Shakespeare’s World – Speech

Social Life: the Royal Court, lifestyles of rich and common people

Good morning/afternoon. May I present my speech about the social life of people who
lived at the time when Shakespeare was still alive.
You must have at least realized that there is a big difference between the 21st century and
the Elizabethan era, that no fancy skimpy clothes were ever worn for ladies and transport
were a big difference between modern cars now. OK, enough about this and let’s move
on.

Social lives greatly affect the people who live within the Elizabethan era. They are
divided into groups based on their social order: monarchy is the highest followed by
nobility, gentry, merchants and lastly, laborers. The king and queen are representations of
their ruler: God. Therefore their social rank is first. People believed that God formed
these social ranks and had showered his blessings on each group. Clothes are also
synchronized to display their ranks. For example, it would be unusual for a laborer to
wear an expensive dress made from satin.

Royal Court
The royal court is made up of the Queen’s servants to courtiers. Annually, the Queen
would travel among the southern countries, but she mainly lives at her royal palaces:
Whitehall, Hampton Court, Greenwich, Richmond, Westminster, St James, Windsor
Castle and Nonsuch. Out of all places she lives, Queen Elizabeth lived at Whitehall more
than any other.
About a thousand people attend the court. The larger the space is, the more people attend.
For this situation, the Queen built her palaces near London. As this is a centre of trading,
people could easily find accommodation, but people appointed at court have a high status
and respect which mean that they would have more luxurious suites.

Lifestyles of the Poor/Common

A daily lifestyle is quite important for people who work as peasants, or people who work
and live under the status of the rich. These people do not travel around much, as most of
their needs are provided in their own village including drinks from the village brewer and
firewood from local or nearby forests as well as the essential ingredients to foods. If
needs cannot be met in villages, there are neighboring farms. Luxuries and surplus of
goods are sold a few times a year at a local market fair.

Peasants usually own a field or farm, so most of their time is usually spent on this area.
Early in the morning, they begin the day by taking care of their fields and sheep
meadows. They continue doing so until midday starts. During midday, they feed
themselves. Food mainly eaten was a bit of cheese and bread, with pints of ale (drink
believed to be healthy, even to children). By evening, they walk back home. Many people
believe danger occurs usually at night, so people are back at their homes by sunset.
Candles were not that affordable, even a single fire. If they can afford them, they spend
the rest of the evening chatting and playing games. If peasants had a bit more wealth,
they will have an evening reading of the Bible.
Sunday, even now, is a religious day for many people. Sunday is a break for the people,
going to the church, gossip, play games and enjoy a few drinks of ale after the service
was over. Women worked together at sewing or spinning while men bowled, played
skittles or balls games and board games such as nine man’s Morris, the ancient Saxon
game called hnaef or checkers, known as draughts during the time. Sometimes, if theaters
are open, peasants will try to make business there by selling their grown goods such as
apples. As well as that, they can watch the theatre show!

Lifestyles of Rich People

Well-heeled people really want to show themselves that they have a lot of money. Their
homes, the clothes they wear show their status in the society. Food is also a sign of
someone’s wealth.
Clothing is particularly an obvious sign. Clothes made from fine wool, linen, silk or satin
is expensive cloths used for the dress. Decorations were jewels and are embellished with
gold thread. Rich women wore flamboyant gowns which reach up to the ground. Padded
skirts are worn underneath. Wealthy men wore white silk shirts, frilled at the neck and
wrists. They then wear a doublet over the shirt and then a hose for trousers.
Food was quite scarce, so even purchasing meat is really expensive during the
Elizabethan era. Wealthy people can afford math, fish and French wine. They buy
expensive meats such as robins, badgers, otters, tortoises and seagulls.
Rich people have a lot of leisure time, so they spend time doing sport, or other pastimes.
Sport such as tennis and pastimes such as falconry, hunting, jousting and bowls are such
activities the people do in their spare time.

Well, informal isn’t it? Living during the Elizabethan era is obviously quite hard. You of
course rather be rich than being really poor. I wonder how Shakespeare would survive if
he was born from another family who works at the fields? *shudder* History will change
completely, or for a short time?

Bibliography
http://www.elizabethanenglandlife.com/daily-life-in-england-during-
the-elizabethan-era.html
http://www.saintives.com/essays/peasantlife.htm
http://www.woodlands-
junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/tudors/dailylife.htm
http://www.elizabethi.org/us/court/
And few library books and at home.