shakespeare

Maddy E 8-4 English April 17,2009 What were popular forms of hairstyles, men’s fashion, and women’s fashion in Elizabethan England? According to several sources, including the book __A History of Fashion and Costume Elizabethan England__ by Kathy Elgin, multiple different links from the site __Elizabethan Era__, several links from the website Elizabethan England, and the book __Tudor Costume and Fashion__ by Herbert Norris the clothes that people wore meant a lot to those living in Elizabethan England. Fashion was considered an art during this time period and the people were very proud of their style. Even though they were so passionate about fashion they were not free to wear anything they liked. They were forced to abide by the Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws. These laws were meant to control behavior and to ensure that a class structure was maintained. It helped to be able to easily identify what class a person was in. Penalties for violating the Sumptuary Laws included fines, the loss of property, title and even life. The Sumptuary Laws controlled what colors and material of clothes the different classes wore. The higher classes got the privilege of wearing higher fashion clothes while the lower classes never got to wear fashionable clothes. This did not stop Elizabethan Englanders from showing off their sense of style. Women’s clothing was extravagant and ornamented. The most fashionable women wore long gowns with many layers under the dress. It would normally go something like this; first the shift, next one or two petticoats (the second one was often pleated and a different color than the gown), then the gown. The dress would often have full trailing skirts. Many women also used a hip pad to give their gown extra shape. The neck of the dress was normally square and low in front and was usually V or U shaped in the back. Every woman wanted a small waist. In order to make their waists seem smaller women would wear corsets, which were tied extremely tight to suck in their stomach. W omen also used stuffing to make the chest swell out; this was called bombast. Many women wore gloves and when they were outside they would wear velvet masks. These masks were to shield their faces from the elements and to disguise them from people they didn’t want to talk to. With all of this said every woman still had to abide by the Sumptuary Laws. Different women were allowed to wear different colors and materials. The higher classes were allowed to wear the more fashionable clothes and colors. Often the only time that the lower classes got to see the more fashionable clothes is when Royalty or nobles were near. This made women pay close attention to what they wore and also what others wore. Men’s fashion during the time period was also paid close attention to. Men spent time picking their clothes and they took pride in them. Men wore dresses (the doublet) with standing and ruffled collars. They were stiff and uncomfortable. To cover their legs they wore short pants or stockings. Boots were thought to be highly fashionable for men. Men carried swords and rapiers to look manlier, offsetting the dresses that they wore. Men also had to abide by the Sumptuary Laws so they also could not wear whatever they liked. The higher class you were, the nicer clothes you wore. Men, like women enjoyed dressing fashionably and took time make sure that they had beautiful clothes. Men and women took a long time on their hair and could spend hours waiting to get their hair done at the barber shop. Most Elizabethan women would normally dye their hair blond and would lie in the sun because they thought that it added a golden tint. Many women also wore wigs made out of peasants’ hair or silk. Women would decorate their hair with hair nets, gold trimming, jewels, hairpins and hair combs. Women sometimes wore pointed hats over the hair nets to emphasize the look. Most Elizabethan men went to the barber to get their hair done. The barber would stiffen, starch, powder, perfume, wax, and often dye the hair red. The hair would often be shoulder length and curled which people called "love locks." In Elizabethan England beards were considered attractive for men. The Elizabethan relied on their hair to stress their style.

