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Humor and Entertainment in Shakespearean Times

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Humor and Entertainment in Shakespearean Times
Ben Sargalski
H nMrs. Elmkies
Western Literature
5/31/13
Humor and Entertainment in Shakespearean Times Humor and entertainment in renaissance Europe was an important part of the daily life for people. Even though they didn’t have TV or the internet they had many forms of entertainment and humor that most of which are still popular today. A few of these were; theater, music and dancing, and literature. Theater was perhaps one of the most if not the most popular form of entertainment during the renaissance. The Elizabethan theater established troupes of actors and actresses that preformed in theater. The most well-known theater from Shakespearean time was the Globe. The Globe was where Shakespeare put on most of his plays. People from all social classes could go and see them. The way things usually went though was that the wealthier you were the better and more sanitary seats you got. While the poorer people and peasants stood in the pit (large area in front of stage) which only cost a penny and was very unsanitary. The availableness of the theater to all social classes is one reason why it must have been so popular. Shakespeare also included many humorous parts to his plays. Like the Nurse from Romeo and Juliet when she often made dirty and what today would be considered inappropriate jokes. A popular line that the Nurse says is, “Now by my maidenhead at twelve year old, I bade her come…” In this quote the Nurse is making a reference about her maidenhead or virginity which now a days is considered inappropriate but back then was a common form of humor in most of Shakespeare’s plays. Modern Day Theater isn’t as popular as it was back then but is still around. Many people enjoy going to see performances at large theaters that are nowhere near like the Globe anymore. One popular form of modern theater is Broadway. People can enjoy not only a wonderful play but an amazing musical experience as well. So theater was a popular form of entertainment and humor


Cited: Zucker, Mark.”Art, Sex, and Humor in Italian Renaissance Literature.” Notes in the History of Art. 29.4. 2010: 29-34. Web. 2, May. 2013. Stockdale, Nancy. “Theater.” World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013.Web. 6 May 2013. Salisbury, Joyce. “Entertainment in Renaissance Europe.” Daily Life through History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 8 May 2013 Hill, Hamlin. “Modern American Humor: The Janus Laugh.” College English. Vol. 25, No. 3 (Dec. 1963) pp. 170-176. National Council of Teachers of English. Web. 10 May. 2013
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