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Romeo and Juliet – An analysis of Historical accuracy
So we all read Romeo and Juliet at High School, right? Shakespeare’s classic love story. Except it wasn’t, it was a tragedy. So knowing what we know about Tudor/Jacobean history, how accurate was the Bard in his portrayal of love gone awry? Does this story really reflect what we know or surmise about the period? Or is old Bill guilty of a bit of poetic licence in an attempt to convey his message? Let’s have a look. But before we get into it, let me just remind you, that these musings are purely my own interpretation of the play. You may think differently. So, Romeo is the only child of…
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The Mary Rose
The Mary Rose was the pride of the line. Built in 1511, the battleship was part of the “Army by Sea”, Henry VIII set about building once he came to the throne in 1509. The earliest reference to the ship is a payment on January 25, 1510 to have her brought from Portsmouth to the River Thames. There is some debate as to who the Mary Rose was named for. Some people have suggested that it was for Henry VIII’s mistress, Mary Boleyn Carey. However, Henry and this particular Mary did not meet until 1520, so that possibility is out the window. Another suggestion is that the ship was named…
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Sir Walter Raleigh and the Lost Colony
Sir Walter Raleigh was riding high as a favorite of Elizabeth I. He had come to court and smitten the queen with his admiration. He had first gone to Ireland in 1580 to suppress a rebellion in Munster, and at that time came to the attention of the queen. She showered him with estates in Ireland and her attention. He used this attention to further his ambitions. In 1575, he had traveled with his half brother,explorer Sir Humphrey Gilbert, to the New World and it had planted the seed of an idea. He petitioned the queen to support Gilbert’s cause and continue exploration of the New World. Spain and Portugal…
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Infanticide in England
The rise of infanticide in early modern England was a result of limited options and lack of support for unmarried mothers. With the rise of foundling hospitals and a support system for unmarried mothers, the fall of infanticide cases was inevitable. Women not under control of a male householder were considered potential leaches on society; neighbors were often encouraged to police the single woman around them, not only to watch their activities but also to watch the curve of their bellies. Women that found themselves in the care of midwives that often denied help during labor until they named the father of their child, the man that is to be…
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The Last Days of Elizabeth I- End of an Era
Gloriana seemed to go on forever, but the woman underneath was growing tired. The uprising and execution of her favorite Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex, had taken its toll on her. Elizabeth was watching all of her companions of youth passing away and being replaced by their children. She remembered the death watch over her sister, Mary, and how the courtiers rushed to Elizabeth’s camp even before she drew her last breath. She was determined not to let that happen, and kept her cards close to her chest as always and refused to name a successor. However, seeing her friends die and knowing she was at the end of a…
