You may think you know little about Jacobean drama, but you may know more than you think! Jacobean drama, the body of plays written and performed during the reign of James I of England (1603-1625), is known for its exploration of tragedy in a manner that is distinct from the Elizabethan era. Jacobean dramas also reflect the societal and political changes of the time.
The most famous of playwrights, William Shakespeare(1564-1616), wrote many of his most well-known plays during the Jacobean period. Tragedies like The Duchess of Malfi (1614) by John Webster and The Changeling (1622) by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley also serve as quintessential examples of Jacobean drama.
This article will look at the themes, characteristics, and definition of Jacobean drama and its contribution to English literature.
Jacobean drama definition
Jacobean drama is a term given to theatre written during the reign of King James I (1603-1625). The term 'Jacobean' comes from 'Jacobus', the Latin form of James. Although the term is used for many different types of play, the period has similar thematic characteristics. It was a period of uncertainty and social unrest following the relatively successful Elizabethan era (1558-1603). The country was divided in both religion and politics, perhaps emphasised by the attempted attack on the Houses of Parliament on November 5th.
On November 5th 1605 was the famous gunpowder plot. A group of Catholics led by Robert Catesby and featuring Guy Fawkes tried to blow up both King James I and the parliament. Their plot was discovered and was subsequently thwarted. The event is commemorated as 'Bonfire night' every year in Britain.
The political uncertainty felt in society was reflected in the theatre. During the Elizabethan era, comic dramas were the popular form of drama. The drama of the Jacobean age was far darker in its tone. Shakespeare wrote some of his most famous tragedies during the period, and Ben Jonson (1572-1637) was writing plays of biting satire. Jacobean drama explored the different sides of human nature with themes of corruption, sex and violence.
Fig. 1 - Shakespeare wrote many of his tragedies in the Jacobean age.
It was not always so dark in tone. The Jacobean age also oversaw the development of a new subgenre of theatre known as the masque. These shows featured elaborate dance sequences with performers wearing masks. Masques were known for their highly technical production providing a high visual spectacle. The subgenre was famous for being expensive to produce and derided by puritans for its excess.
Puritans were English protestants who wished to purify the Church of England in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Jacobean age in English literature
The Jacobean age was an important time for English literature with developments in prose, poetry and drama. The era was characterised by a shift from the optimism and grandeur of Elizabethan drama to more complex, darker themes. This period gave rise to the revenge tragedy genre and allowed playwrights to scrutinize the political and social realities of the time, often casting light on corruption, decay, and the abuse of power.
Perhaps the most influential work of literature in the Jacobean age was the King James Bible (1611). It was the most successful English translation of the Bible and is widely considered to have changed English literature.
Fig. 2= The King James Bible is widely considered to have changed English literature.
Another notable translation in prose was George Chapman's The Illiad (1617) and The Odyssey (1617), originally written by Homer (8th-9th Century BCE). It was the first time that the epic poems were translated into the English language. The philosopher Francis Bacon was influential in the fields of science and religion in his prose.
In poetry, the Jacobean age saw the prominence of the metaphysical poets and, most notably, the work of John Donne (1572-1631). The metaphysical poets explored philosophical and religious ideas using irony and colloquial language. Shakespeare's sonnets were published in 1609. Ben Jonson's poetry was hugely influential to the later literary movement of the cavalier poets.
The metaphysical poets were a group of poets who wrote philosophical poems exploring the nature of human existence.
The cavalier poets were a group of poets who supported King Charles I in the English Civil War (1642-1651). Their poetry was noted for its celebratory tone and for promoting the king's court.
Themes of Jacobean drama
The predominant themes and features explored in Jacobean dramas include revenge motifs, depictions of madness, satire, and the examination of power dynamics and corruption.
Revenge
The revenge play came to prominence during the Jacobean age. The revenge play is a theatrical genre where the protagonist is seeking revenge for a perceived injustice. One of the most successful writers of the revenge play was William Shakespeare. The form was inspired by the works of Spanish tragedy, which would explore themes of retribution.
Famous examples of the revenge play include John Webster's White Devil (1612) and William Shakespeare's Othello (1603).
Satire
Satire is the use of irony or humour to take a critical look at either human failings, political situations or topical issues of the time.
Jacobean drama was also known for the popularity of satirical plays. One of the most prominent writers of satire was the renowned poet and playwright Ben Jonson. King James I's reign was far from secure, and the nation was divided between the puritanical and the cavalier. As a result, Jacobean drama often questioned the social order at the time and its idea of morality. Plays would tackle issues such as moral corruption and human greed.
