Shakespeare

A Short summary

Shakespeare Criticism

1600s (Shakespeare’s own time): Ben Jonson, who was Shakespeare’s friend and also a playwright, said Shakespeare was amazing at comedy and just as good as the old classics at tragedy. But Jonson didn’t love how Shakespeare broke “rules” of writing plays—like mixing serious kings with clowns or ignoring the idea that a play should only happen in one time and place. 1700s (18th Century): Alexander Pope tried to “fix” Shakespeare’s plays to make them sound fancier and more proper. Samuel Johnson (not the same Johnson as before) thought Shakespeare’s big strength was showing real human nature, almost like a mirror of real life. He still pointed out flaws, like confusing plots and too many puns.

Early 1800s (Romantic Period): Critics like Coleridge thought Shakespeare was a total genius, especially with imagination. In Germany, Goethe saw him as a deep, almost mystical writer. Other critics like William Hazlitt and Charles Lamb loved how realistic his characters were, even if they didn’t always agree with his political views. 1900s and After (Modern Criticism): Scholars like A. C. Bradley wrote serious studies about Shakespeare’s tragedies—his book is still a classic. Historical critics started looking at how Shakespeare fit into his own time, thinking about things like the Elizabethan audience, politics, and religion. Then came “New Criticism,” which was more about really close reading—paying attention to imagery, language, and structure instead of Shakespeare’s life. Later critics started using different angles: psychology (like the Oedipus complex), myths and archetypes, Christianity, feminism, and even deconstruction (looking at contradictions in the text).

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Shakespeare picture was chosen for the topic of his criticisms, only to show who he is. The second image was chosen to show two of the men who crticized Shakespeare's work for being vulgar and dramatized.

SUMMARY

Superstitions and Astrology

People thought fairies were real and that they danced in “fairy rings” in the woods. Ghosts, goblins, and spirits were believed to hang around churchyards and dark places. Most people avoided going out at night because they didn’t want to run into anything spooky. Witchcraft Witchcraft was taken very seriously. Even smart people, Unfair punishments were given to people accused of witch craft, like ducking them in water (if they floated, guilty; if they sank, innocent but they usually drowned). Queen Elizabeth even turned to her astrologer, John Dee, when people thought a witch cursed her with a toothache. In some areas, like Lancashire, witch trials became a big deal

Alchemy was like a mix of science, magic, and philosophy. People wanted to discover the “philosopher’s stone,” which was supposed to turn metals into gold and even give eternal life. Shakespeare used alchemy as imagery in his plays. For example, in Henry V he compares taking good from evil to “distilling” it, like an alchemist would. Astrology also super popular, everyone believed the stars and planets affected their lives. Predictions about weather, health, and even politics sold really well. Even Queen Elizabeth used astrology (her coronation date was picked by an astrologer). Shakespeare used astrology a lot in his plays. The most famous example is Romeo and Juliet being called “star-crossed lovers.”

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First pictures was chosen to show a witchcraft superstition

Second image was chosen to show the faries rumored to dance in the forests

Punishments Punishments were harsh and public, meant to scare people into obeying the law. - Fines or whipping for smaller crimes like petty theft or begging. - Stocks or pillories: criminals were locked in wooden frames in the town square so people could throw things at them and humiliate them. - Branding or mutilation: thieves might be branded with hot irons or have body parts cut off. - Hanging: common punishment for serious theft or murder. Public hangings were attended by crowds. - Burning at the stake: used for heresy (going against the official religion). - Execution by hanging, drawing, and quartering: the punishment for treason. It was brutal and meant to be a warning.

Summary

Punishments

Types of Crimes- Theft was the most common crime (stealing money, food, or belongings). - Begging and vagrancy (wandering without a home or job) were seen as crimes. Many poor people were punished just for being homeless. - Violence and murder happened, especially in big towns like London. - Religious crimes (like not going to church or practicing the “wrong” religion) were treated very seriously. - Treason (plotting against the queen) was considered the worst crime.

First picture represents a punishment for people who caused a public disturbance

Second picture is punishment to death by decapitation

William Shakespeare

Biography (short summary)

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon and probably went to the local grammar school. At 18 he married Anne Hathaway, had three kids, but sadly his only son died young. Later he moved to London, where he became an actor, playwright, and even part-owner of the Globe Theatre, writing the plays that made him famous. He eventually retired back home and died in 1616, now known as one of the most important writers ever.

Biography