asks and answers this one question, which I have often asked my
self. " What is Shakespeare? Why does the world account him great and put him so
generally at the head of all literary masters? Most people, at least such as has to do with
books, at some time or other ask themselves these questions, and often fail of personal,
satisfying conclusions. Men and women of liberal education for most part understand
Shakespeare's secret, having divined it in consequence of many years of training. Some
common folk become his confident disciples without such aid. But the great majority of
readers seem not to know what Shakespeare is like, or how a maker of plays should be
held superior to authors who produce literature in a more popular and available form
(Sherman, 1)."
William Shakespeare is said to be one of et playwrights of all times. I agree with
this statement, but I feel, as a Theatre major I do not know that much about this genius
and that I could learn a lot more. Like his childhood, early beginning in the theatre, The
Globe, and his treatment of Monastic life in his plays.
William Shakespeare was born to John and Mary on April 23 1564. He was
baptized three days after the Holy Trinity, the old collegiate church, hearalded a period of
prosperity when it had seemed that fortune smiled on John and Mary. For after the loss of
two daughters, before Will, they were blessed with 5 children after Will, Gilbert (1566),
Joanne (1569), Anne (1571), Richard (1574) and finally Edmund (1580), who followed in
Hankins 2
his brother to become and actor. " At the age of fourteen the future was full of promise
for the young Will: he had the right, like any good pupil of the grammar school, to benefit
by one of the scholarships which the generosity of Sir John Clopton had made available to
the students of the town. The gates of the University of Oxford were open to many of
them. The scholarship given to one of the Hankins brothers, for example, might have
gone to young Will, but did not. However at the at the time when most well-to-do young
men are free to decide on their future career, troubles came upon young Will and his
relatives. Misfortunes descended upon this family hitherto so prosperous, and as will be
seen, it was not at the university, that the future dramatist completed his duration, but in
the rough school of life (de Chambrun, 31)."
Six months after the birth of Will's daughter, Susanna he was stirred by a horrible
episode. His neighbor, John Somerville, proprietor of the manor of Ederston, was
condemned to death for an accused plot against the Queen, and his accomplices were
sought in Stratford and its neighboring towns. Somerville who was a few years older than
Will, and already the father of two children; who had married the cousin of Will.
Will's entry into London was less far from triumphant. Sir William d'Avenant,
godson to Nicholas Rowe, playwright and poet laureate gave more information: " When
he came to London he was without money and friends, and being a stranger knew not
Hankins 3
to whom apply himself. At that time, coaches, not being in use and as gentlemen were
accustomed to ride the to the playhouse, Will, driven to the last necessity, went to the
playhouse door, picked up a little money by taking care of the gentlemen's horses who
came to the play (de Chambrun, 65)." He became so eminent in that profession and was
taken notice for his diligence and skill. He had soon more business that he himself could
take care of, and at last hired boys under him who were known as "Shakespeare's Boy's",
some of the players accidentally conversing with him found him so acute and a master of
such a fine conversation that they were struck right then and there and recommended him
to the house.
It just so happened that the proprietor of The Theatre, and an owner of a livery
stable was James Burbage. Burbage was not a stranger to young Will, who had admired
the spectacle at Kenilworth. It was Burbage who had in fact produced those celebrations.
A carpenter by trade, Burbage built in London a large hall that accomodated actors, who
until then were used to using precarious stages of inn yards or public buildings. This new
stage of Burbage's was called The Theatre, which his son James later shared in principle
parts with Will as a fellow actor. Soon Burbage, the enterprising proprietor, would build
other theatres.
When Will arrived in London, the curtain has already risen at Shoreditch, on the
outskirts of the city. The Rose was opening its doors on the other side of the Thammes.
Hankins 4
The theatres were only open for 3 days a week at the time and the modest
remuneration of a lad was insufficient to provide for a man in the city. With no doubt will
had to have had a second income.
It is suggested that Will worked in a lawyers office as a clerk, which would
explain the frequent use of legal jargon in his sonnets and plays. Two commentators
William Blades and William Jaggard, have devoted studies proving that Will's work
implies a quasi professional knowledge of the printers craft.
If Will had quickly arrived at the summit of success and kept a position
there all his life, this was because all of his talents were very theatrical. Experiences as a
dramatist, actor and producer, he exploited all the resources of his profession. Guided like
Moliere by his knowledge of the psychology of his audience. Instead of being astonished
that a mere actor could have written such masterpieces, it would be more logical to
wonder is Will could have created them in any other situation.
Since his arrival in London, he felt more at home with the theatre people
that among the university men , who claimed a monopoly on playwrighting. He was
Recognized as a leader, by the rest of the actors. A leader who was able to bring their art
to perfection. His fellow actors a good friend full of sensibility and understanding saw
him.
Hankins 5
Between December 28, 1598 and February 20 1599, the company was
occupied with quite a different occupation. It seems that the landlord of the site on which
The Theatre was built claimed that they had not paid their rent in full. Therefore they, the
company of The Theatre, were busy recovering the material used to build the Theatre.
The players, directed by a carpenter, Peter Street, armed with axes,
poignards, swords, and bill hooks, assisted in the demolition and transport of the materials
across the Thames. On January 20th, they returned to take what remained, but this time
they had protesters from the guardians of the playhouse. Street in turn spent several days
in prison for this. However everyone worked with such teamwork that his or her task was
accomplished in a mere three months. At the end of April 1599, the Globe opened its
doors.
John Adams, best describes the Globe structure: " The shapes, sizes and
interrelationships of the may parts of the Globe stage and auditorium were determined
Or at least strongly influenced, by he shape, size and structure of the playhouse as a
whole. I shall begin, by presenting evidence from contemporary maps and views that the
globe was three stories, octagonal structure, surrounding an unroofed yard. After as brief
survey of the Globe site I shall analyze...
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