It is a rather curious thought that Jane Austen included the Little Theatre within her novel. It was a rather popular theater up to 1737 when the License Act was established. The License Act "require[d] that all theaters either hold a royal patent or receive a special licence from the Lord Chamberlain, and that new plays for which admission was to be charged were submitted to the Lord Chamberlain in advance two weeks before performance" (The Literary Encyclopedia). The government wanted to cut back on plays that criticized the government and led others to believe false or true accusations. From Jane Austen including this factual building into her novel, it clarifies the theme of fake and materialistic people, which can be clearly found in the Bennet household, particularly with the mother, Mrs. Bennet.
Editors. "Stage Licensing Act." The Literary Encyclopedia. 14 March 2010. 25 March 2004. www.litencyc.com/php/stopics?rec=true&UID=1115
No comments:
Post a Comment