Journal+Entry

The year is 1603

Age: 15

Name: Grace

Sex: Female

Marital status: Happily married.

Occupation (if any) - Because she is the wife of a nobleman, Grace does not have an occupation.

Income: Her husband makes all the income.

Where in London do you live? [|Tudor London map]: My character lives in an upper class mansion, near Westminster.

How much education did you receive? During the middle ages,women were regarded as the weaker sex, and therefore did not receive as much education as men. My character is literate, and is tutored at her house, to receive more of an education.

What were you taught? My character is taught by private tutors.

What is your religion? Because my character is alive during the reign of Queen Elizabeth the I, her husband and she are Protestant.

How has your religion affected your life in terms of how you are treated by people in power? Because they have a high status in society, and are the same religion as the Queen, my character and her family are treated with a lot of respect.

What play do you go to see? The year is 1603, and my character is going to see Hamlet with her husband.

How did you know it was playing? Shakespeare is a respected playwright, and people of high stature consider it an honour to attend his productions. They knew the play was playing because of word of mouth.

What other Shakespeare plays might you have been able to see? My character has seen Merchant of Venice, Midsummer Night's Dream, and (her favorite) Romeo and Juliet.

What play by Shakespeare was your favorite until now? Romeo and Juliet

What actor in the company is your favorite actor? Grace's favorite character is definitely Richard Burbage, who will play Hamlet in "Ha mlet".

How are you dressed when you attend the play? Because my character is part of the upper class, she will no doubt wear an indulgent and detailed dress.

Describe some of the costumes the actors wear. Because men played the role of women in Elizabethan times, many of the characters will have over exaggerated costume to convey to the audience that they are women in the play. They will be wearing dresses, and a lot of makeup.

You are planning to go to a ball (fancy dance party) after the play. How will you dress for that? Although my character will definitely change her outfit, the indulgence of her outfit will not diminish. Her outfit for the ball will be multi-colored, and made using the latest fashion.

What did you dine on before going to the theater? Because the play begins at night, my character will eat a decadent supper, consiting of meat, fish, vetables and potatos.

When did you eat? The meal will be served between 6 and 7, before the performace.

What did you drink? My character will probably drink wine.

How much did it cost? between 5-10 pounds.

How much did you pay for your ticket? Although my character does not know exactly how much she paid for the ticket, she knows it would be a large amount because Shakespeare is such a famous and respected playwright.

Where did you sit? The performace is taking place in an indoor playhouse. My character will be sitting near the front of the theater, because she is an important person.

A number of your friends chose to spend the afternoon seeing another kind of entertainment, What was it? My character's friends will be attending a banquet or a jousting tournamnet

Who was the most important person you recognized in the audience? The Queen is attending this play, because she is a dedicated supporter of William Shakespeare.

Who ruled England at the time? Queen Elizabeth I

What was some gossip about the ruler? That she was having an affair, and would possibly get married, because government officials thought that the queen needed a king to help her rule.

Who was the Lord Mayor of London at the time? William Craven was the Lord Mayor of London during 1603.

What is the last book you read? The Bible.