English Theater After Shakespeare: Crash Course Theater #17

TL;DR

Explores English theater evolution post-Shakespeare with Jonson, revenge tragedies, and court masques.

Transcript

Thanks to CuriosityStream for supporting PBS Digital Studios. Hey there, I'm Mike Rugnetta. This is Crash Course Theater and believe it or not, theater in England doesn't end with Shakespeare. Nope, it's going to take some buzzkill Protestants to shut down that iambic-pentama-party. But, we're going to meet them next time. Today we're going to look... Read More

Key Insights

• Ben Jonson, a contemporary of Shakespeare, is known for his witty, wordy plays, often filled with political satire and personal attacks, making them controversial.
• Jonson's 'Volpone' is a skeptical comedy about human nature, focusing on characters behaving like animals, highlighting greed and deception.
• Revenge tragedies, influenced by Seneca, became popular, characterized by violence, moral ambiguity, and meta-theatrical elements, with plays like 'The Revenger's Tragedy' and 'Tis Pity She's a Whore'.
• Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' elevated the revenge tragedy genre by exploring the moral dilemmas of revenge and making the audience empathize with the protagonist.
• Jacobean tragedies are noted for their extreme violence and dark themes, often seen as a critique of societal norms or simply for shock value.
• Court masques were elaborate performances for and by nobles, emphasizing existing power structures and featuring sumptuous costumes and scenery.
• Ben Jonson collaborated with Inigo Jones on court masques, combining Jonson's writing with Jones's innovative stage designs, although they eventually disagreed on the importance of words versus visuals.
• Theater in England faced decline due to Puritan opposition, following a historical cycle of theatrical evolution from simplicity to decadence and eventual suppression.

Questions & Answers

Q: What distinguishes Ben Jonson's plays from Shakespeare's?

Ben Jonson's plays are distinguished from Shakespeare's by their wit and wordiness, often filled with political satire and personal attacks. Unlike Shakespeare's expansive vision of humanity, Jonson's works are more focused on contemporary references and city comedies. His characters are less nuanced, often serving as stereotypes or thin stand-ins for animals, offering a more skeptical view of human nature.

Q: What is the significance of 'Volpone' in Jonson's body of work?

'Volpone' is significant in Jonson's body of work as it exemplifies his skeptical view of human nature through a comedy that portrays characters behaving like animals. The plot revolves around greed and deception, with Volpone and his servant Mosca tricking others into believing Volpone is on his deathbed. The play is compact and elegantly plotted, differing from Shakespeare's comedies with its less nuanced psychology and more explicit moral messages.

Q: How did Shakespeare elevate the revenge tragedy genre?

Shakespeare elevated the revenge tragedy genre with 'Hamlet' by delving into the moral dilemmas of revenge. Unlike typical revenge tragedies focused on violence, 'Hamlet' explores the protagonist's internal struggle with the righteousness of revenge, allowing the audience to empathize with him. Shakespeare's approach adds depth to the genre, making Hamlet's actions and moral questioning central to the narrative, contrasting with the often one-dimensional nature of traditional revenge tragedies.

Q: What are the characteristics of Jacobean tragedies?

Jacobean tragedies are characterized by extreme violence, dark themes, and often lurid depictions of murder and betrayal. These plays, such as 'The Revenger's Tragedy' and 'Tis Pity She's a Whore', frequently include meta-theatrical elements, like plays within plays and characters performing madness. Critics argue that Jacobean tragedies either critique societal norms or indulge in sadistic fantasies, reflecting the complex social issues of the time through their excessive and shocking content.

Q: What role did court masques play in English theater?

Court masques played a significant role in English theater as elaborate performances for and by nobles, emphasizing existing power structures. These masques featured sumptuous costumes and scenery, with professional actors taking on comic roles. They often included allegorical scenes set to music and were used to celebrate royal occasions. Court masques highlighted the collaboration between writers like Ben Jonson and stage designers like Inigo Jones, combining literary and visual artistry.

Q: How did the collaboration between Ben Jonson and Inigo Jones influence theater?

The collaboration between Ben Jonson and Inigo Jones significantly influenced theater by combining Jonson's literary prowess with Jones's innovative stage design. Jones introduced perspectival staging and advanced stage machinery, enhancing the visual spectacle of court masques. However, their partnership eventually ended due to disagreements over the importance of words versus visuals. Despite this, their work marked a transition in theater construction towards the proscenium arch, impacting future theatrical productions.

Q: What led to the decline of theater in England during this period?

The decline of theater in England during this period was primarily due to Puritan opposition, which viewed theater as decadent and morally corrupt. This opposition led to the eventual suppression of theatrical performances, following a historical cycle where theater evolves from simplicity to virtuosity and decadence before facing suppression. The Puritans' influence resulted in a temporary halt to theatrical productions, reflecting broader societal and religious tensions of the time.

Q: How does the episode frame the historical cycle of theater?

The episode frames the historical cycle of theater as a progression from simplicity to virtuosity and decadence, followed by suppression. This cyclical pattern is evident in the evolution of English theater from Shakespeare's time to the rise of Puritan opposition. The episode suggests that this cycle is a recurring theme in Western theater history, where periods of artistic flourishing are often followed by backlash and decline, highlighting the dynamic interplay between cultural expression and societal norms.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The episode explores the evolution of English theater post-Shakespeare, focusing on Ben Jonson's works, revenge tragedies, and court masques. Jonson's comedies, like 'Volpone', are noted for their wit and critique of human nature. Revenge tragedies, influenced by Seneca, are characterized by violence and moral ambiguity.

• Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' is highlighted for elevating the revenge tragedy genre by exploring moral dilemmas. Jacobean tragedies are extreme, critiquing societal norms or providing shock value. Court masques were elaborate performances for nobles, emphasizing power structures and featuring innovative stage designs by Inigo Jones.

• The episode concludes with the decline of theater in England due to Puritan opposition, following a historical cycle of theatrical evolution. The discussion includes the collaboration between Jonson and Jones on court masques and the eventual disagreement on the importance of words versus visuals in theater.