Elizabethan Protestants, Catholic Persecution, and the Popularity of Hamlet
Disciplines
Theatre and Performance Studies | Theatre History
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Queen Elizabeth reigned in the late sixteenth century during a period when Catholicism was outlawed, and Protestantism was enforced. Today’s modern perception and academic teachings of Elizabeth’s reign promote the stereotype that the common Elizabethan Protestant society shunned people who ascribed to the Catholic religion. Scholars like Hervé Picton write that England had successfully stomped out religious minorities and become a Protestant nation by the end of the century; 250 Catholics were executed during Elizabeth’s reign. Despite these perceptions, teachings, and executions, the Elizabethan society did not necessarily ascribe to the laws of the monarchy or agree with the monarchy’s actions. This paper explores historical accounts of Elizabethan London society, specifically applying these studies to William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It ultimately suggests that despite the monarchy’s influence, the Protestant society did not necessarily shun people who ascribed to the Catholic religion. Shakespeare wrote plays for wide audiences, and admission to a Shakespeare play only cost patrons a penny. Hamlet was considered his most popular play despite several Catholic remnants, such as Hamlet’s father appearing as a ghost. Scholars like Isabelle Gatt and Peter Zhang discuss the kind of community that theatre creates where audiences believe the actors, formulating a theatrical agreement, a point of connection grounded in a mutual understanding of societal truths. Even though Catholicism was outlawed, even though Protestants were told by their monarchy to despise Catholics, and even though Protestants denounced ghosts and other Catholic beliefs, they had no issue accepting the Catholic representation within the theatrical performances of their beloved Hamlet. For the common Elizabethan Protestant society to love Hamlet as much as they did, they had to go against the monarchy’s influence and be at least civil with Catholics in their society.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
COTA - Theatre and Performance Studies
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Thomas Fish
Elizabethan Protestants, Catholic Persecution, and the Popularity of Hamlet
Queen Elizabeth reigned in the late sixteenth century during a period when Catholicism was outlawed, and Protestantism was enforced. Today’s modern perception and academic teachings of Elizabeth’s reign promote the stereotype that the common Elizabethan Protestant society shunned people who ascribed to the Catholic religion. Scholars like Hervé Picton write that England had successfully stomped out religious minorities and become a Protestant nation by the end of the century; 250 Catholics were executed during Elizabeth’s reign. Despite these perceptions, teachings, and executions, the Elizabethan society did not necessarily ascribe to the laws of the monarchy or agree with the monarchy’s actions. This paper explores historical accounts of Elizabethan London society, specifically applying these studies to William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It ultimately suggests that despite the monarchy’s influence, the Protestant society did not necessarily shun people who ascribed to the Catholic religion. Shakespeare wrote plays for wide audiences, and admission to a Shakespeare play only cost patrons a penny. Hamlet was considered his most popular play despite several Catholic remnants, such as Hamlet’s father appearing as a ghost. Scholars like Isabelle Gatt and Peter Zhang discuss the kind of community that theatre creates where audiences believe the actors, formulating a theatrical agreement, a point of connection grounded in a mutual understanding of societal truths. Even though Catholicism was outlawed, even though Protestants were told by their monarchy to despise Catholics, and even though Protestants denounced ghosts and other Catholic beliefs, they had no issue accepting the Catholic representation within the theatrical performances of their beloved Hamlet. For the common Elizabethan Protestant society to love Hamlet as much as they did, they had to go against the monarchy’s influence and be at least civil with Catholics in their society.