HAMLET: CONTEXT
Hamlet was written between 1599 and 1601. It is the longest Shakespeare
play with just over 4000 lines and Hamlet has the most lines out of any
Shakespearean character. More than 600 words were invented in this play. It
is Shakespeare’s third bloodiest play with 9 explicit deaths.
Personal Context:
- Shakespeare lived 1564 – 1616
- Shakespeare had a son called Hamnet who died in 1596
- His father had been exposed for illegal dealing and damaged the
reputation of his family.
- It is cheaper for someone to be murdered offstage.
- Shakespeare was aiming to appeal to higher audiences
Political Context:
- King Henry (who reigned from 1509 – 1547) caused a religious
reformation in England by eradicating Catholicism and enforcing
Protestantism.
- King H was the second son (not meant to be king – like Claudius)
- He married his brothers widow (Cathrine of Aragon): she testified that
their marriage was never consummated, as this would have been
otherwise illegal (Gertrude)
- Queen Mary ruled from 1547 – 1553. She overturned the Protestant
Revolution
- Queen Elizabeth ruled from 1558 – 1603. She defeated the Spanish
Armada in 1588.
- Due to being childless, the Tudor dynasty died as when she died there
was no heir.
- Essex attempted to overthrow Queen Elizabeth.
- Elizabethans were very anxious about spying, Francis Walsington
(Elizabeth’s spymaster) uncovered the ‘Babington Plot’.
- The concept of ‘Body Politic’ was that the health of the country was
measured by the king
- Elizbeth I: Famous 1588 speech to her troops: "I know I have the body
of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a
king, and a king of England too"
- Elizabethan’s were so fearful of the Spanish Armada they put ‘chains
across the streets’ and ‘lanterns to burn all the night’
- If Hamlet was set in England, it may be viewed as treason.
Hamlet was written between 1599 and 1601. It is the longest Shakespeare
play with just over 4000 lines and Hamlet has the most lines out of any
Shakespearean character. More than 600 words were invented in this play. It
is Shakespeare’s third bloodiest play with 9 explicit deaths.
Personal Context:
- Shakespeare lived 1564 – 1616
- Shakespeare had a son called Hamnet who died in 1596
- His father had been exposed for illegal dealing and damaged the
reputation of his family.
- It is cheaper for someone to be murdered offstage.
- Shakespeare was aiming to appeal to higher audiences
Political Context:
- King Henry (who reigned from 1509 – 1547) caused a religious
reformation in England by eradicating Catholicism and enforcing
Protestantism.
- King H was the second son (not meant to be king – like Claudius)
- He married his brothers widow (Cathrine of Aragon): she testified that
their marriage was never consummated, as this would have been
otherwise illegal (Gertrude)
- Queen Mary ruled from 1547 – 1553. She overturned the Protestant
Revolution
- Queen Elizabeth ruled from 1558 – 1603. She defeated the Spanish
Armada in 1588.
- Due to being childless, the Tudor dynasty died as when she died there
was no heir.
- Essex attempted to overthrow Queen Elizabeth.
- Elizabethans were very anxious about spying, Francis Walsington
(Elizabeth’s spymaster) uncovered the ‘Babington Plot’.
- The concept of ‘Body Politic’ was that the health of the country was
measured by the king
- Elizbeth I: Famous 1588 speech to her troops: "I know I have the body
of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a
king, and a king of England too"
- Elizabethan’s were so fearful of the Spanish Armada they put ‘chains
across the streets’ and ‘lanterns to burn all the night’
- If Hamlet was set in England, it may be viewed as treason.
