Have you ever wondered what life would be like in the Elizabethan era? To see the works of great playwrights such as William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson? Theater was one of the cornerstones of Elizabethan life and many people were familiar with the works of Shakespeare and Jonson. While Shakespeare was arguably the greatest playwright of the era, many other playwrights, including Jonson, flourished during this period. The Elizabethan era was a very important period in English history. The period is named after the queen who ruled England at that time, Queen Elizabeth I (Haigh). This era was a great period for the progress of England, as it moved out of the Middle Ages and into this new era. Although there were many hardships and plague was common, people lived much more comfortable lives than ever before (Jonson). Many great achievements were also accomplished, including Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation of the world, which was only the second time this had been achieved, and the British Navy's victory over the Spanish (Haigh) Armada. Another thing that greatly affected the Elizabethan era was the theater. Theater was one of the main forms of entertainment in Elizabethan England, as anyone, rich or poor, could attend the plays. The rich sat in boxes or galleries, while the poorer would have to stand for the entire play (Haigh). The poor stood in front of the stage which was normally raised about 4 to 6 feet and the theater could seat an average of 3,000 people (Trumbull). However, the wealthy generally watched plays in private indoor theaters, but sometimes watched plays in outdoor public theaters. Performance...... middle of paper ...... for a husband. Eventually, Jeremiah is discovered by Lovewit, and offers him Lady Pilant's hand in marriage, in exchange for her forgiveness. Lovewit agrees, and the two marry and Jeremy receives no punishment. This play has many themes, but the strongest ones include deception, greed, order, and disorder. The Alchemist, however, is just one of Jonson's astonishing pieces that constitute his legacy. The Alchemist is just one of many plays that have influenced the way we view Elizabethan society. It showed us that in the worst of times, no one is safe from betrayal and deception. Theater was one of the main forms of entertainment and everyone could enjoy plays like this. This also shows that Shakespeare was not the only great playwright of this era. The Elizabethan period was a great period in our world's history, and theater was its greatest moment..