What was the class system in Elizabethan England? All of my sources including, multiple links from the website __Elizabethan Era__ and the webpage "Social Classes in Shakespeare's England" stated that, in Elizabethan England there was a strong sense of class distinction. There were four main classes; the nobility, gentry, yeomanry, and the poor. The people of Elizabethan England were not free and had to follow the Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws. These rules controlled what a person wore according to their class. The lower class was not allowed to wear the latest fashions. This way it was easy to identify what class you were in and it helped keep people in line. The penalties for breaking these laws could even be as harsh as a death sentence. One could easily break these laws by wearing the wrong color or too nice of fabric for their class. The lower class might break these laws because they want to look nicer for something special. The different classes were an important part of Elizabethan England because for different classes you had different privileges. The top two classes in Elizabethan England never worked with their hands and they lived a very high quality of life. The highest class was the nobility. Although by the time of Queen Elizabeth the nobility did not completely control England they still had a major influence over society. There were only around 55 noble families during Shakespeare’s time. According to the website Everything2, Shakespeare knew the Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley. He was Shakespeare’s patron, or someone who helped pay to get Shakespeare’s writing published. At the head of each noble family there was a duke, baron, or earl. These men were very powerful and rich. They had huge households to house the many people of that certain royal family. The only way that you could become nobility was by birth or by a grant from the King or the Queen. Grants to become noble did not happen often because the Kings and Queens felt threatened by other noble families. They were afraid that the noble families would become too powerful and may overthrow them. Nobility passed from generation to generation from father to eldest son like the throne did. Every citizen dreamed of being noble so that they could be wealthy and dominant. The gentry were the most important class of people in Shakespeare’s England. Although they only made up 5% of society their numbers were growing. This class was made up of knights, squires, gentlemen, and gentlewomen. Gentry were people who did not work with their hands for a living. They were still very rich but they didn’t have the same status in society as the noble family. The two lower classes did not have the same quality of life that the nobility and the gentry did. The yeomanry was in between the extremely rich and the poor and was what a person would call the middle class. They were usually literate and had apprentices. Yeoman could be richer than gentry but they preferred living a simpler lifestyle. There were more poor in Elizabeth’s reign than any reign before and the English Parliament decided something must be done about them. They came up with the Poor Laws, laws that sponsored welfare programs for the poor. The poor tax was also issued to help out the poor. The Poor Law’s three goals were to put those into hospitals or orphanages that could not care for themselves, men who couldn’t fine jobs were put to work, and the final goal was to discourage unemployment. The Elizabethans felt bad for those who could not find work but looked at some in disgust who chose not to work. Living conditions were poor in Elizabethan England because of a lack of hygiene. Few people washed their hands, brushed their hair, or even took baths. Disease spread this way, especially in the lower classes. During Elizabethan England people felt a strong sense of class and that class often determined people’s job, where they lived, and their clothes – each class had a very different lifestyle.

