William Shakespeare is believed to have written 38 plays in his lifetime, set in several different areas throughout Europe and the Mediterranean.[1] Primarily Shakespeare's plays were set in Italy and England, with most tragedies being set in Italy and most histories set in Shakespeare's home country: England. Two were set in fictional places, one of which is believed to be England. The locale is generally derived from Shakespeare's source for the story.
Background
Shakespeare was a poet and playwright who lived in England in the late 1500s and early 1600s. Editors, retrospectively have organised his plays into three genres: tragedy, history and comedy(five of the comedies are at times considered to be romances[2]). Shakespeare is widely seen as one of the best literary minds, poets and authors in all of history.[3] His plays and poems are studied frequently in schools at all levels of accademia, he is a household name and public opinion data proves his works are some of the most well known in the world.[4][5]
Analysis
The reasoning behind the location and setting of Shakespeare's plays is a subject of plenty of scholarly debate - in some plays, the setting is an actor in itself[6]. Many of the tragedies are believed to be set far off either physically or in King Lear's case: temporally, potentially to present a sense of distance and mystery.[7]
Many English locations are much more geographically detailed, as specific as variousneighbourhoods of London, whereas in France and Italy it is much less specific. Moreover all other locations are hugely inspecific often referring only to the region.[8] This is likely due to Shakespeares experience in these places, having lived in London and travelled England.
Tragedies
Most tragedies were set around the Mediterranean, primarily in Italy with another in Greece and one in Egypt. However some were set to the north with one in (past) England another in Scotland and one in Denmark.[9] The more northern settings seemed to be favoured on the later side of his bibliography however, with three of his last six tragedies being set there.[10]
All of Shakespeare's histories were set primarily in London, England as it was the seat of the British Monarchy and the histories were all about English Kings in the 13th, 14th,15th and 16th centuries. Additionally large parts of Henry VI, Part 1 and King John are set in France and large parts of Henry IV Part I were set in Wales.[9]
The histories are unique in that their key plot point, the struggle for the English Crown, revolves around a single city, London and areas such as York, Windsor, Coventry and various castles .[9]
London, Gloucester, St Albans, Bury St Edmunds, Coast of Kent, Blackheath, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Cannon Street, Smithfield, Southwark, Kenilworth Castle, Kent and Dartford[16]
Tower of London, various London streets, Lord Hasting, Pomfret Castle, Baynard's Castle, Salisbury, Bosworth Field and Tamworth.[22]
Comedies
The comedies varied in location much more than the other two genres although they continued with the general shakespearean theme of setting plays around the mediterranean. Four are set in Italy, two in Greece, two in Turkey and a handful of others set in various other mediterranean locations such as Albania, Lebanon, Spain and France. The exceptions being one in Austria, 3 set in England with parts of one in Wales.
The Tempest and As You Like It are both believed to be fictional places. As you like it may have been interpreted as Arden Forest in Northern England[23] or in Ardennes, France.[24]
At times considered a romance; partially set in other Mediterranean locations inc Antioch, Tharsus, Pentapolis, Mytilene and others; believed to be collaboratively written with Shakespeare[1]
