Module 2: History of Drama
2.3. Renaissance Drama

The Renaissance (XIV-XVI centuries) was a period of cultural flourishing and intellectual development in Europe. Many significant events and changes took place during this period, and many of them can be considered dramatic.

• Humanism: The Renaissance was a time when humanistic ideas began to come to the fore. They called for respect for the human person, education and culture, which was a dramatic change in an era when the church and religious institutions played a key role.

• Art: The Renaissance was also famous for its artistic achievements. Italian artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael created works that changed art forever. This was a dramatic shift in art.

• Scientific Discovery: The Renaissance was also a time of scientific discovery and the growth of the scientific method. The work of scientists such as Copernicus and Galileo led to new theories about the world and created a dramatic shift in our understanding of the cosmos.

• Reformation: The Reformation in Christianity led to a split in the church and the creation of Protestant denominations. It was a dramatic event that affected the religious and political structures of Europe.

In general, the Renaissance was marked by dramatic changes in culture, art, science and religion, which made it an important period in the history of Europe.

Dramaturgy in the Renaissance had its own peculiarities and characteristics:

1.       Revival of the ancient tradition: Renaissance playwrights admired ancient dramas and sought to recreate their structure and style. This included the use of the classic five-act play form and a focus on tragedy and comedy.

2. Historical and mythological subjects: The Renaissance often used historical events and mythological subjects in its dramaturgy. This allowed playwrights to explore majestic and heroic themes.

3.     Combined genres: Renaissance playwrights often blended elements of tragedy and comedy into a single play. This created interesting and multi-faceted works, which had both serious and comic moments.

4.    Use of rhetoric: The drama of the Renaissance was rich in rhetorical techniques. The characters used expressive monologues and dialogues to express their feelings and ideas.

5.     Character Development: Rebirth focused on character development and characterization. The characters became more multifaceted and psychologically complex, which gave the dramas depth.

6.     Political and social themes: Renaissance drama often touched on political and social themes, reflecting turbulent times and sparking discussions about power and society.

Thus, drama in the Renaissance period was distinguished by its focus on ancient models, the use of historical and mythological plots, the mixing of genres, the richness of rhetoric and the emphasis on character development.

The Renaissance gave birth to many outstanding playwrights and authors. Some of the most well-known and influential authors of drama during this time include:

1.       William Shakespeare (1564-1616, England): Shakespeare is perhaps the most famous playwright of the Renaissance. His works, such as" Hamlet"," Romeo and Juliet"," Hamlet " and many others, remain classics of world literature.

William Shakespeare's drama has several outstanding features:

1.       Variety of genres: Shakespeare has worked in a variety of dramatic genres, including tragedies (such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet), comedies (such as Much Ado about Nothing, A Midsummer Night's Dream), and historical plays (such as Richard III). This diversity of styles and themes makes his work unique.

2.     Deep characterization: Shakespeare created multidimensional characters with a rich inner life. His characters often have complex moral dilemmas and psychological traits that make them close to real people.

3.     Language proficiency: Shakespeare used expressive and rich language that remained accessible to a wide audience. His metaphors, wordplay, and dialogue structure are considered examples of literary creativity.

4.    Themes and symbols: His works discuss universal themes such as love, power, betrayal, and fate. There are often symbols such as a crown, sword, or roses that have a deep meaning and enhance the theme of the works.

5.     Playing with Time: Shakespeare was adept at manipulating time frames in his plays, creating intriguing plot twists and dramatic suspense.

6.     Supernatural elements: Some of his works feature supernatural elements, such as ghosts, witches, and fairies. This adds an element of fantasy and magic to his work.

7.     Universal character: Many of the themes and moral questions raised by Shakespeare remain relevant today, which makes his work eternal and universal.

In general, Shakespeare's drama remains one of the most influential and studied in the history of literature due to its depth, complexity and versatility.

2.     Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593, England): Marlowe was an English playwright and poet, known for his tragedies including Doctor Faustus and Tamburline the Great.

