How Shakespeare Used Music in His Plays and Works
This paper examines the role of music in William Shakespeare's dramatic works, beginning with the historical background of music in Elizabethan England. It surveys the types of music Shakespeare employed — vocal songs, ballads, and instrumental music — and explains how each served specific dramatic purposes, from evoking mood and providing ironic commentary to revealing a character's mental state. The paper also considers the practical constraints that shaped Shakespeare's musical choices, including differences between court productions and public theater performances. Specific plays discussed include Twelfth Night, The Tempest, Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
- Introduction: Overview of Shakespeare's use of music
- Historical Background of Music in the Shakespearean Era: Music culture in Elizabethan England
- Vocal Songs: Vocal music and character expression in plays
- Ballads: Ballads adapted and shortened for the stage
- Instrumental Music: Sparse instrumental music in court vs. public theater
- Conclusion: Music as dramatic device across Shakespeare's works
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What makes this paper effective
- It moves logically from historical context to specific musical categories, giving the analysis a clear and coherent framework.
- It grounds abstract claims with concrete textual examples, such as Ophelia's folk songs in Hamlet and Edgar's feigned madness in King Lear.
- It acknowledges practical theatrical constraints — the difference between court and public theater resources — which adds nuance beyond purely literary analysis.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates contextual literary analysis: it situates Shakespeare's artistic choices within the material and institutional conditions of his era. Rather than treating the plays in isolation, the writer connects musical choices to the economics of performance venues, the conventions of Tudor drama, and the tastes of Elizabethan audiences. This technique shows that artistic decisions are shaped by historical and practical forces as much as by creative vision.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief introduction identifying Shakespeare's significance and announcing the paper's scope. A historical background section establishes the musical culture of the era. Three body sections then cover vocal songs, ballads, and instrumental music in turn, each treating a distinct musical type and its dramatic function. A short conclusion synthesizes the main findings. The structure is straightforward and well-suited to the scope of the topic.
Introduction
William Shakespeare (1564–1616), English playwright and poet, is recognized worldwide as the greatest dramatist of all time. His plays have been performed more times than those of any other dramatist and have been translated into almost every major language (Kastan). While many aspects of Shakespeare's plays have been discussed and analyzed, it is perhaps not so widely known that music also played an important role in many of his works. This paper reviews the historical background of music in the Shakespearean era and discusses how and why music was used in Shakespeare's works. The types of music employed by the playwright, as well as examples from specific plays, are also described.
Music in Shakespeare's Plays
Shakespeare recognized the ability of both instrumental and vocal music to adapt to the stage. Although he sometimes used new compositions by writing his own lyrics, most of the songs in his dramatic works were previously written pieces — often popular music such as ballads already familiar to his audience — adapted to fit the work (Lackey).
Works Cited
Kastan, David Scott. "William Shakespeare." Encyclopedia Encarta. CD-ROM version, 2003.
Lackey, Stephanie. "Shakespeare and His Music." October 12, 1998. MusL 242 Gateway Page. April 25, 2003.
"Music in the Plays." The Internet Shakespeare Editions. March 1996 (updated January 26, 2003). April 25, 2003.
"Music of the Streets and Fairs." The Internet Shakespeare Editions. March 1996 (updated January 26, 2003). April 25, 2003.
Springfels, Mary. "Music in Shakespeare's Plays." Shakespeare and the Globe: Then and Now. Britannica Online. N.d. April 25, 2003.
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