Bedlam Beggars
Bethlehem hospital in London took patients from 1377, the name coined the phrase ‘bedlam’ meaning chaos, uproar and confusion.
Samuel Harsnett’s Declaration of Egregious Popishe Impostures 1603
Shakespeare took the names of devils e.g. Fliberdigibbet. Shakespeare was interested in the differences between assumed and real madness.
King James: Unity of Scotland and England
- King James VI of Scotland was the only suitable candidate for succession.
- On July 11th 1603, King James VI united the crowns of Scotland and England
- He distributed honours and money in order to win the admiration and loyalty of his new subjects, though he would later find that this was ineffective.
King James: Unity of Scotland and England- The ideal
- Two countries kept their own laws, parliament, and kept their own currency.
- They would allow the crowns to be united, so long as the country was not affected.
- Authorised King James’ version of the Bible in 1611- standard text for more than 250 years.
Elizabeth I
War and Succession
•Elizabeth I reigned from 1558 to1603.
Wars that occurred during her reign:
•Spanish Armada- England privateers pillaged from Spain’s treasure ships who protested and demanded restitution which Elizabeth refused.
Between Protestant England and Catholic Scotland- result of the religious contrast. Elizabeth had cancelled a meeting after Mary continued attacks on the French Protestants although many protestants sought Queen Mary to reign believing she was the rightful heir to the throne. This resulted in the ‘Babington Plot’ plotted by Anthony Babington to assassinate Queen Elizabeth resulting in her replacement of Mary Queen of Scots which proceeded to the execution of Queen Mary on the 8th February 1587.
Shakespeare’s inspiration for the plot-
” The Goosegirl at the Well” - Grimm
•The king decides that the inheritance he will give his daughters is dependent on which loves him best.
- The two eldest reply. The youngest daughter says she does not know how to compare her love.
- The father replies, ‘If thou lovest me like salt, thy love shall also be repaid thee with salt’;she is given a sack of salt and cast out.
Shakespeare’s inspiration for the plot-
“The True Chronicle History of King Leir and his three daughters, Gonorill, Ragan and Cordella”- performed in 1594
•Leir plans to test the daughters love for him and Gonorill and Ragan discover this.
- Both of them agree to flatter Leir resulting in marring the Kings of Cornwall and Cambria, receiving a large amount of the kings fortune.
- To do this, they plot against Cordella, thinking that if she refuses to marry the suitor Leir favours, this will be evidence of a lack of daughterly love.
- Leir disinherits Cordella, but is then rejected by Gonorill and Ragan, who then plot to have him killed.
Attitudes to madness
- Limited understanding of mental illness and madness, and were connected to causes regarding supernatural influences or body imbalance.
- Imbalance of the bodily fluids causing illness. Although an ancient practice, during the Elizabethan Era, little progress on the understanding of illness meant old practices were usually conducted.
- Due to improper bodily function, those affected acted differently and were classified as “mad”.
- It was believed that madness was a result of sin, a punishment for not following the Biblical law. The act of madness, due to the erratic behaviour, was believed to be linked to demonic possession. As a result, ‘mad’ people were feared due to their dangerous abilities to lead you into temptation and sin.
The great chain of being
- In Elizabethan times most people including Shakespeare believed in a divine order or a great chain of being.
- This belief suggested that everything and everyone one had a specific rank in order that presented their importance and their ‘Spiritual’ nature. The more spirit someone/something had, the more power it possessed. The human hierarchy- kings and queens had the upmost power, leading to the concept of divine rights of kings.
- Any break in this order promised consequences, often physical illness or natural disaster.
The Wheel of Fortune
- Ancient Greek philosophy - ‘Rota Fortunae.’
- It is the idea or concept of fate- relies on luck and how people’s fortune is constantly changing.
- The wheel itself is spun by ‘Fortuna.’ Greek Goddess of luck, chance and fortune.
- Every person has a place of this wheel of fortune, once spun; the people at the top of the wheel live with good fortune, such as becoming King. On the other hand, people at the bottom of the wheel endured life with great misfortune and hardship.
- In ‘King Lear’ the wheel of fortune is referenced on occasion. Many characters experience great change of fortune throughout the narrative.
- The wheel of fortune is a motif in the play, reinforcing that fortune is constantly changing no matter who they are. And fate can change unexpectedly for better or for worse, it all comes down to fate and chance