Who were the theatre goers during Elizabethan England? According to the websites __Elizabethan Era__ and __Globe Theatre__, the webpage “The Old Globe Theater History", and the books __Shakespeare for All Time__ by Stanley Wells and __Shakespeare: Script, Stage, and Screen__ by Bevington, Welsh, and Greenwald the theatre attracted people of all classes in Elizabethan England. They all loved the theatre because not only did it provide entertainment but it was also a chance for people to get out and see their friends. Theatres normally held about one thousand five hundred people but many people would view the play from the outside of the theatre too. The number of people watching a play could get to three thousand. Theatres were extremely popular and the audience numbers would only drop when there was a plague. Unfortunately, plagues happened more often than people would have been liked. Plague outbreaks left actors jobless for a while and they tended to leave London during that time. It is believed that Shakespeare used these times to write more plays. Once the fear of spreading disease died down the theatre would once again be full. Although everyone loved the theatre each class tended to have a different experience there. Queen Elizabeth the First loved plays but she did not go to see them. She instead had them come to her. This way she did not have to worry about crowds and noisy people. Instead she had her own private versions of the plays put on for her. Nobles would go to the theatre but they would never dream of standing with the commoners. Instead they would pay  five times more than the commoners for the Lords Room. Although these seats were considered to be the best in the house they had the worst viewing. They would only see the actors’ backs and it was hard to see the stage. The reason that they were considered to be so wonderful though is because the seats were very close to the stage and there was better hearing. The nobles were more likely to appreciate the language of the plays than others and so they paid the high price for the Lords Rooms. The other reason that the nobles wanted to sit in the Lords Rooms is because they did not want to be associated with the lower classes. Also, they did not want to catch diseases from the commoners. The final reason is because the nobles enjoyed showing off their fancy and fashionable clothes. Due to the Sumptuary Laws, laws that prohibited you from wearing certain things depending on your class, the commoners were not allowed to wear the latest fashions. The only time the commoners got to see high fashion was when nobles or Royalty was near. The gentry would normally pay to sit in the galleries using cushions for comfort. Most commoners on the other hand paid a low price to stand in the theatre pit to watch the performance. Elizabethan England had two different types of theaters; public and private, and these attracted different crowds. The public theatres drew a more diverse crowd because of cheaper entrances fees. Private theatres were for more educated people or an exclusive corporate client. Sometimes they would perform in courts for which they were paid significant sums of money and received prestige and influence. In these performances they tended to use more complicated language because the audience would be able to understand and value it. Queen Elizabeth was an exclusive client of Shakespeare and his men and she much enjoyed a good play. All of Elizabethan England took pleasure in the works of the theatre but only some could afford the better viewings. What is the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust? What is its history and mission? According to the book __Shakespeare's Houses and Gardens__, the website __The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust__, and the webpage "Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, UK” the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is considered to be the most important Shakespeare charity. It formed in 1847 when it purchased the house where Shakespeare was born. The charity also has four other houses they maintain which are directly related to Shakespeare’s life. On the charity’s website, shakespeare.org the organization says, “We have three core objectives, which are: to promote in the every part of the world the appreciation and study of the plays and other works of William Shakespeare and general advancements of Shakespearian knowledge, to maintain and preserve the Shakespeare Birthplace properties for the benefit of the nation, and to provide and maintain for the benefit of the nation a museum and library of books, manuscripts, records of historic interest, pictures, photographs and objects of antiquity with particular, but not exclusive reference to William Shakespeare, his life, works and times.” This charity cares for the Shakespeare related houses for the betterment of the nation. In the acknowledgments section of __Richard III__ by William Shakespeare and edited by Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen, it thanks the charity multiple times for maintaining libraries, helping with research, and other such things. This is just one example of Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust encouraging learning about Shakespeare. It strives to promote Shakespeare around the world. There are five house’s related to Shakespeare which are Mary Arden’s, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Hall’s Croft, and Nash’s House and New Place. Mary Arden’s was the home of Shakespeare’s grandparents and his mother’s childhood home. Shakespeare’s Birthplace was where Shakespeare was born and grew up. Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife grew up in the house that is now called Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Hall’s Croft is where Shakespeare’s daughter and her husband lived. Nash's house was where Thomas Nash, the first husband of Shakespeare's granddaughter lived. Thomas was a rich landowner. New Place is the house in which Shakespeare died. He had lived in the house previously. New Place was eventually destroyed but there is a garden standing in memory of it. All of these houses are under the control of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and they attract large crowds from around the world dying to understand Shakespeare’s life. Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust is proud to present a new exhibit of the Cobbe portrait from April 23 to September 6, 2009. Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust said on the website http://www.shakespearefound.org.uk/, “ This exhibition marks a defining moment in the history of Shakespeare’s posthumous reputation. Over the centuries a number of images have been put forward as life portraits of our greatest writer, but at present none of them is generally accepted as such. Up until now, the only two likenesses with strong claims to authenticity have been the engraving in the First Folio, of 1623, by Droeshout, and the bust in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon. Now, with the emergence of the Cobbe portrait, we are presented with a contemporary portrait that has strong claims to represent the dramatist as he appeared to his contemporaries.” The charity marvels that after such a long time that another portrait of Shakespeare is unveiled. Which portrait is the real Shakespeare? We may just never know. Works Cited Barfield, Fuller, Lesley, Tamarra. "Hairstyles of the Elizabethan Period ." __Elizabethan__ __England__. 6 Mar 2009 . Bridges, Granger, Stefanie, Shandy. "Women's Fashions of the Elizabethan Period." __Elizabethan England__. 6 Mar 2009 . David, Anne Marie, Micheal. Bevington, Welsh, Greenwald. __Shakespeare: Script, Stage,__ __and Screen__. Pearson Education, Inc., 2006. Doering, Matt. "Men's Fashion during the Elizabethan Period." __Elizabethan England__. 6 Mar 2009 Elgin, Kathy. __A History of Fashion and Costume Elizabethan England__. Baily Publishing Associates Ltd, 2005. "Elizabethan Clothing." __Elizabethan Era__. 2 Mar 2009 . "Elizabethan England." __Elizabethan Era__. 4 Apr 2009 . "Elizabethan Theatre Audiences." __Elizabethan Era__. 10 Mar 2009 . "Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws." __Elizabethan Era__. 6 Mar 2009 . "Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton." //Everything2//. 15 Apr 2009 . "Globe Theatre Lords Rooms." __Globe Theatre__. 10 Mar 2009 . Norris, Herbert. __Tudor Costume and Fashion__. Mineola: Dover's Publication, Inc, 1997. __The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust__. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. 12 Mar 2009 . "Shakespeare Found. A Life Portrait." __The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust__. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. 4 Apr 2009 . "Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, UK." __Waymarking__. 12 Mar 2009 . __Shakespeare's Houses and Gardens__. Stratford-upon-Avon: Jarrold Publishing. Shakespeare, William, Jonathan Bate, and Eric Rasmussen. __Richard III__. . "Social Classes in Shakespeare's England." 6 Mar 2009 . Wells, Stanley. __Shakespeare for All Time__. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc., 2003. Works Cited Barfield, Fuller, Lesley, Tamarra. "Hairstyles of the Elizabethan Period ." __Elizabethan__ __England__. 6 Mar 2009 . Bridges, Granger, Stefanie, Shandy. "Women's Fashions of the Elizabethan Period." __Elizabethan__ __England__. 6 Mar 2009 .