Features of Marlowe's drama:

1.       Tragic heroes: Marlowe often created tragic heroes whose vices and passions lead them to their inevitable demise. An example is Dr. Faustus, the main character in his famous tragedy "Dr. Faustus".

2.     Use of poetry: Unlike some of his contemporaries, Marlowe preferred to use poetry in his plays, which gave his work a special musical and poetic character.

3.     Contraversion themes: His works often dealt with counterversial and provocative topics, such as religious and political disputes, which sometimes caused censorship problems.

4. The Power of Art: Marlowe believed in the power of art and its ability to change the world. This idea is reflected in many of his works.

5.     Picturesque characters: He created picturesque and multi-faceted characters, often with contradictory character traits.

6.     Plot Intrigue and dynamism: Marlowe was a master of creating intriguing plots and intense dramatic settings.

7.     Influence on Shakespeare: His work had a significant influence on William Shakespeare, and some points in their work may seem similar.

Marlowe is considered one of the most important representatives of Elizabethan drama and left an indelible mark on the history of English literature.

3.     Molière (1622-1673, France): Jean-Baptiste Poquelin de Molière was a French playwright and actor, known for his comedies such as Tartuffe and The Misanthrope.

His dramaturgy has several characteristic features:

1.       Comedy of social vices: Moliere created comedies that condemned the social and moral vices of his time. He often ridiculed hypocrisy, the aristocracy, medicine, and other aspects of society.

2. Irony and satire: His comedies are full of irony and satire, which reveal the stupidity and duplicity of the characters. An example is "Tartuffe" with its hypocritical protagonist.

3.     Ballet interludes: In many of his plays, Moliere included ballet interludes, which made his works more diverse and entertaining.

4.    Vivid characters: He created vivid and distinctive characters, often using comic characters such as misers, quack doctors, and servants.

5.     Language and dialogues: Moliere had a knack for using French, and his dialogues were witty and funny.

6.     Комедия Commedia del'arte: In his works you can find the influence of the Italian comedy del'arte, especially in the structure and types of characters.

7.     Moral Lessons: In addition to satire, many of his plays also feature moral lessons and moral values.

Moliere is considered one of the greatest comediographers of all time and had a huge impact on the development of the comedy genre in world literature and theater.

4. Lope de Vega (1562-1635, Spain): Lope de Vega was a Spanish playwright, author of more than 1,500 plays, and representative of the Spanish golden age of drama. His works ranged from comedies to tragedies.

The drama of Lope de Vega, the Spanish playwright of the Golden Age, has several distinctive features:

1.       Abundance of works: Lope de Vega has written over 1,500 plays, making him one of the most productive playwrights in history. This diversity of genres and subjects reflects the diversity of his work.

2.     Strong national element: His works often embody the spirit of Spain and the Spanish culture of the time. He is one of the representatives of the Commedia dell'arte, but has introduced many Spanish elements.

3.     Innovations in the structure of plays: Lope de Vega made significant changes to the structure of plays, including the use of three acts instead of the usual five acts, which made his work more dynamic.

4. Pictorial characters: His plays are known for pictorial characters that often represent different social classes and characters. He created realistic and multi-faceted images.

5.     The use of mythology and religion: Lope de Vega often turned to mythological and religious themes in his works, which gave them depth and symbolic meaning.

6.     Using Roman and Greek elements: He also incorporated elements of ancient drama, such as chorus and monologues, into his plays.

These features make Lope de Vega's drama a significant part of Spanish literary and theatrical history.

5.     Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498, Italy): Italian monk and preacher who also wrote some dramatic works addressing moral and religious themes.

Unlike his well-known dramatic works, his most significant contribution was in the field of religious and political philosophy, and not in drama. He wrote sermons, treatises, and essays on morality and religion, not dramas in the modern sense of the word.

His influence is evident in his public speeches, agitation and writings, which were primarily aimed at the spiritual renewal of society and have no connection with theatrical art.

These authors made a significant contribution to the development of drama in the Renaissance and influenced the dramatic art both in their own countries and abroad.