Evolution of Drama since Shakespeare

Introduction

The life of William Shakespeare is shrouded in mystery. There is no record of him receiving an education, buying the book or writing the single letter, and no original manuscript of the Shakespeare play survives. There is no direct record of his conversations, and no one in his home town seems to have known that he was the successful playwright while he was alive. There is not even the contemporary portrait to reveal his true appearance. Although the number of mentions of William Shakespeare poet-dramatist appear on record during 1590's and early 1600's, they comment only briefly on his writings, telling us nothing about man. Less is known about Shakespeare than nearly any other playwright of his time. (Easterling 53)

In spite of religious controversies, Reformation is the period of economic revolution, as mercantilism and commercial capitalism gains strength. Science and mathematics come to leverage almost every facet of life. Shakespeare's dramas hold public attention as do Moliere's, and in arts northern realism vies with southern baroque for attention. In politics Dutch and English retain constitutional representative governments, holding fast to their civil liberties; France and Spain in spite of internal dissonances are primarily guided by strong hands of rulers such as Philip II (1527-1598) and Henry IV (1553-1610). Twentieth century Europe bears imprint of Reformation: Scandinavia, England Scotland, Switzerland, north and east of Germany, and parts of Eastern Europe have largely remained Protestant. (Duchartre 6)

Discussion and Analysis

Key issues concerning development of Renaissance drama were classical and medieval drama, humanism, court, and religious change. It reflected self-confidence of the nation expanding its powers, and increasing its wealth. The theater played an important role on development of renaissance drama. Because of different plays written by Shakespeare and other playwrights, literacy was spreading rapidly. What was different about medieval drama was that during Medieval Period, through plays people worshiped Gods.

Why was Elizabethan drama successful? Who contributed to this?

The Elizabethan drama was successful because it was the triumph of dramatically spoken English. Through plays, audience was able to engage its mind and emotions by commanding full resource of English language. William Shakespeare was one of many playwrights who contributed to this. Metaphysical poetry extends Elizabethan love of intricate verbal artifice and feeling for dramatic voice and situation along new stylistic lines. It is more argumentative in tone; its language is more colloquial; its meter is usually varied, irregular, even deliberately rough and harsh; it often depends on the "combination of dissimilar images, or discovery of occult resemblances in things apparently unlike." Metaphysical poetry seems to confront disruptions and strains in intellectual and religious life of 17th century by incorporating these elements directly into verbal drama of poem. (Brockett 447)

Shakespeare mixed without coercion with royalty and commoner alike. He not ever looked down on anyone and made no enemies. He was the self-made man, the devoted husband and the kindly father. Not only was his literary genius second to none, he was also the superb level-headed businessman, one of Stratford's ...