Doering, Matt. "Men's Fashion during the Elizabethan Period." __Elizabethan__ __England__. 6 Mar 2009 . Elgin, Kathy. __A History of Fashion and Costume Elizabethan__ __England__. Baily Publishing Associates Ltd, 2005. "Elizabethan Clothing." __Elizabethan Era__. 2 Mar 2009 <http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-clothing.htm>. "Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws." __Elizabethan Era__. 6 Mar 2009 <http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-sumptuary-laws.htm>. Norris, Herbert. __Tudor Costume and Fashion__. Mineola: Dover's Publication, Inc, 1997. Works Cited "Elizabethan England." __Elizabethan Era__. 4 Apr 2009 <http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-england.htm>.

"Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws." __Elizabethan Era__. 6 Mar 2009 <http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-sumptuary-laws.htm>.

"Social Classes in Shakespeare's England." 6 Mar 2009 <http://www.brandonsd.mb.ca/crocus/library/social_classes_in_shakespeare.htm>. Works Cited "Elizabethan Theatre Audiences." __Elizabethan Era__. 10 Mar 2009 <http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-theatre-audiences.htm>.

"Globe Theatre Lords Rooms." __Globe Theatre__. 10 Mar 2009 <http://www.globe-theatre.org.uk/globe-theatre-lords-rooms.htm >.

David, Anne Marie, Micheal. Bevington, Welsh, Greenwald. __Shakespeare: Script, Stage, and Screen__. Pearson Education, Inc., 2006.

"The Old Globe Theater History." 10 Mar 2009 <http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-globe-theatre.htm>.

Wells, Stanley. __Shakespeare for All Time__. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc., 2003. Works Cited __The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust__. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. 12 Mar 2009 <http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/>. "Shakespeare Found. A Life Portrait." __The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust__. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. 4 Apr 2009 <http://www.shakespearefound.org.uk/>.

"Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, UK." __Waymarking__. 12 Mar 2009 <http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM4JZH>.

__Shakespeare's Houses and Gardens__. Stratford-upon-Avon: Jarrold Publishing.