Shakespeare And Catholicism Essay - 1243 Words

By researching the life and writings of William Shakespeare, it can be shown that many Christian values and beliefs are displayed through his literary works. In order to understand the religious content in Shakespeares work it is helpful to first understand what the religious environment in England was like around Shakespeares time. England, ever since it was ruled by the Romans, had been a Catholic nation. Before Shakespeares lifetime, a drastic change occurred that completely upended the existing Catholicism of the English people. During King Henry VIIIs reign, the English people were, for the most part, content with Catholicism. Through a series of very complex political maneuvers, Henry eventually seized power of the English†¦show more content†¦Being a small town meant that these religious changes occurred more slowly and later than they did in London. As with the majority of English towns, Stratford did not welcome the reformations of their religion imposed by the stat e (Milward 17). In time, the town bore these mandated changes out of necessity. There is some evidence that Shakespeares parents were Catholic before the Reformation and remained so at heart after it. John Shakespeare, Williams father, held a high position in Stratford. At one point in his life, in order to receive a promotion, John had to take an oath that was anti-Catholic in nature and affirmed Queen Elizabeth I as the head of the Church of England (Milward 18-19). Later in his life, when Johns fortunes had slipped some, his attendance in Protestant meetings stopped (Milward 19). Other evidence of Johns adherence to Catholicism comes from an archaeological find. A spiritual testament of John Shakespeare was found after his death. Spiritual testaments were popular among English Catholics of that time. They were professions of adherence to the Catholic faith (Milward 21). Shakespeares mother, Mary, came from a devout Catholic family that held positions throughout the Catholic church before its demise in England (Milward 21). Shakespeares family appears, at most, nominally Protestant, merely for the purpose of remaining a functioning part of Stratford (Milward 22). Once JohnsShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet 1137 Words   |  5 PagesAt the very beginning Shakespeare could not have been a Catholic even if he wanted to, because Queen Elizabeth I had outlawed Catholicism during her reign. That being said, I can also use quotes and historical facts to solidify my basis of belief that Shakespeare was a protestant either through forced beliefs or in his own beliefs shown in the play. In the play, â€Å"Hamlet†, by Shakespeare there are specific quotes that show certain beliefs that only a Protestant would have. In the very beginning, theRead More Essay on Religion in the Works of William Shakespeare1720 Words   |  7 PagesReligion in the Works of Shakespeare       The purpose of this essay is to explore the religious nature of William Shakespeares plays. This essay covers three topics surrounding Shakespeares work: the religious climate of 16th Century England, Shakespeares upbringing (school, parents, Stratford itself), and a brief introduction into the impact his society and upbringing had upon his work.    I. THE RELIGIOUS CLIMATE OF 16TH CENTURY ENGLAND    In order to understand the religiousRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet981 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare is a historic writer that is well known and wrote many plays in his lifetime. In most of his plays, if not all, he has incorporated hidden meanings and messages. The majority of his hidden meanings are controversial topics of his time period. 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