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Religion, Drama, and the Impact of Change: Studies in Performance and Early Modernity

Jason Hayes

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Published in The Chester Cycle In Context 1555 1575: Religion Drama And The Impact Of Change (Studies In Performance And Early Modern Drama)

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The early modern period was a time of profound religious change, as the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation swept across Europe, dividing the continent along religious lines. These religious upheavals had a significant impact on all aspects of society, including the performing arts.

In this article, we will explore the complex relationship between religion and drama in the early modern period, examining how religious changes impacted theatrical practices and how drama, in turn, reflected and shaped religious beliefs and values. We will focus on three key areas: the impact of the Reformation on Protestant drama, the role of drama in the Catholic Counter-Reformation, and the emergence of new forms of religious drama in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.

The Protestant Reformation had a profound impact on the development of drama in Europe. Martin Luther and other Protestant reformers condemned the Catholic Church's use of drama as a means of religious instruction and entertainment. They argued that drama was a frivolous and even dangerous distraction from the true worship of God.

The Chester Cycle in Context, 1555–1575: Religion, Drama, and the Impact of Change (Studies in Performance and Early Modern Drama)

by Jodi Rose Crump

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1284 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	260 pages

As a result of the Reformation, many Protestant churches banned drama from their services. However, some Protestant reformers, such as John Calvin, saw the potential of drama as a tool for religious education. Calvin argued that drama could be used to teach biblical stories and moral lessons to the laity.

Calvin's views helped to inspire the development of a new form of Protestant drama, known as the morality play. Morality plays were allegorical dramas that taught moral lessons by presenting characters who represented virtues and vices. Morality plays were popular in Protestant countries throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

The Catholic Church, in response to the Protestant Reformation, launched the Counter-Reformation, a campaign to reaffirm and strengthen the Catholic faith. The Counter-Reformation emphasized the importance of sacraments, ritual, and devotion. Drama played a key role in the Counter-Reformation, as it was used to teach Catholic doctrine, promote popular piety, and combat Protestantism.

The Catholic Church commissioned a wide variety of dramas for use in the Counter-Reformation, including mystery plays, miracle plays, and morality plays. These dramas were performed in churches, schools, and town squares throughout Europe. The Catholic Church also encouraged the formation of religious confraternities, which often produced their own dramas.

In the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, new forms of religious drama emerged that reflected the changing religious landscape of Europe. These new forms of drama included:

Biblical dramas: These dramas were based on stories from the Bible. They were often performed by Protestant groups, but they also became popular in Catholic countries.
Historical dramas: These dramas were based on historical events, such as the lives of saints or the history of the Church. They were often used to promote religious propaganda or to inspire religious devotion.
Tragic dramas: These dramas explored the themes of sin, guilt, and redemption. They were often performed by professional theater companies and were popular with both Protestant and Catholic audiences.

These new forms of religious drama were a testament to the enduring power of drama as a means of religious expression. They also reflected the changing religious landscape of Europe in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.

The relationship between religion and drama in the early modern period was complex and multifaceted. Religious changes impacted theatrical practices and how drama, in turn, reflected and shaped religious beliefs and values. Drama played a key role in both the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation, and it continued to be a vital form of religious expression in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.

The Chester Cycle in Context, 1555–1575: Religion, Drama, and the Impact of Change (Studies in Performance and Early Modern Drama)

by Jodi Rose Crump

4.8 out of 5