The first plays and poems produced by Shakespeare, including their themes, style and impact on his later work.
The early works: an introduction
Shakespeare’s early works are a testament to his genius and creativity. His earliest plays, such as *The Comedy of Errors* and *The Two Gentlemen of Verona*, are full of wit and wordplay, and demonstrate his skill in creating complex characters and storylines.
His poems, such as *Venus and Adonis* and *The Rape of Lucrece*, are full of vivid imagery and emotion, and show his ability to craft powerful and beautiful language. Together, these works provide a glimpse into the mind of a young Shakespeare, and the beginnings of his career as a playwright and poet.
Shakespeare’s early works also demonstrate his versatility and range. He was able to write both comedies and tragedies, and his plays often featured a mix of both genres.
His poems, too, ranged from the lighthearted to the deeply serious, and his use of language was always inventive and captivating. His early works are a testament to his talent and creativity, and provide a fascinating insight into the development of his later works.
Themes of the early works
In Shakespeare’s early works, certain themes and motifs are recurring. These include love, death, and the power of nature.
Love is a major theme in many of his works, such as *Romeo and Juliet*, where two young lovers from warring families fall in love but then die because they can’t be together.
Death is another key theme, with many of his plays featuring characters who are killed off or suffer a tragic end. For example, in *Henry V*, the death of Falstaff serves as an important trigger for the titular character to grow up and take responsibility for his actions, casting off his previously immature ways to grow up.
Finally, the power of nature is a recurring motif in his works, with characters often being at the mercy of the elements. In *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*, for example, the characters are at the mercy of the maze-like forest and must contend with the forces of nature. These themes and motifs are integral to understanding Shakespeare’s early works, and provide insight into his writing style.
*”One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” – Troilus and Cressida*
Comparisons to the later plays
Shakespeare’s early works, including his earliest plays and poems, show a remarkable level of skill and maturity for his age. Even when compared to his later, more well-known works, the quality of his early writing is evident.
His use of language and structure is complex and sophisticated, and his characters are well-rounded and believable. His plays were always full of wit and humor, and his poetry is lyrical. It is clear that even in his earliest works, Shakespeare was a master of the craft.
The comparison between Shakespeare’s early works and his later, more famous plays is striking. While the themes and characters are similar, the writing in Shakespeare’s later works is more refined and complex. His use of language is more sophisticated and the structure of his plays and poems is more intricate.
He often uses more complicated political allusions to convey deeper meaning, and his characters are more fully developed in exploring complicated moral dilemmas. As Shakespeare’s fame grew, he was also able to explore more ideas critical of the government, like in his examination of Kingship in *Macbeth*.
It is clear from *Macbeth* and other later works that Shakespeare’s writing evolved over time, but his early works still show a remarkable level of skill and maturity.
Genre in the early plays
Shakespeare was a master of many forms, and his use of tragedy, comedy, and history in his early works is no exception. His comedies often featured characters from different social classes, and he used the form to explore the tensions between them.
For example, in *Two Gentlemen of Verona*, Shakespeare attacks the barrier class provides to marriage between the nobility and the landed gentry.
His tragedies, like *Macbeth*, often focused on the consequences of ambition and the power of fate. Often, Shakespearean tragedies used the supernatural as a way of showing up the pettiness of human ambition.
His histories, including *Henry V* and *Richard II*, explored the political and social issues of the day. Shakespeare’s skill in using these forms to tell stories and explore themes was unparalleled, and his early works are a testament to his talent.
*”Cry God for Harry, England and St George” – Henry V*
Shakespeare’s use of these forms was a skillful way of engaging his audience and exploring the issues of the time.
The sonnets
Shakespeare’s sonnets are some of the most famous and beloved poems in the English language. They are a collection of 154 poems that were first published in 1609, and are widely considered to be some of the greatest works of English literature.
The sonnets explore themes of love, beauty, mortality, and time, and their structure and language have been studied and admired for centuries.
*”We, which now behold these present days, have eyes to wonder, but lack tongues to praise” – Sonnet 106*
The sonnets are written in the form of a three-quatrain poem with a rhyming couplet at the end. This structure allows Shakespeare to explore his themes in a concise and powerful way.
