Funerals, Memorials, and Burials

With all the death in Shakespeare’s works, you may not be shocked that the word “Funeral” comes up in Shakespeare’s plays over 20 times, but what is surprising is that funeral ceremonies are used by Shakespeare in multiple plays to serve a specific role, almost a character in and of themselves for how they impact the plot. Most notably, and my apologies here for any spoilers, the play is still worth seeing, but there’s an elaborate funeral for Hamlet ordered by Fortinbras at the end of the play. This funeral is said to mirror the real funeral of English poet, Sir Philip Sydney that had happened in 1587.If we’re going to appreciate Shakespeare’s portrayal of Hamlet’s funeral, then it becomes important to understand how funerals worked for Shakespeare’s lifetime, what the steps and rights were involved in an official, or unofficial, service and what constituted a fitting tribute to the dead. Here today to take us through what funerals involved for the 16-17th century, why Sir Philip Sydney’s service was so remarkable, and what all of this history means we should notice when we see funerals used for dramatic impact in Shakespeare’s plays, is our guest, and author of “Death, Religion, and the Family in England 1480-1760", Ralph Houlbrooke. 

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