A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare Summary

“London loved the theater, and the theater loved Shakespeare – but financial success and lasting legacy required vision and risk.”

1. Shakespeare Moved to London to Pursue the Theater

Tudor London in the late 16th century was a bustling hub of culture and theater, making it a magnet for dramatists and actors. William Shakespeare left Stratford behind in 1585 and sought opportunity in England's buzzing capital. London was home to popular “playing companies” such as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, of which Shakespeare was a member, as well as thousands of spectators eager for fresh drama.

Theaters could hold between 2,000 and 3,000 people, and their proximity to seedy neighborhoods made them both alluring and contentious. Lawmakers often tried to shut them down, fearing that theaters attracted unsavory crowds and encouraged immoral behavior. However, both commoners and nobles loved plays, making theaters an unrivaled cultural hotspot. Shakespeare was quick to see the artistic and financial promise of the stage, diving into a world where the competition was scarce.

By the 1590s, the death of great playwrights like Christopher Marlowe had left a gap in the theatrical world. This environment allowed Shakespeare to secure his reputation and thrive, as his unique talents bridged the old generation and the new wave of dramatists.

Examples

• Shakespeare entered London’s theater scene in 1585 when the city already drew 15,000 theatergoers weekly.
• Authorities tried to close theaters in the 1590s, labeling them dens of thieves and "whore-mongers."
• Playwrights like Ben Jonson were only starting to rise, leaving room for Shakespeare’s dominance.

2. The Creation of the Globe Theater Was a Bold Gamble

In 1599, Shakespeare and his business partners decided to invest in a permanent playhouse to secure their group’s financial and artistic future. This decision was a daring leap because playhouse construction was typically funded by wealthy investors who took most of the profits. Shakespeare and four fellow actor-shareholders contributed a significant sum to build the Globe.

The Globe was different from other theaters of the time, not only because of its structure but also due to its financial model. Shakespeare and his partners each secured a 10% stake in all future profits. This decision meant they enjoyed long-term earnings, lifting Shakespeare and his colleagues into the middle class.

Located in the gritty Bankside neighborhood, the Globe opened to great anticipation. Its location even inspired lines in Shakespeare’s works, such as Twelfth Night, where it referenced a local brothel-turned-inn. The opening of the theater was a turning point, both for Shakespeare’s career and for the theater scene in London.

Examples

• Shakespeare and four partners each invested £70 in building the Globe.
• They retained 10% of the theater’s earnings, a rarity in a landscape dominated by investor-controlled profits.
• Twelfth Night references Bankside’s notorious “Elephant” inn, amusing audiences familiar with the area.

3. Religious Conflict Shaped Shakespeare's World

The Protestant Reformation of the 16th century reshaped Europe and colored Shakespeare’s writings. Henry VIII’s break with the Catholic Church laid the groundwork for generations of political and military conflict, particularly England’s animosity with Catholic Spain. This tension was at a fever pitch in 1599, the year Shakespeare opened the Globe.

Spain, under Philip III, still loomed as a threat to Protestant England. In 1599, rumors of a Spanish invasion caused panic. These fears seeped into Shakespeare’s works. Plays like Julius Caesar reflected themes of loyalty, betrayal, and authority – issues deeply tied to Elizabethan England’s struggles with religion and monarchy.

By rooting his plays in current events, Shakespeare ensured they resonated with his contemporaries. England’s battles with Catholic rivals and the uncertainties of Protestant reforms were fertile ground for his dramas.

Examples

• England’s break from the Catholic Church began in the 1530s under Henry VIII.
• Elizabeth I supported Protestant rebels against Spain, escalating tensions with Spanish monarchs.
• Concerns over invasion shaped the tone of Shakespeare’s works in 1599, such as Julius Caesar and Henry V.

4. Julius Caesar Explored Political Violence and Its Fallout

One of the first plays performed at the Globe, Julius Caesar, focused on themes that were surprisingly relevant to Elizabethan viewers. Unlike traditional historical dramas, the play’s most dramatic event – Caesar’s assassination – unfolds early in the story, with the aftermath dominating the narrative.

This structuring wasn’t a coincidence. Questions about the morality of rebellion and the justification for regicide were prominent in Elizabethan England, given the political instability and religious schisms of the time. Catholic assassins, inspired by the pope’s excommunication of Elizabeth, posed constant threats to the queen.

Rather than taking sides, Shakespeare suggested that political violence, no matter its aims, always brings unintended chaos. Through Julius Caesar, he offered a subtle commentary on the human cost of revolutionary ideals.

Examples

• Julius Caesar examines assassination not as a solution but as a prelude to chaos.
• Catholic plots, such as one involving Shakespeare’s distant relative, created anxiety around political loyalty.
• Republican ideas expressed by Brutus in the play echoed later events, like England’s civil war.

5. The Threat of Invasion Set the Tone in 1599

The summer of 1599 was marked by fears of Spanish invasion. Defeats in Ireland and military costs weighed on England, while reports circulated about a fleet of Spanish troops preparing in Andalusia. This tense atmosphere found its way into Shakespeare’s writing.

Plays performed during this period, such as Henry V, celebrated English valor and stoked national pride. Meanwhile, others like A Larum for London depicted the horrors of war and defeat, likely stirring public fears amid invasion rumors.

Even Shakespeare’s later plays, like Hamlet and Othello, reflect elements of uncertainty and threat, hinting at the unease that defined 1599 London.

Examples

• Rumors of armadas carrying 25,000 Spanish soldiers heightened Londoners' anxieties.
• Soldiers stationed in London found distraction in theater performances.
• Hamlet’s opening scene, with its jittery guards anticipating conflict, mirrors these tensions.

6. Shakespeare Was Both an Artist and a Businessman

Shakespeare’s financial acumen often matched his creative prowess. In Stratford, where religious changes had wiped out old traditions, he established himself as a wealthy property owner and shrewd investor.

He purchased New Place, a sizable family home, and profited from bulk purchases of scarce goods like malt. Shakespeare’s financial moves ensured his stability and allowed him to focus on his writing without the pressure of economic uncertainty.

Far from being just an artist, Shakespeare balanced his roles as a playwright, an actor, and a businessman.

Examples

• Shakespeare bought New Place, a ten-room house, for £120 in 1597.
• He profited from buying malt during a shortage, despite public frustration with hoarders.
• Richard Quiney, a notable figure in Stratford, sought a loan from Shakespeare due to his wealth.

7. The Globe Transformed Shakespeare into a Superstar

By the end of 1599, Shakespeare’s fame grew immensely. The Globe provided him with a stage to set himself apart from other playwrights, offering audiences exclusive performances of his captivating dramas.

As more people sought out Shakespeare’s specific plays, this demand heightened his recognition as a brilliant dramatist. His works became synonymous with quality, and even pirated publications of his poems flew off the shelves.

This rise in popularity established Shakespeare not just as a playwright but as a defining voice of his time.

Examples

• By late 1599, audiences actively sought Shakespeare’s plays at the Globe.
• An unauthorized poetry collection featuring Shakespeare’s work sold out quickly.
• His contemporaries mocked admirers who quoted lines from Romeo and Juliet as love tokens.

Takeaways

1. Take calculated risks to secure your future, just as Shakespeare invested in the Globe to gain financial stability and creative freedom.
2. Stay aware of current events to produce work or ideas that resonate with the times, as Shakespeare did by tying themes of his plays to Elizabethan social and political concerns.
3. Build your reputation by focusing on quality and creating a consistent identity or “brand” that people associate with excellence.