What were Shakespeares influences?
Wow. Well, I’ve studied Shakespeare including doing some work at the Globe in London — the thing is that you could write an entire book based on Shakespeares’ influences. I know you can pull out a lot of references here, but: Religion was a big one, especially with England switching official religions in the middle of his career. Heaven and Hell were BIG (since Christianity was so popular), and that also was a reason for opening up the top of the stage (to see Heaven). In fact, Heaven and Hell are nicknames for those parts of a theater. Fate was also a big part — which is the notion that you’re born into something and no matter what you do you are destined toward such and such — and if you try to get out of it, you’ll just speed up the process. Astrology too. R&J are called ‘star-cross’d lovers.’ Poetry as a structure in play-writing, as well as huge use of antitheses (very important). Rebellion against authority, rebellion against parental figures — choosing love as a common means
