The Role Of Entertainment In The Tudor Era

In absence of today’s modern technology, people in the Tudor Era had to come up with creative ways to stay entertained. Entertainment in the Tudor Era consisted of executions and popular events that would be considered very gruesome today. During this time, they primarily focused on the enjoyment of the the upper class. This type of entertainment differs from today’s entertainment that is looked at from a completely different perspective.

Lower class citizens were discriminated against when it came to certain sports. Tennis, jousting and other tournament sports were only available to the rich. Though the poor could participate in hunting, they weren’t allotted the same privileges as the rich. The rich could catch any animal of their choice, while the poor could only catch smaller animals, such as hares and rabbits. These disadvantages forced the poor to have more creative sources. Sports for the lower social class included fishing, archery, and the early version of soccer, which later became a very popular sport (Entertainment in Tudor and Stuart

times). The poor faced discrimination in many other events too. For instance, the rich held banquets, the poor were not invited. In response, the poor held carnivals with music, jugglers, dancers and other festive activities. Although the poor were excluded from many popular events, they created their own events instead, where anyone no matter what socioeconomic status social class, were invited.
The poor were able to attend some events like was royal weddings, which were open to the public. When someone in the monarchy got married, other monarchs would attend the wedding and pay for wine and food for everyone in the village (The Tudors-Entertainment). Diners were entertained by mummers, jugglers, jesters and fire eaters. Although the lower class didn’t attend the wedding, they still celebrated with others and received complimentary treats.
In the beginning, entertainment was only on a Sunday. This began to change, in 1590, when William Shakespeare popularized theatre. He was one of the “greatest” playwrights and his works still impact education today (Educations and entertainment). His love for playwriting had a huge impact on entertainment in the Tudor Era. Theatre began to become very popular and many demanded for new plays. In 1577, when the first theatre was built, only men were allowed to perform (Education and entertainment). This meant some men were required to play female roles. Theatres also brought all social classes together. They “booed,” or made unpleasant sounds, while also throwing objects at the performers if the play wasn’t to their liking. This was unfortunate for poorer people, who were sometimes hit by these objects, because they were in areas closest to the stage. They were considered “groundlings,” because they sat on the ground around the stage, that is now called the “pit” (Stewart). Theatre seating was based on social class, so the lower class were separated from wealthier individuals. Plays weren’t the only event that brought the upper and lower class together.
Executions also played a huge part in entertainment.

Large crowds would gather to see prisoners being beheaded, burned, hung, or tortured. These crowds didn’t attend these events out of pity but to be entertained. People would “hoot” and “holla” at these executions. There were no signs of respect for the murder of others. One of the most popular execution methods was known as the “hanging, drawing and quartering” method (Ross 29). This method is where the victim is hung slowly, let down while still breathing, disembowel, and lastly being beheaded and cut into four pieces. This gruesome method appeased some who this punishment was “rightly” deserved. (Ross 30). These executions created a carnival-like atmosphere. Which included jugglers, peddlers and minstrels. (How It Was: Elizabethan Life). People in the Tudor Era didn’t just find brutally murdering people entertaining but also injuring and killing innocent

animals.
People would also gather to watch animal mutilations. These events brought enjoyment to many people during the Tudor times, including Queen Elizabeth I, who could watch from her palace in comfort (C N Trueman “Tudor Sports and Pastimes”). Some events included “sports” like; bull/bear baiting and cock fighting. Bear baiting is a repulsive sport where men would tie a bear or bull to an object and then send a numerous amount of dogs to attack the animal (How it was: Elizabethan Life), leading to the animal’s death. In 1585, members of the parliament requested a ban on bear and bull baiting, Queen Elizabeth I overruled this request. Other sports consisted of humans whipping innocent animals such as blind bears, and other violent attacks on animals. (C N Trueman “Tudor Sports and Pastimes). These events were unethical because of the belittle sympathy for the animals. Although Elizabeth overruled request that would ban the abuse of animals, King Henry VIII banned sports that would cause harm to people and his power.
Soccer was far more dangerous than it is today which resulted in a lot of injuries. According to a writer during this time, “football is more a fight than a game…sometimes their necks were broken, sometimes their backs, sometimes their legs…football encourages envy and hatred…sometimes fighting, murder and a great loss of blood” (C N Trueman “Tudor Sports and Pastimes”). These injuries led officials to ban soccer in 1540. Later on, Henry VIII banned more games because he felt games caused chaos, and feared that authorities would begin to lose control over the population. He believed the working class should spend time working or at home. Instead the rich received an advantage because they did not have to comply with these rules or regulations. Once again the rich are given a higher advantage than the poor (C N Trueman), because they did not have to obey these rules.
In conclusion, social class played a huge role in entertainment, which has changed tremendously since the Tudor Era. Today, social class doesn’t have an impact on the type of entertainment that people participate in. Sports are now open to everyone and there is now more of a focus on safety as well as the entertainment that the sport brings.