Shakespeare and the Bubonic Plague: A Demographic Crisis Mirrored in His Work?

It is a commonly held belief that William Shakespeare, the renowned playwright and poet of the Elizabethan era, often referenced the bubonic plague in his works, reflecting the demographic crises it brought about. However, does the Bubonic Plague feature prominently in his plays, or were its effects mostly metaphoric rather than direct?

Lack of Direct Mentions

After nearly two centuries since the plague killed millions of people, it is likely that the bubonic plague was not frequently on Shakespeare's mind while he was writing. He lived during a time when outbreaks of the bubonic plague were common, with the most notable epidemic occurring between 1592 and 1593. Nonetheless, scholars have found that his plays do not contain direct references to demographic crises resulting from the plague.

The Impact of the Plague

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the bubonic plague had a profound impact on England. It led to a population decline, economic disruptions, and social changes. However, Shakespeare’s plays are not intended as historical accounts, and any indirect references to the plague would be open to interpretation.

Scholarly Inquiry

If you are interested in a deeper understanding of the impact of the bubonic plague during the Elizabethan era, you might explore historical documents, contemporary accounts, and scholarly analyses from that period. While there may be references to the plague in his works, they are often symbolic rather than detailed historical descriptions.

Word Count Analysis

A recent assertion that Shakespeare was obsessed with the bubonic plague because the word appears 107 times in his plays is highly debated. This claim was based on a post from the Folger Library, which seemingly draws this conclusion from the frequent use of the word. However, upon closer examination, other words concerning themes pertinent to Shakespeare's work have similar or even higher word counts. For instance:

Melancholy: 70 times Love: over 1000 times Black: 197 times White: 160 times Death: 931 times Life: 848 times Kingdom: 127 times King: over 1000 times Queen: 989 times Marriage: 122 times Heaven: 853 times Hell: 534 times Knave: 247 times God: over 1000 times

These word counts suggest that Shakespeare’s interests were multifaceted, and the frequency of a word does not necessarily correlate with the depth of his concern or obsession with the topic.

Interpreting Shakespeare's Works

The notion that Shakespeare, living in a time of plague, must have been oppressed by it and that this would show in his work is an attempt to apply modern psychology to an Elizabethan perspective. Shakespeare’s works are rich with symbolism and metaphor, and it is essential to approach his plays from a historical and literary perspective rather than as direct historical records.

Conclusion

While the bubonic plague significantly impacted society during the Elizabethan era, Shakespeare’s plays do not explicitly mention demographic crises resulting from the plague. Instead, references to the plague in his works are often symbolic and metaphoric. Scholars and readers must approach his plays with a critical and historical lens to understand the depth of his references and the themes he explored.

Keywords: Shakespeare, Bubonic Plague, Demographic Crisis, Elizabethan Era, Historical Context