Brief facts about Sir William Shakespeare

SHAKESPEARE
William Shakespeare was a play witter and an English poet. Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613. his first few plays were comedies or histories. Most of his plays were translated into every major language. Shakespeare was a respected poet and playwright in his own day. Some of his plays like Rome and Juliet are still very famous.

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND

The roles of the women in the Elizabethan England were very limited even though there was an unmarried women assigned to the throne. Expectations for men and women were very clear stated. It says, "...men were expected to be the breadwinners and women to be housewives and mothers. On average, a woman gave birth to a child every two years..." (http://www.elizabethi.org/us/women/), (14/09/09). People believed that a women always needed someone to look after them. "If they were married, their husband was expected to look after them. If they were single, then their father, brother or another male relative was expected to take care of them." Lots of women were highly educated for example the Queen. Women were not allowed to go to school or to university, but they could be educated at home by private tutors.

CLASS DISTINCTIONS IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND

In the time of Shakespeare, there was a strong sense of social classes. Some people and families moved from class to class but others were born into a particular class and stayed there until death. being in a class determined what clothes that you wore or what jobs that are available to you. The highest class is the Nobility. in the time of Shakespeare there were only about 55 noble families in England. "At the head of each noble family is a duke, a baron, or an earl. These are the lords and ladies of the land." (http://www.brandonsd.mb.ca/crocus/library/social_classes_in_shakespeare.htm#Nobility), (14/09/09). you were put into the social class of Nobility by birth or by grant of the queen. Another class is the Gentry's. Only about 5% of the population was considered a Gentry. These were all the knights, squires, gentlemen, and gentlewomen. They were the most important class within the Elizabethan England time. Another class is the Yeomanry. These people aren't poor and they aren't rich. they have saved up enough money to live comfortably and normally. Then the lowest social class is the Poor. These were the sick, the disabled, the old and feeble, and soldiers unable to work because of wounds.

ENTERTAINMENT IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND

Entertainment was very important to the people in the Elizabeth era, however there wasn't much entertainment unless there was something to celebrate. For example a betrothal, a wedding, a victory or a festival. Court entertainment was regular and more entertaining. they got to enjoy feasts, jousts and banquets often accompanied by music and dancing. the poor had less exciting etntertainment like watching trained animals or mystery plays.

I AM GOING TO DO MORE BUT RIGHT NOW I'M MOVING ONTO "MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING"