Shakespeare and the Jacobean Era

The reign of James I was the time of disillusionment and pessimism. The English expected stability and security from the new king and felt let down when he appeared to be less of a man than his predecessor, Elizabeth I, was. Even though James I despised war he thought himself to be the king of kings. He considered himself a Solomon-like figure, his wisdom rising above the law (coming down to London from Scotland he …

…used to pay to see them play. Thus Shakespeare's company were at the height of their prosperity during the Jacobean age. Shakespeare continued to write his plays for the Globe, for royal command purposes and for the indoor theatre at Blackfriars, and it was at the Globe and the Blackfriars that Shakespeare reached the pinnacle of his career. He had everything he could have ever wanted and he proceeded to represent human life as tragedy.