Context (Grade 12 NSC Matric English HL): Revision Notes
Context
Queen Elizabeth I's declining reign
When Shakespeare wrote Hamlet, England was experiencing a time of great political uncertainty and fear. The play was likely first performed around 1602, when Queen Elizabeth I was already 68 years old - quite elderly for that time period. This historical backdrop is crucial for understanding the themes and atmosphere of the play.
Elizabeth I had ruled England for many decades, but she faced a serious problem: she had no children and stubbornly refused to name anyone as her heir. This created massive uncertainty about what would happen to England when she died. The English people were genuinely worried about their country's future, and this anxiety deeply influenced the mood of Shakespeare's writing.
The parallel between England's real political situation and the fictional Denmark in Hamlet would have been immediately obvious to Shakespeare's audiences. They were living through their own version of royal uncertainty and succession anxiety.
The succession crisis and its consequences
The lack of a clear successor to Elizabeth's throne created several serious problems for England. Without knowing who would rule next, the country felt vulnerable and unstable. This situation mirrors the uncertainty we see in Hamlet, where the death of Hamlet's father has left Denmark in a similarly precarious position.
Shakespeare's audiences would have immediately recognised the parallel between their own country's situation and the fictional Denmark portrayed in the play. Just as England worried about its future leadership, Denmark in the play struggles with questions of legitimate rule and succession after the old king's mysterious death.
Political fears and ambitious nobles
During Elizabeth's final years, there were genuine concerns about ambitious young noblemen who might try to seize power. These fears weren't unfounded - there had already been actual attempts at rebellion. For example, the Earl of Essex, who was once a favourite of Elizabeth's, had led an attempted rebellion and was executed as a result.
Additionally, there were rumours that James VI of Scotland (who was a relative of Elizabeth's) might try to invade England to claim the throne by force. The English people lived with the constant worry that foreign powers or ambitious individuals might take advantage of their country's weakness during this transitional period.
These real-world anxieties about ambitious young men plotting against the state are directly reflected in Hamlet. The character of Fortinbras represents this type of ambitious young prince, and Hamlet himself becomes increasingly involved in political plotting as the play progresses.
The connection between royal health and national wellbeing
People in Shakespeare's time believed very strongly that the health and stability of the royal family directly affected the entire kingdom. If the royal family was strong and healthy, the country would prosper. If the royal family was weak, sick, or divided, the whole nation would suffer as a result.
This belief explains why Elizabeth's ageing and her refusal to secure the succession caused such widespread anxiety. The English people saw their queen becoming frail and their royal line potentially ending, which made them fear for their country's future prosperity and security.
This concept is powerfully expressed in Hamlet through Marcellus's famous line: "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark". The "rottenness" in Denmark's royal family - with murder, hasty remarriage, and political corruption - reflects the contemporary English fear that problems in the royal household would poison the entire kingdom.
Why this context matters for understanding Hamlet
Understanding the historical context of Elizabeth I's decline helps explain several key elements of Hamlet:
-
The atmosphere of uncertainty and anxiety that pervades the play would have felt very familiar to Shakespeare's original audience, who were living through similar fears about their own country's future
-
The theme of corrupt leadership resonates with contemporary concerns about what might happen to England after Elizabeth's death
-
The focus on ambitious young men and political plotting reflects real anxieties about nobles who might try to seize power during the succession crisis
-
The connection between royal family dysfunction and national decay was a concept that audiences would have immediately understood and feared
By writing Hamlet during this period of political uncertainty, Shakespeare created a play that spoke directly to his audience's deepest fears and concerns about their own nation's stability and future.
Key Points to Remember:
- Hamlet was written during the final years of Elizabeth I's reign, when England faced serious uncertainty about royal succession
- Elizabeth's refusal to name an heir created widespread anxiety about the country's future, similar to the uncertainty in Denmark after the old king's death
- Contemporary fears about ambitious young nobles and foreign invasion are reflected in characters like Fortinbras and the political plotting throughout the play
- The Elizabethan belief that royal family health directly affected national wellbeing explains the significance of the "something is rotten" theme
- Understanding this historical context helps explain why themes of political corruption, uncertain succession, and national decay would have felt so urgent and relevant to Shakespeare's original audiences