Shakespeare Biography and Historical Context

Lifetime

1564-1616, died at the age of 52

Birthplace

Stratford-upon-Avon

Father’s name and occupation

John, a glovemaker

What is known about the beginnings of his career?

Little is known, not a single record of Shakespeare’s existence from 1586 to 1592 survives.

Principle source of his plays

Canon comprises of 37 plays, source is the 1623 Folio Volume of Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies

What happened in 1594 and 1603?

1594- Shakespeare joined the theatrical company Lord Chamberlain’s Men, which became known as the King’s Men in 1603, after receiving the royal patronage of King James 1.

Globe Theatre

1599, located on south side of Thanes River, opened under financial backing of Shakespeare.

When was Macbeth written and performed?

Written in 1605-1606 and performed before King James 1 in August of 1606.

Death

Shakespeare died April 23, 1616 in Stratford-upon-Avon, he left his wife the second-best bed in the house.

Life expectancy of Shakespeare’s time

Under 30 years old, during 1st year- over 1/3 of all babies died, only ½ of all children made it to 20, only 3% of population made it to age 30.

1564

Year of Shakespeare’s birth, 254 died in Stratford-upon-Avon, the total population was 800.

1600

Shakespeare’s plays transitioned from comedies and histories to tragedies.

1587

Rapheal Holinshed published Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Macbeth’s inspiration). Banquo aids Macbeth in murder, Duncan is young and ineffectual, and Macbeth rules for 17 years.

1597

King James 1 published Daemonologe, a treatise on the threat of witches to his rule. Scotland had a massive witch hunt in the 1590s.

1603

King James 1 unifies crowns of Scotland and England, Lord Chamberlain’s Men becomes the King’s Men.

1605

November 4, night before parliament, Guy Fawkes is apprehended in cellar bellow Parliament House, filled with gunpowder barrels. James detests Roman Catholics. Jesuit priest Father Henry Garnet is brought to trial. he wrote a Treatise of Equivocation (ambiguous answers under oath) and is found guilty and beheaded.

August 7, 1606

Macbeth performed at Hampton Court as tribute to King James.