Textuality » 4A Interacting
Dear reader,
you surely has already listened something about Shakespeare: a lot of people, today, consider him the best playwright of English literature and many of his plays are not only performed in actual theaters, but they have also been changed into movies.
Do you remember "Romeo and Juliet", the tragedy that drove a lot of girls mad? I think so, and I also think you want to know how a man lived in the 16th century could write such a story, successful up to now...
Well, you'll find the answer reading this article, because I've interviewed Shakespeare himself.
Initially you have to know what are the reasons why he could reach such a relevant position during his life;
At first he lived in a considerable period in English history: the reign of Elizabeth I, who promoted the development of Renaissance culture; Shakespeare learnt it during his childhood when he attended the "King's New School", near his hometown ,Stratford-upon-Avon. Over there he acquired the Humanistic spirit and discovered the value of the Classics.
Explaining the sense of the Humanism is now essential: it is very probable that today's people don't know the values of a culture so remote from the ours;
bear in mind that during the Renaissance the human being was put at the centre of investigation and life on Earth, with all kinds of material pleasures, was revalued.
Besides his education Shakespeare perfected his dramatic skills between 1585 and 1592, when he appeared like an established actor in London.
Up to now a lot of scholars tried to discover what he did during the so-called "Lost Years", lacking of documents;
Today, finally, we have removed the shade!
Shakespeare unveiled that he finished grammar school's studies, married Anna Hathaway, who gave him three sons, and lived several experiences who contributed to form a popular actor and playwright: «I was working in my hometown where many players visited me to ask for suggestions or education»
«Fortunately, he admitted, some of my admirers praised me in their works, like Robert Greene, whose dedication proves I was a respected player in London in 1592». To have a clearer idea, it was like a writer who today receives an homage from the Queen or whose work is promoted all over in the net and on television.
In the last years of the century Shakespeare's plays became popular, thanks to acting companies, such as Pembroke's Men, who welcomed Shakespeare; they performed the plays around South England, at Elizabeth's court or in the first English theatres, places like the actual movie houses in Hollywood!
The audience was enthusiastic: characters were so real, so human that they could identify in them, coping with own problems and finding precepts to solve intricate difficulties. This is why also today people like his stories.
The first relevant reason in Shakespeare's success was the skill in embed human nature and in satisfying common people's expectations.
But don't believe his ascent was lacking of difficulties...
«I got worried when in 1593-94 a terrible plague constrained to close all theatres: I thought people would forget my works; I couldn't do anything...so I decided to get cracking at writing poetic compositions».
Fortunately Shakespeare's forecast was wrong: English audience hadn't forgotten his ability.
In 1594 the Chamberlain's Men offered him a place in the company, like a playwright and an actor: the way for a complete success is opened, the company is the best-known in London.
« As a member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men I had the possibility of meeting some skilled artists, such as Richard Burbage, the best actor and the brother of Cuthbert, heir of the Theatre: the Theatre was the first of its kind and it had to be torn down to be rebuilt in another place. »
Between 1597-1599 the greatest theatre was built in the Southwark district of London, the Globe Theatre; it could contain about 3000 spectators who frequently watched Shakespeare's plays and provoked their fast diffusion all over England.
Plays were performed on a stage, a level platform raised about five feet off the ground and supplied by some mechanisms (for examples trap doors); it was surrounded by the "pit", where people stood after paying one penny, without seats or any roof; Theatergoers who could pay two pennies sat down in three galleries. On the rear part of the stage there were a "tiring" house, where actors changed costumes, and two large columns that supported a roof; under the roof the wall was painted with clouds and the sky.
The Globe was opened to people from all social classes; educated individuals met vulgar ones and Shakespeare's plays succeeded in satisfying both kinds of spectators: "buns" were used for illiterate people, while aristocrats could enjoy in discovering hidden sense, character's nature or sources used by the playwright.
Moreover Shakespeare was motivated to work hard for plays and representations, because the audience didn't only judge, but also threw vegetables or fruit as disapproval; actors didn't use painted scenery, so settings had to be provided by exchanges of dialogue... fortunately today a playwright can exploit a lot of technologies and spectators are more polite!
However Shakespeare had a good opinion of the theatre: it was appreciated also by leaders, because of its impressive and spectacular shape: if you are going to London, don't lose the opportunity to visit the Globe, I think you'll get the same impressions!
During the interview I've also asked him his biggest satisfaction:
«I take pride in being called "Bard of Avon", a name for a representative of English people: with my success all the world has discovered some works that don't only carry a humanistic spirit, but also English culture. »