Each sonnet aims to express concisely and clearly a single idea. The self-contained form that Shakespeare writes in, with neat, conclusive couplets at the end, is a highly effective form for doing this.
The form of the sonnets
Shakespeare’s sonnets combine elements of traditional English sonnets with his own personal style. His sonnets are often characterized by their use of iambic pentameter, a poetic meter based round five stressed syllables in a line.
The structure of the sonnets is also unique, with each poem consisting of three quatrains (blocks of four lines) and a concluding couplet (two rhyming lines). This structure allows for a greater range of expression, as the poet can explore different themes and ideas in each quatrain before concluding with a powerful final couplet.
The couplet that finishes each sonnet is often the most direct and sincere moment in the poem. Where the earlier quatrains deal in clever wordplay and extended metaphors, the final couplet is like a moment of revelation, where the poet states directly what he feels – usually his love for the unnamed subject of the poem. To take an example from Sonnet 43:
*”All days are nights to see till I see thee,
And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.”*
Reception of the early works
Shakespeare’s earliest works were met with a variety of reactions from contemporary audiences. Some of his plays and poems received great acclaim, while others were met with criticism.
His early works were often seen as a reflection of the Elizabethan era in which they were written, rather than taking into account more modern ideas imported by James I upon his accession in 1603.
Many of Shakespeare’s early plays and poems were seen as innovative and daring, and they were praised for their originality. Indeed, some of them dealt with complicated topics like atheism and homosexuality.
Despite this, Shakespeare’s early works were generally well-received and enjoyed by audiences. They provided a unique perspective on the world and were seen as a reflection of the culture of the time.
Shakespeare's developing style
Shakespeare’s earliest plays are a fascinating insight into his developing style. His comedies, such as *The Comedy of Errors* and *The Taming of the Shrew* experiment with the conventions of the genre.
His use of farce, wordplay, and physical comedy demonstrate a mastery of the form, and a willingness to push the boundaries of what was considered acceptable. However, Shakespeare often underpinned his comedic characters with serious messages: *Much Ado About Nothing* exposes the danger of gossip and many critics have argued that *The Taming of the Shrew* exposes the problems with the patriarchy.
*“No legacy is so rich as honesty” – All’s Well That Ends Well*
His tragedies, such as *Titus Andronicus* and *Romeo and Juliet*, show a playwright exploring the depths of human emotion.
His characters are complex and nuanced, and his use of language is both poetic and powerful. Shakespeare’s early plays are a testament to his skill as a dramatist, and provide a valuable insight into his development as an artist.
Shakespeare's worldview in the early works
Shakespeare’s early works are a window into his worldview and attitudes. His earliest plays, such as *The Comedy of Errors* and *The Taming of the Shrew*, reveal a lightheartedness and a fondness for the absurd.
His poetry, such as *Venus and Adonis* and *The Rape of Lucrece*, demonstrate his ability to evoke powerful emotions and explore the depths of human experience. His sonnets, such as Sonnet 18 and Sonnet 116, show his deep interest in love, and his ability to capture the beauty and complexity of the human heart.
Through these works, we can see that Shakespeare’s worldview was one of compassion and understanding. He was interested, perhaps above all else, in understanding other people – in really getting to grips with how human beings operate, in all their imperfection, irrationality, and moments of beauty.
The significance of the early works
Shakespeare’s early works are an important part of his overall body of work. They provide insight into the development of his craft and the evolution of his writing style. His earliest plays, such as *The Comedy of Errors* and *The Two Gentlemen of Verona*, demonstrate his mastery of the comedic form, with their witty dialogue and clever wordplay.
These works also reveal his understanding of the human condition, with characters that are both flawed and sympathetic. Through these early works, we can see the foundations of the great works that would come later in his career.
Shakespeare’s early works also provide a window into the culture and society of the Elizabethan era. His plays often reflect the political and social issues of the time, such as the power of the monarchy and the role of women in society. His poems explore timeless themes such as love, death, and betrayal.
Through these works, we can gain a better understanding of the world in which Shakespeare lived and the ideas that shaped his writing. By examining these early works, we can gain a greater appreciation of Shakespeare’s genius and the breadth of his accomplishments.
