Britain in the Early 17th Century

James I & the Jacobean Era

Most of Shakespeare's plays were written during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. When she died without naming an heir in 1603, she was succeeded by her cousin, James VI of Scotland, who became King James I of England. James I reigned for 22 years, a period known as the Jacobean era. James was not a popular king among the English population — he was a Protestant, and many English citizens were Catholic, fearing continued oppression. In the end, the transition of power was smooth, with no bloodshed or religious revolt.

The Great Chain of Being

The Jacobean era was marked by a hierarchical structure known as the Great Chain of Being. The universe was organised by God, with all living creatures arranged into categories: angels, humans, animals, plants and rocks. The belief was that if anything moved from its position in the chain, chaos would ensue.

The Divine Right of Kings

During the reign of King James I, belief that the monarch was appointed by God became widespread — known as the Divine Right of Kings. James believed that people who opposed the king were committing crimes against God.

The Supernatural

Jacobean society was highly superstitious. James I himself was fascinated by witchcraft and wrote extensively on the subject, including a book called Daemonologie in 1597. He believed in the existence of witches and how they should be treated under Christian law, resulting in the death of 2,500 people (largely women) between 1590 and 1597. Between 300 and 500 people were tried and executed for witchcraft in Scotland. James believed witches had tried to drown him and his wife in a storm.

The Gunpowder Plot

England had experienced years of political and religious conflict before James became king. The accession of James I brought hope to English Catholics that there might be some tolerance for Catholicism — however, he did not deliver this. On 5th November 1605, a group of Catholic conspirators plotted to kill James I by blowing up the Houses of Parliament, intending to assassinate the king and his ministers. The conspirators were sentenced to death. This became known as the Gunpowder Plot.

Shakespeare and Early Modern Drama

Macbeth and King James I

Macbeth was written in approximately 1606 and was intended to appeal to King James I. It reflects many of the anxieties and fears of Jacobean society, including witchcraft, regicide, and the Gunpowder Plot. The character Banquo is based on a real-life ancestor of James I — Shakespeare portrays him favourably as the moral compass of the play and a strong leader and warrior.

Shakespearean Tragedy

Shakespearean tragedies follow many of the conventions of Greek tragedy. Macbeth is a tragic hero — a noble and courageous character brought down by his hamartia (tragic flaw). The power of supernatural forces, misjudgement and ambition all contribute to Macbeth's downfall.

Shakespeare's Plays

Shakespeare began by writing history plays about English monarchs before moving towards more personal plays around 1599. He wrote some particularly melancholic and introspective tragedies, including Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. Shakespeare borrowed many of his stories from older texts and the Greek writer Plutarch. His history plays were inspired by Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland. His genius was in transforming these stories into thrilling plays.

Theatres

In 1575 the first purpose-built playhouse was built in London — called "The Theatre", located in Shoreditch. The Globe Theatre was built and owned by Shakespeare's acting company in 1599, and most of Shakespeare's plays were first performed there. Shakespeare's company was initially called The Lord Chamberlain's Men, but later became The King's Men when James I became their patron — a wealthy person who supports an artist's work.