Family life in the age of Shakespeare

by Bruce Wilson Young

Modern readers wonder how changes in family life since Shakespeare’s time should affect our interpretation of the plays. The purpose of this book is to answer that question and to provide historical and other kinds of information about family life that will enhance readers’ appreciation and understanding of Shakespeare. Drawing on primary sources and the work of recent historians, the book challenges and corrects misconceptions—for instance, about young brides, forced marriages, and the supposedly common brutality of fathers—and offers a balanced approach to family life in the age of Shakespeare. Besides acknowledging the negatives that were undoubtedly present, the book demonstrates the equally well-documented positives, including the ideals of sacrifice, generosity, and mutual respect and the aspiration for loving, happy family life shared by many in the period. The result is that readers are better equipped to experience and interpret the richness and variety of Shakespeare’s works.