Macbeth: What Was Society Like In The Elizabethan Era
Summer 2014 Research – Macbeth by Shakespeare
1. Context: What was society like in the Elizabethan Era? (Mindset, ideology)
1) Supernatural
Many superstitions during the Elizabethan period dated back to traditions and beliefs from much earlier times. The superstitions were also steeped in the belief in old magic and the mystical properties of animals and herbs. These included: Elizabethan witches and superstitions – flying, broomsticks, familiars, potions, old crones & black cats; Elizabethan superstitions – sneezing, eclipse, the 7th son of a 7th son was believed to have supernatural powers, peacock feathers, shoes, spilling salt and pepper, touch wood, ladders etc.
An example of a superstition of the supernatural is the existence of witches & that they can cast spells on anyone. It was the most influential to the people of the Elizabethan era. The spells were understood as so grave, they can lead to death. They were also blamed for mostly everything unexplainable – the bubonic plague, famine, …show more content…
There were also a number of superstitions revolving around witch craft:
a) Witches had the ability to fly using broomsticks.
b) Witches used a huge black pot or cauldron to make and brew their magic potions.
c) Witches had the ability to change into animal forms such as cats, dogs, ravens etc.
2) Role of women & gender
Women were mainly valued for their childbearing abilities. The women of the Elizabethan era were given education only if they were members of the nobility. Otherwise, they had to stay home and learn to run the household.
For Elizabethan era women of noble birth, education included knowledge of several languages, including Latin, Greek, Italian, and French. However, even noblewomen were not allowed to go to university and were only taught by tutors who visited them in their
1. Context: What was society like in the Elizabethan Era? (Mindset, ideology)
1) Supernatural
Many superstitions during the Elizabethan period dated back to traditions and beliefs from much earlier times. The superstitions were also steeped in the belief in old magic and the mystical properties of animals and herbs. These included: Elizabethan witches and superstitions – flying, broomsticks, familiars, potions, old crones & black cats; Elizabethan superstitions – sneezing, eclipse, the 7th son of a 7th son was believed to have supernatural powers, peacock feathers, shoes, spilling salt and pepper, touch wood, ladders etc.
An example of a superstition of the supernatural is the existence of witches & that they can cast spells on anyone. It was the most influential to the people of the Elizabethan era. The spells were understood as so grave, they can lead to death. They were also blamed for mostly everything unexplainable – the bubonic plague, famine, …show more content…
There were also a number of superstitions revolving around witch craft:
a) Witches had the ability to fly using broomsticks.
b) Witches used a huge black pot or cauldron to make and brew their magic potions.
c) Witches had the ability to change into animal forms such as cats, dogs, ravens etc.
2) Role of women & gender
Women were mainly valued for their childbearing abilities. The women of the Elizabethan era were given education only if they were members of the nobility. Otherwise, they had to stay home and learn to run the household.
For Elizabethan era women of noble birth, education included knowledge of several languages, including Latin, Greek, Italian, and French. However, even noblewomen were not allowed to go to university and were only taught by tutors who visited them in their