The English Renaissance

1485-1660Henry VII, First of the Tudors, who reigned in

England from 1485-1603, defeated Richard III, ending ongoing between the houses of York and Lancaster

Henry VII was Lancastrian, but married Elizabeth of the house of York, Richard III’s niece.Barons were financially exhausted, and could not afford to oppose the power of the crown. The Church was also in support of royal power

Changes in the World

During the reign of Henry VII...Columbus “discovered” America

Vasco de Gama reached India, sailing around the Cape of Good Hope

Introduction of firearms reduced usefulness of armored knights on horseback, feudalism continued to decline

Changes in England

England was not a leader in world exploration, but the discoveries in the western hemisphere affected England’s place in the world in a big way.

The English became colonizers and merchants, making commercial treaties with other European countries

England was always a sheep raising country, and now became a large exporter of cloth

Open lands were fenced off to form large enclosed grazing areas for sheep. As a result, more people moved into cities, and cities became more complex communities.

Changes in Literacy

William Caxton introduced the art of printing from movable type to England about ten years before Henry VII took the throne.

early 1400’s- 30% of population could read.1530- 60% of population could read.printing made books cheaper and more plentiful, providing opportunity to read, and incentive to learn.

Preserving Traditions

“As often in an age of spectacular novelty, people dreamed of an idealized past instead of looking forward to an uncertain future” (Abrams, 240)

Much “new” literature was older works written in other countries, translated into English, or new works written to imitate middle ages authors like Chaucer and Malory.

Jousts and tournaments continued in court, and chivalry was still the approved code for behavior.

The Renaissance

Because the reign of Henry VII brought political stability to the country, the Renaissance, which was already going on in Italy, was able to make an appearance in England.

rebirth of art and literature, inspired by the discovery of classical texts (think: ancient Greek mythology and philosophy)

new emphasis on education: the basic subjects with an increased focus on the art of the English and Latin languages and classic literature

The Reformation

For medieval people, the Roman Catholic Church was a comprehensive partner for life.

The Bible, the order of mass, and most religious discussions were in Latin, a language which most common people could not understand, much less read or write.

the people relied on priests to bring the text to them in a way they could understand

The Reformation

As Chaucer satirized in The Canterbury Tales, the Roman Catholic Church had issues with corruption

examples from Chaucer’s prologue: monk, friar, pardoner

As literacy increased and thinking changed, people developed a new relationship with religion. The reformation marks a split between the Catholic Church of Rome and protestant groups.

The Reformation

Principles of the Reformation:Only the scriptures (not the church or traditions) have authorities in matters of religionOnly God’s grace and personal faith (not good works or practices) an affect salvationOnly individual enlightened conscience (not priests) can determine what an individual should believe and do.

The Church of England

King Henry VIII wanted a divorce from his wife, Catherine of Aragon (who is related to Spanish royalty) because she “could not” give him a son.

Catholic church did not grant him special permission to divorce her, because the pope was more interested in being friends with Spain than England

King Henry VIII established the Church of England, with himself as the head of the church, and demanded oaths of allegiance. Many who refused were executed.

The Elizabethan Age

For the second half of the 1500‘s (The Elizabethan Age), Protestant denominations, Catholicism, and the Church of England are constantly varying in power and acceptability. Literacy increased, but writers still also had day jobs and received relatively little monetary compensation for literature.London’s increased population (50k in 1563 to 225k in 1605) and changing structure impacted literacy: London was the location where printing presses, printers, booksellers, and middle class people all existed together. This resulted in literature being written with the average person in mind.

• Macbeth is a dark, relentless tale of a good and brave Scottish general who, encouraged by the dark prophesies of three evil witches and by his own wife, murders Duncan, king of Scotland. Macbeth then becomes king and brings about his own destruction.

• Shakespeare's source for the story of Macbeth was The History and Chronicles of Scotland (1526), written by Hector Boece, a Scottish historian and humanist. (Many scholars question the factual reliability of Boece's work, and point out that Shakespeare took liberties with Macbeth's history for dramatic purposes.)

King James

Was King James VI of Scotland, and became King James I of England and Ireland in 1603

Strong ProtestantWrote a book, Daemonologie, supporting witch hunts.

Shakespeare includes meddling witches as a key element in Macbeth.

Shakespeare researched The Chronicles – Banquo (a good guy, loyal war hero)is an ancestor of King James I.

Gunpowder Plot

November 1605Guy Fawkes and his followers (Roman Catholics) planned to

blow up ParliamentThey wanted to bring down the British government and put a

Catholic rulers on the throne The plot was discovered and the men involved were tried and

killed as traitorsShakespeare sided with the king and seemed to think that a

play about treason and death would find an audience at this time

He was especially supportive of the king because he needed to clear his own name in connection to the plot!

Gunpowder Plot

Shakespeare's father, John (undoubtedly a covert Catholic) was friends with William Catesby, the father of the head conspirator, Robert Catesby.

John Shakespeare and William Catesby shared illegal Catholic writings that eventually wound up in the attic of John's home in Stratford.

Mermaid Tavern in London, frequented by Shakespeare and owned by his closest friend, was a preferred meeting spot of the turncoats as they schemed to obliterate the Protestants once and for all.

Macbeth: an appeal to Elizabethan/Jacobean people’s interests

• Shakespeare demonstrated the Elizabethan (and Jacobean) belief that the country is stable only if the King is good and virtuous.

• Elizabethans believed that evil occurs in darkness, which is a recurring theme in Macbeth.

• Shakespeare included a lot of blood and murder, which the Elizabethans expected to see in a play.

• The play was considered a thriller – a threat to an anointed King and the perceived evil behind the threat

Shakespearean Tragedy

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies (it is also his shortest)

Aside from the violent nature of the plot Shakespeare uses several literary devices to enhance the feeling of evil•He creates a serious and sinister mood by having most of the play take place at night•There is a heavy emphasis on the supernatural (witches, dreams, spells, and ghosts)

Characters

Characters

The Scottish PlayIt is believed to be bad luck

to even squeak the word ‘Macbeth’ in a theatre

Legend has it you will lose all your friends involved in the production--horribly

The Tragic Hero

“Man of high standard who falls from that high because of a flaw that has affected many” - Aristotle

The Real Macbeth?

Macbeth was a real king of ScotlandHe did kill King DuncanReigned from 1040-1057Unlike the Macbeth in Shakespeare’s play

The real Macbeth had a legitimate claim to the throne

The real Macbeth was a strong leader The real Macbeth’s reign was successful The real Macbeth was killed at Lumphanan as

opposed to Dunsinane