ELIZABETHAN THEATER: MOST IMPORTANT AUTHORS AND WORKS - ART - 2025

The Elizabethan theater is the set of dramatic works written and presented between the 16th and 17th centuries (specifically between the years 1578 and 1642) in England. It is directly associated with the reign of Elizabeth I because her mandate provided the basis for the emergence of this great theatrical era.

So positive was the government of Elizabeth I that, despite her death in 1603 and other monarchs having ruled after her, that period of art was crowned with her name. The Elizabethan theater marked a milestone in the art of European stage.

It should be noted that just as Elizabeth I left her mark on that momentous period of theater, history rewarded her with reigning during the birth and formation of one of the greatest men in the history of letters: William Shakespeare. In fact, to speak of Elizabethan theater is to speak of the works of William Shakespeare.

The economic and social tranquility that the reign of Elizabeth I managed to give was the fertile field that gave way to the greatest cultural growth that England had seen up to that time. We can say that Shakespeare was the product of ingenuity and the gentle hand of providence.

Origin

The origin of the Elizabethan theater was marked by historical events of great importance. He had to receive the English Renaissance and be an active part of it after England freed itself from the yoke of the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire after defeating the invincible army of Philip II of Spain in 1588.

The conditions were perfectly set, coupled with the great scientific and technological advances achieved by the Copernican revolution. All the needs of the population were satisfied, art had the terrain ready to unfold as it pleased.

With the liberation of the Roman and papal yoke, humanism also made its way through England, representing a fundamental pillar for the creation of theatrical texts by the playwrights of the time.

Elizabethan theater and humanism

The entry of humanism was of great significance for the theater. The writers were emancipated, with the possibility of speaking what they wanted in the religious sphere without their heads being in danger of rolling on the floor, or their bodies hanging in front of the crowds.

Mycenaean labor played a crucial role in the growth and maintenance of the great theater companies. The directors and playwrights, in exchange for the favors of the patrons (who were the economic fund of the theater itself), praised them on stage through the plays and characters.

Revaluation of theatrical trades

Trades related to theatrical life were revalued. The actors were dignified, coming to show great public appreciation and respect during the time. This situation had not even been thought of in the first half of the 16th century, in the face of so many prevailing problems.

The Elizabethan theater enjoyed a luck never before seen in the world of the stage: it developed in the perfect time, in the right place and with the right people.

All the conditions and circumstances mentioned above allowed it to organize itself as a feasible and fruitful commercial activity that changed the lives of those who worked in the show, also reaching that of the common citizen, who found in the theater the perfect place to recreate.

Main authors

Among the main authors of Elizabethan theater there are two highly representative authors: William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.

Shakespeare (1564-1616)

He is considered the most important English-speaking writer, and one of the most famous writers of humanity. He worked on poetry and dramaturgy, having a masterful command of both.

His plays themselves are considered the heart of Elizabethan theater. His scattered ideas about the text revolutionized the world of Anglo-Saxon letters, capturing applause on every stage where his dramas were presented.

His poetry and his pen in general have transcended like that of no other English. In him the prophecy of his contemporary, Ben Jonson, who asserted that Shakespeare did not belong to an age, but was part of eternity, was fulfilled.

Not for nothing is his literary work the most widely read worldwide, and his dramas are the most staged by theater companies on each continent.

Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593)

He was not only a playwright and poet, but also an English translator. His accelerated passage through life deeply touched the Elizabethan theater. His literary work carried such weight that he was considered the predecessor of Shakespeare.

At age 20 he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Corpus Cristi College and then continued his studies at Cambridge University.

Something interesting happened to him in 1687, when the university decided to deny him his degree due to rumors about his religious tendency: it was said that he had returned to Catholicism.

After a pronouncement by the queen where she praised the poet for the favors received, the university authorities were forced to give him the title.

It is said that his death was faked to avoid the law in the face of problems he presented. There is even talk that he was involved in a murder.

So strong are the rumors of his false death that the so-called Marlowe Theory was created. His lyrics are said to flood the later plays of Shakespeare, which was his inspired hand behind the success.

The truth is that Marlowe's literary work has nothing to envy that of Shakespeare. His plots, highlighting English history and mythology around the cultures of the Mediterranean, denoted great wisdom.

More important works

The Tempest

Work of William Shakespeare. It masterfully narrates how the reign of Elizabeth I magnificently took advantage of the economic boom of the time, dodging adversity, to provide England with a place in dramaturgy and universal human history.

Macbeth

Without a doubt, one of the most representative tragedies of the art of dramaturgy in the world. William Shakespeare masterfully captured the serious consequences that the ambition for power of their rulers brings on the peoples.

It is a universal plot that transcends time and crudely shows us the dark side of man. It reminds us of what we cannot hide, the things that we must necessarily learn to grow as a society.

Doctor Faust

This work by Christopher Marlowe brings us to the stage the story of the life of Faust, a man who sells his soul to the devil to achieve fame and fortune.

The eternal struggle between the material and the spiritual is openly shown. The final results are always dire, they always confront us with a great reality. Do you really want to know a man? Then give it power.

Dido

It is the story of the Carthaginian queen, the founder of Carthage. This work has a fairly strong historical mythological weight. She manages to entwine The Iliad with The Odyssey and The Aeneid, three of the most representative works of Greco-Roman culture.

That Marlowe stepped into these thick waters and brought us such a well-crafted tragedy is of great merit. Whoever sees him on stage is obliged to nourish himself to understand him completely. The work itself does not stop touching the fibers.

References

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4. Montreal, M. (2013). Elizabethan theater in England. Spain: Prezi. Recovered from: prezi.com
5. Coccia, V. (2017). Isabelino Theater, mirror of human nature. (n / a): Le meow noir. Recovered from: lemiaunoir.com