One example of a satirical play was Ben Jonson's The Alchemist (1610).
Human evil
Many Jacobean plays explored themes of morality and particularly questioned humanity's capacity for evil. Jacobean drama would often have protagonists who commit acts of crime or violence. It was not always guaranteed that a character considered 'good' would prosper in Jacobean drama. One writer who often questioned morality in their plays was John Webster (1578-1634), most prominently in the play The Duchess of Malfi (1614).
In Shakespeare's Macbeth (1606), the titular character becomes corrupted by ambition and murders those to whom he was previously loyal.
Characteristics of Jacobean drama
The common characteristics found in Jacobean drama are tragedy and the technicality of the production. Other characteristics that set Jacobean dramas apart from the preceding Elizabethian era are:
- Dark Themes: Unlike the Elizabethan era, Jacobean Drama is typically more cynical and darker. Themes such as death, revenge, and betrayal are commonly depicted in the plays of this period.
- Complex Characters and Plots: The characters in Jacobean plays are often complex and deeply flawed, with intricate plots involving political intrigue, deceit, and manipulation. These plays probe deeply into human motivations, desires, and fears.
- Moral Ambiguity: There is a distinct move away from clear moral positions in Jacobean Drama. Characters often inhabit a morally ambiguous world, where right and wrong are not easily distinguished.
- Language: Jacobean playwrights were known for their rich and elaborate use of language, characterized by intricate metaphors and rhetorical flourishes.
- Focus on the Supernatural and the Macabre: Plays from this era often include elements of the supernatural and the macabre. Ghosts, witches, and other supernatural entities frequently feature in Jacobean drama.
- Tragicomedy: The Jacobean era also saw the rise of the tragicomedy genre, which blends elements of tragedy and comedy.
Tragedy
By far, the most popular genre in theatre was tragedy. Many of William Shakespeare's plays written at the time were tragedies, and many other writers such as John Webster, William Rowley (1585-1626) and Thomas Middleton (1580-1627) also explored the genre. The social unrest of the time influenced the tone of the Jacobean age. The period saw the rise of the revenge play, and playwrights drew on audiences' fears in their work. Tragedy dominated the stage in the Jacobean age.
Technicality
At the beginning of the Elizabethan era, the theatre was banned from being performed in London. As a result, the most famous Jacobean theatres, like the Rose and the Globe, were still in their infancy. With new theatres being specifically built for drama, there were significant developments in special effects. The advent of theatres with stage doors and pulley systems afforded Jacobean playwrights the ability to produce more technical plays. Jacobean dramas such as Shakespeare's The Tempest (1611) were laden with special effects.
Fig.3 - Purpose-built theatres allowed plays to become more technical.
Development of Jacobean drama timeline
This section will present a chronological list of events that developed Jacobean drama, beginning with the Elizabethan era.
Elizabethan era
1564- England's most famous playwright William Shakespeare is born.
1572- Jacobean poet and playwright Ben Jonson is born.
1576- Britain's first purpose-built theatre, The Red Lion, opens to little success.
1587- The opening of the Rose theatre in London.
1589- William Shakespeare writes Henry VI: Part 1 (1589), his first-ever play.
1599- The famous Globe theatre, home of Shakespeare's Company, opens.
1602- William Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet (1601), is first performed at the Globe theatre in London.
1603- Queen Elizabeth I dies, ending the Elizabethan era.
Jacobean age
1603- The first performance of Macbeth (1603), a tragedy by William Shakespeare.
1610- Ben Jonson's satirical play, The Alchemist (1610), is first performed.
1612- The first performance of John Webster's revenge tragedy White Devil (1612).
1614- London's Globe theatre has to be rebuilt after being damaged by fire. The first performance of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi (1614).
1616- Death of William Shakespeare.
1623- The first folio of William Shakespeare's complete plays is published.
1625- King James I dies, and the Jacobean age ends.
Jacobean Drama - Key takeaways
- Jacobean drama is a term for any theatre written during the reign of King James I.
- Jacobean drama reflected the uncertainty of the period and was often dark in tone.
- Some of the major themes of Jacobean drama are revenge, satire and human evil.
- The main characteristics of the Jacobean drama were their technicality and tragedy.
- Jacobean drama saw the rise of the masque subgenre, which was known for its elaborate and expensive productions.
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