8-1QueensMen

How did Shakespeare begin a life and career in the theatre? Who are the queen’s men, and what role may they have played in Shakespeare’s early life? // Answer prepared by Bill W. //

Shakespeare is still considered as England’s most famous writer during the Elizabethan Era. When Shakespeare was young, he became fascinated with theater and performing plays. According to Russell Fraser, author of the book Young Shakespeare,Shakespeare was an apprentice, then as a hireling for the Admiral’s men. On the basis of surviving records, Mr. Southworth, a Shakespeare historian, infers that Shakespeare was apprenticed at about age 16 to Robert Browne, a leading figure in Lord Worcester’s Men (Admiral’s Men). In the Folger Shakespeare’s Archives, Shakespeare’s apprentice slip is in there. It is inferred that Shakespeare was apprenticed for 4-5 years learning all about play writing and acting. This company began the start of Shakespeare career as a famous writer of very intriguing plays. His early works hint at his roles by echoing the speeches of characters. Then, in 1594, he became a sharer (stockholder) in a new troupe, first known as “Lord Hunsdon’s Men”, then as the Lord Chamberlain’s and then Queen’s. The Lord Hunsdon’s Men is the group that Shakespeare worked with when he performed for the rich and poor of London during the Elizabethan Era. This group of talented actors began the start of Shakespeare’s career making him one of the brilliant writers even to this day.

The Queen's Men were an Elizabethan playing company that operated between 1583 and 1595. It was a popular company and its patron was Queen Elizabeth. A patron is the person that sponsor’s a group of actors. Among its actors was the famous clown Richard Tarleton. The Queen's Men appear to have been formed at the request of Francies Walshingham, a famous Shakespeare actor and friend of Shakespeare. The actors for the Queen's Men were drawn from already-existing companies such as the Earl of Leicester's Men. They included, in addition to Tarleton, Robert Wilson and John Laneham (both from Leicester's Men), as well as John Dutton, John Bentley, and John Singer. Modern scholars believe Shakespeare may even have been a Queen’s Men himself before he started his career in London. He knew their plays well enough to adapt several of them in his own masterpiece. According to William James Rolfe, author of Shakespeare, the Boy,got a lot of his own ideas for some of his famous plays such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet from old plays that he acted with the Queen’s Men.

Shakespeare’s life began all because of his apprentice to Admiral’s men. Because of the apprentice, Shakespeare began writing plays making him one of the most famous play writers in the Elizabethan Era and still is today.

Work Cited: Fraser, Russel. //Young Shakespeare//. New York: Columbia University Press, 1988

Rolfe, Williams James. //Shakespeare the boy//. New York: Ungar Co. 1965  []



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