The Reign of Queen Elizabeth

In the 16th century, just before Shakespeare’s birth, Elizabeth I was crowned queen. Daughter of the notorious Henry VIII, Elizabeth’s life was destined to be anything but average (“Elizabeth I”). As an illegitimate daughter of the king, the Catholic Church was opposed to Elizabeth her entire life, making inquisitions, imprisonments, and general suspicion part of her daily life (“Elizabeth I”). A plot even arose to assassinate the Protestant Elizabeth and replace her with her Catholic sister (“William Shakespeare’s Life and Times”).

As a woman, many men still doubted her ability to rule despite her high intelligence, respectability, and grace, and even more people were distraught that she might die without producing an heir, making the future of England uncertain.

Positive Effect on Shakespeare’s Career

Shakespeare saw great success under Queen Elizabeth’s patronage as a playwright and actor as a member of The King’s Men (“Lord Chamberlain’s Men”). Elizabeth ushered in a peaceful and economically prosperous time for England, and these two factors allowed arts of all kinds to prosper during her reign (Voorhies). In addition to the theater, portrait paintings, textiles, embroidery, sculpture, and decorative arts thrived (Voorhies). 

Elizabeth’s Influence on Shakespeare’s Writings

While Shakespeare never references the queen directly, he certainly uses events from her reign to inspire his works. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, there is a brief reference to a virgin queen (“William Shakespeare’s Life and Times”). Elizabeth’s father is featured in the play Henry VIII, and her Tudor ancestors are the subject of Richard III. 

Hamlet is reminiscent of Elizabeth’s conflict with her sister, who seeks to remove her from her throne (“William Shakespeare’s Life and Times”). Just as Fortinbras seeks to remove Hamlet from power, Mary attempts the same. However, while Elizabeth uncovers the plot and has Mary executed, Hamlet is so consumed with seeking revenge on his uncle that he hardly recognizes Fortinbras’ plot to overtake his kingdom. 

The Black Death 

The Black Death has been around for centuries, but locations like London, England, with so many people living in close proximity to one another, can easily become breeding grounds for this type of devastating disease. Shakespeare was terrified of the Black Death, or the Bubonic Plague, and rightly so; not only did it close theaters and threaten his livelihood, but it also took the lives of a few of his siblings (“The Black Death”).

Symptoms and Treatment of The Black Death 

The Black Death was caused by a bacterial virus carried by fleas riding on the coats of rats or squirrels (“The Black Death”). If infected, the person’s lymph nodes would swell and turn black. If someone was suspected of having The Black Death, they were locked in their homes for fourteen days and could not leave under the threat of death for the entire family contained within that house (“The Black Death”).

Families locked in their homes had food lowered down to them from above by Watchmen, and Death Cart laborers removed dead bodies from houses by piling them onto carts and burying these bodies in mass graves made out of pits (“The Black Death”). 

Influence of the Black Death on Shakespeare’s Works

While this disease is not mentioned in Hamlet, it is a key player in another Shakespearean tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. A complicated plot to conceal the marriage between Romeo and Juliet involves delivering a crucial message to Romeo, who has been banished from his hometown, where his wife resides. When a friar attempts to deliver a timely message to Romeo, he is exposed to the Black Death and must remain in the house where he was exposed for 14 days. Because the message was delayed, Romeo and Juliet both meet their untimely deaths. 

The Reign of King James 

When Queen Elizabeth died without an heir, James VI, King of Scotland, was named her successor, and he became king over both Scotland and England (“James I”). James continued what Elizabeth started, and his reign was marked by peace and a celebration of the arts. James signed a peace treaty with Spain and made it possible for the English to travel to and settle in the Americas, forming Jamestown in 1607 (“James I”).

Positive Effect on Shakespeare’s Career

James wholeheartedly supported the arts, including the theater. He became the new patron of The Kings Men, ensuring Shakespeare’s financial stability in his career. James also authorized one of the most popular translations of the Bible, the King James version (“James I”). Shakespeare has several references to this translation embedded in many of his works. 

Influence of King James 1 on Shakespeare’s Works

Shakespeare paid tribute to James I in three of his plays, most notably Macbeth. Banquo is based on one of James’s Scottish ancestors, and the witches that appear throughout the play were also an acknowledgment of James’ interest in witchcraft. James was so fascinated by witches and witchcraft that he wrote his own book, Daemonologie, on the subject (“James I”). Both King Lear and Cymbeline are two more plays that show support for James’ decisions as king, especially his decisions to unify Scotland and England (“James I”). 

Conclusion

Despite the horrors of the Black Death, the loss of so many family members and friends, and closure of the theater because of this disease, Shakespeare still had a very successful career as a playwright and actor. This was thanks not only to his inherent genius but also the generosity of his royal patrons. Without these prestigious figures supporting his works, who knows if we would have the wealth of works we still enjoy reading and seeing performed today.

Works Cited

“Elizabeth I.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-I.

“Lord Chamberlain’s Men.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Lord-Chamberlains-Men.

Metmuseum.org, www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/liza/hd_liza.htm.

SparkNotes, SparkNotes, www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/life-and-times/historical-context/political/elizabeth-i/.

SparkNotes, SparkNotes, www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/life-and-times/historical-context/political/james-i/.

“The Black Death – Bubonic Plague During the Elizabethan Era.” Bubonic Plague – Black Death in the Elizabethan Era and Medical Treatments, www.william-shakespeare.info/bubonic-black-plague-elizabethan-era.htm.