Period Overview
Georgian England
Shakespeare and the Regency Era
The popular Netflix show “Bridgerton”, takes place in England during the reign of King George III (reigned 1760-1820). This was a time of enormous cultural and political upheaval- less than one century after the monarchy was restored, with the American and French Revolutions taking place across the pond. This was an era of power and privilege for the aristocracy, but a time of great uncertainty for nearly everyone else.
Shakespeare in this period was considered a bit old hat and too vulgar for the refined age of the 18th century. During the Regency, Sentimental Comedies were all the rage. These comedies and tragedies first were desgned to instill Catharsis or empathy with the characters, rather than get people to think or use their reason. Gone were the days of laughing at people’s humorous behaviors and more along the lines of pitying the poor fates of these wretched souls, who were often middle class rustics who remained good-natured at the cruelty of powerful aristocrats. This explains the popularity of such plays as Baumache’s The marriage of Figero or Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni, in which an evil aristocrat is ruining the lives of common people like the naive peasant serlina through this insatiable sex drive.
After the religious wars of the 16th century and the civil wars of the 17th century early 19th century people were more disillusioned about the monarchy and turn right on to Kingston road especially after the beginning after the Mat the seismic shifts of In a quarter mile turn right Asian the French revolution and the American revolution this was the beginning of the end of the aristocracy and even though we don’t see it in bridgerton for comedy reasons you can’t a sense that these people take the second right then turn left or more acting all of a sense of loyalty for their own houses more than their loyalty to The Crown and country They are preserving their families and houses which is more reliable frankly who is right of king the sword the power of the British Empire which is one reason why the show still resonates with young with these people might be aristocratic but they have no illusions about the Em of their own self-importance they’re rich yes but they’re but like modern rich people they don’t believe that they deserve their riches because of God they but they merely believe to preserve their riches for their children find their families a good love match and Is navigate to the Complex Social Structure of Eighteenth Century and Not Entirely Nineteenth Century England
Popular Productions
Georgian Shakespeareans
The Georgian Era was the first time in history that Shakespeare started to have a Global audience. French and German writers like Goethe, Schiller and Voltaire helped to kick off the practice of Shakespeare being translated and performed in non English speaking countries in the 18th century. In addition, Empress Catherine the Great brought Shakespeare as far as Russia with her 1786 production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. By the end of the 19th century, Shakespeare had been translated into French, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Spanish, and Danish (Downer, 468).
In England, however, with the trend towards sentimentality and accessibility, (as the video above mentions), the idea of adapting and modernizing Shakespeare became more common in this type period. What’s interesting is that, just when Shakespeare seemed to be on the way out culturally, people like David Garrick began to rehabilitate Shakespeare (McDonald 358).
English writers of the 18th century were trying their best to use Shakespeare as a tool of moral instruction.
Not only did Garrick create popular adaptations of Shakespeare, he also successfully made Shakespeare a cultural icon. Garrick’s famous jubilee of enthroned Shakespeare as the perfect example of english writing and the common man even though all of his characters are aristocrats, the fact that he was a common writer a not an aristocrat or a University educated man, actually benefited his reputation in the 18th century.
Famous Shakespeareans
Shakespeare and Bridgerton: Balls vs Breeches
Even though Bridgerton prides itself on its colored blind casting and the black & white characters have not a shred of racial discrimination (except in the spin-off), this society is still plagued with sexism. What I find the most interesting about bridgerton is the way that like a Shakespearean comedy, its conflicts center around how women navigate sexist patriarchal systems.
In bridgerton the London season and the balls are more than just a chance to to socialize and meet handsome young man, dance, and wear pretty dresses, they are the only hope that upper class women had for future security and the future security of their houses. these systems were put in place because women were denied the ability to determine their own destinies. Though Queen Charlotte runs the social season, she is enforcing a patriarchal system; one that places a woman’s value entirely on her ability to charm and retain the affections of men.
the bridgerton ladies are extremely aware of this and you can see their anxiety every time they attend a ball. They know that their future depends on this and the show isn’t shy about that. So so like a Shakespearean heroine, the comedy and the central conflict is how these women will navigate this socio-economic gender-based political mindfield.
What Shakespeare frequently does in his comedies is have women deliberately challenge or abandon this strict social structure. Young Shakespearean heroines frequently omen disguise themselves as men and/ or go traveling abroad so that they can find husbands and determine their own destinies. Shakespeare won’t Go So Far as to abandon the notions of marriage and childbearing, but he does create a sort of Female Fantasy: “wouldn’t it be nice to determine a one’s Future for oneself?”
In As You Like It, Rosalind, in disguise as a man, is able to dictate for herself the way that she marries and courts Orlando, which must have been shocking and hilarious for Elizabethans. Viola again disguised as a Man is able to criticize his outdated notions of women to his face, and disdains his repeated attempts to woo a woman who does not share his affections. Meanwhile Juliet, a woman whose arranged is dramatically portrayed from start to finish, abandons her father’s choice and marries for love. All these women have the same conflict as the bit bridgerton women they just confront them in more extreme way
References
Bedford
Brockett
Leslie Dunton-Downer
Worthen
Hamlets of the Theater
The Shakespearean Student 