How did the Plauge in Britian affect Shakespeare, other actors, and the theater in general?
Answer Hi Andrea, The bubonic plague (sometimes known as the Black Plague), came to England periodically in Shakespeare’s day. While it affected large areas of England, it was far more prevalent and destructive in the larger cities, especially London, where the population was the most dense. Since the plague was spread by the fleas from certain rats, which congregated in densely populated areas, and traveled on the clothing and other belongings of affected humans, these cities became areas where the plague spread quickly and widely. Although the people in those days didn’t know the exact cause of the plague, they did realize that it seemed to be worse in highly populated areas and guessed it was spread person to person or by “humors” in the air. At times when it was rampant in London, usually in the hot summer months, those who could, such as the court and nobles, left the cities for the cleaner countryside where the danger was less, and public places, such as the theatres, were closed
