Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live during the Elizabethan era? See firsthand the works of great playwrights like William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson? The theater was one of the pillars of Elizabethan life and many people were familiar with the works of Shakespeare and Jonson. While Shakespeare was arguably the greatest of the era, many other playwrights, including Jonson, flourished during this period. The Elizabethan age was a very important period in the history of England. The time period is named after the queen who ruled England during this period, Queen Elizabeth I (Haigh). This period was a great time for England's progress, as it was ushered out of the Middle Ages and into this new age. Although there were many hardships and the plague was a common occurrence, people lived a much more comfortable life than they had ever had before (Jonson). Many great achievements were also achieved, including Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation of the world, which was only the second time ever, and the British navy's victory over the Spanish Armada (Haigh). Another of the things that influenced the Elizabethan age so much was the theatre. The theater was a major form of entertainment in Elizabethan England, as anyone, rich or poor, could attend performances. Rich people sat in boxes or galleries, while poorer people were expected to stand for the entire play (Haigh). The poor stood in front of the stage which would normally be raised about 4-6 feet and the theater could hold an average of 3,000 people (Trumbull). The wealthy, however, usually watched performances in private indoor theaters, but sometimes watched performances in public outdoor ones. Shows......middle of paper......for a husband. Eventually, Jeremy is discovered by Lovewit and offers him Dame Pilant's hand in marriage, in exchange for his forgiveness. Lovewit agrees, the two get married and Jeremy receives no punishment. This play has many themes, but the strongest include deception, greed, order, and disorder. The Alchemist, however, is only one of Jonson's extraordinary plays, which represent his legacy. The Alchemist is just one of many plays that influenced how we viewed Elizabethan society. He showed us that in the worst of times, no one is safe from betrayal and deception. Theater was a major form of entertainment and anyone could enjoy shows like this. It also shows that Shakespeare was not the only great playwright of this time. The Elizabethan period was a great time in the history of our world and the theater was its greatest moment.