Big Role In Elizabethan Life example essay topic

There is no explanation for certain things that happen, but things that do happen to us, Elizabethans believed, have an influence on us and the way we behave. Elizabethans believed in superstition as an explanation for some of the things that happen. They also believed that superstitions were passed down from generation to generation. It is easy to see, that superstition was a big theme in Shakespearean plays.

Not all Elizabethans believed in superstitions, however. Members of the Catholic church did not believe in superstitions because they felt that anything pertaining to the supernatural was evil and wicked, especially witches. Catholics thought strongly that magical practices were sinful. People who practiced Catholicism often accused old, ugly men and women of being evil witches. They would be brought to trial if accused of putting curses on people. If the witches were found guilty, they were killed.

Witches were thought to operate by using curses, charms, and concocting mixes and potions with hair, saliva, blood, etc. The simplest things in life were looked at as a "sign" to the Elizabethans. For example, putting on a shirt inside out meant there was going to be a bad day ahead. Numbers played a big role in Elizabethan life. Odd numbers were good, and even numbers were bad. People chose dates for very carefully for weddings, baptizing, etc.

Even simple events like taking trips, and even cutting fingernails were chosen carefully in fear that something bad might happen. Astrology was a big part of Elizabethan life also. Elizabethans looked to the stars for help, and they believed that the planets and stars affected a lot of things that happened. To them, the sun, moon, and weather affected the crops. Hot, cold, and moistness affected the human body. A big belief of theirs was that the earth, not the sun, was the center of the universe.

Elizabethans thought the earth was surrounded by Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the sun, Venus, Mercury, and the moon, and was hanging from God's throne by a gold chain. Ulysses says in Troilus and Cressida, "heavens themselves, the planets, and this center", (Papp and Kirkland 36) when talking about the earth being the center of the universe. Elizabethans believed in ghosts and fairies. Ghosts were thought as the dead making return trips to Earth during the night. It was thought that ghosts came on missions and visits were unpleasant. Unlike today, fairies were not viewed as pleasant either.

They were ugly and full size. They would tough on women who didn't do their chores well. Families would leave out food and drinks for them so they would be pleased. In The Comedy of Errors, Dro mio of Syracuse means when he talks of his master.

"A fiend, a fairy, pitiless and rough" (Papp and Kirkland 40) In conclusion, superstition played a huge role in Elizabethan life. Today, many people still believe in superstition. In my opinion, superstitions will always be around and keep people thinking about why certain things happen.