The Renaissance/Neoclassicism

  • Apr 23, 1564

    William Shakespeare

    William Shakespeare
    Shakespeare had a lot on impacts on the Renaissance Era. "Shakespeare updated the simplistic, two-dimensional writing style of pre-Renaissance drama. He focused on creating human characters with psychological complexity.
    The upheaval in social hierarchy allowed Shakespeare to explore the complexity and humanity of every character, regardless of their social position. Even monarchs were portrayed as having human emotions and were capable of making terrible mistakes." (Jamieson)
  • Period: 1567 to

    Costumes

    Clothing represented status in a society during Shakespearean times. " As plays had kings, queens and wealthy people in them, the actors’ costumes reflected their characters social status. Costumes were mainly the modern dress of the time. So for less important roles, actors might wear their own clothes." (Teach Shakespeare) During his time, all the actors were male. Them wearing wigs showed the status and time period as well.
  • Romeo and Juliet

    Romeo and Juliet
    Romeo and Juliet were known to symbolize balance and symmetry along with the renaissance. "Every idea has its complement: love vs. hate, day vs. night, impatience vs. impetuosity, chastity vs. bawdry, and so on. (The Harvard Crimson)" The first performance was during the fall/winter of 1594 once the outbreak of a plague had ended.