Shakespeare's Restless World 5. Swordplay and Swagger
Apr 20, 2012
A lively look at swords, daggers and the swagger of Elizabethan streets and theatres. Objects recovered from the Thames lead to tales of theft, drunken loss and lethal techniques. Discussions connect fencing schools, staged swordplay and real brawls that shaped how plays were seen. Fashion, status and the violent rules of gentlemanly conduct come vividly to life.
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Lost Thames Dagger
- Neil MacGregor describes a large dagger found in the Thames that was likely carried as dress and weapon around 1600.
- He suggests a young man probably dropped it boarding or leaving a rowing boat to Bankside entertainments.
Bankside: Entertainment Outside Authority
- The South Bank combined theatres, brothels and inns and sat outside City authority, making it a hotspot for risk and entertainment.
- Young gentlemen carried lethal weapons there as part of fashion and for protection, increasing street violence.
Shakespeare In A Brawl
- MacGregor recounts a 1596 assault outside the Swan Theatre where William Shakespeare was one of four accused.
- The group posted bail, promised to keep the peace, and settled out of court.