Primary Sources
1. A Midsummer Night's Dream
by. William Shakespeare.
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Shakespeare's a Midsummer Night's Dream was inspired by his interest in Renaissance magic. The entire play's plot is focused around the supernatural world of fairies and what happens when they use magic to disrupt the natural order of things. The plot is centered around a fairy named Puck who uses a magic flower to cause controversy between two human couples and another fairy named Titania. The love potion is dripped into their eyes and they all begin to fall in love with the wrong people. Meanwhile in the Forrest there is a troop of actors rehearsing for a play. Titania wakes up and falls in love with Bottom, one of the actors, whose head at the time had been magically transformed into the head of a donkey. Tension rises, and arguments get heated, so Puck sets out to set everything right. With the magic reversed, the couples married their rightful partners and Bottom is returned back his head. The play ends with Puck asking the audience to forgive his silliness and to remember the events they have just seen as a dream.
It obvious from very early on that the use of magic in this play is very important, without it there would hardly be a show. It is clear that Shakespeare, like most renaissance writers was influenced by magic. Shakespeare exemplified two sides of magic: magic that cause chaos, and magic that can fix things. The setting of this play primarily takes place at night in the forest. Both the moon and the forest were commonly associated with magical practices. The forest was thought of as a place of mystery and darkness, it was often thought of as the setting where magicians and witches practiced their magic. The moon was also considered an important entity within magic. It was thought of as a key element for incantations and potion making. There is a magic centered on the polarity of the moon that was associated with magic that altered love. This is appropriate, seeing that this play is centered on the use of a love potion administered by the moonlight.
There are several representations of magical elements in this play that help to create a comedic plot. Puck the fairy uses one of the most common practices of lower magic cunning folk, which was a love potion. The love potion causes drama between two couples when they fall in love with the wrong people. The misuse of magic in the form of a love potion led to chaos and humor in this play. There is also the misuse of the transfiguration of Bottom, an over confident actor whose head is turned into that of an ass, allowing magic to add another comedic element to the play.
Shakespeare writing magic in as something positive and something funny was unusual for the renaissance era, which most commonly displayed magic as something to be feared and hated. Shakespeare provided a new face for magic in a more positive light.
Below is a quick video summarizing the play.
2. La primavera by Bottecelli
This popular painting from the Renaissance era is entitled La Primavera which means "Spring Time". This painting exemplifies the influence of magic in the culture of renaissance and not just in writings, such as plays. This painting includes the combination of the supernatural and humans.
This painting has several magical elements in it such as the fact that the scene is taking place in a Forrest. The Forrest plays an important role in the world of magic, it provided a place of mystery and secrecy. Another element of magic within this painting is the spirit holding onto the woman in the corner. This supernatural element is associated with the magical thought that the human is connected directly to the spiritually divine world. It could also represent (being that the spirit is a darker color), human dealings with demons and darker magic.
The woman dressed in all floral and collecting flower petals, exemplifies the connection between humans and their connection with nature, furthermore the use of natural elements in magical ceremonies or incantations. It could be argued that this entire painting represents the overall connection with nature, and the Renaissance idea of man's search to exceed the natural order of things. The three women who appear to be dancing together, represents certain ceremonies that involved movement or "dancing" during ceremonies. This type of magic is usually associated with women, and later became associated with magic of the Salem witch trials which was largely magical women or witches.
There is one man in this painting, he is seems to be more attuned with nature and picking the fruit off of the tree could be allegory for Adam seeking and gaining knowledge by eating the fruit off of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Not only does this moment of the man seeking the knowledge represent the religious influences of the era but also the magical influences of the era. The scholars (Usually men) who were studying higher magic were seeking knowledge of the natural, and the good as well as evil. Dabbling with the magic both good and evil led to the interaction and conflicts between the church and magic. Looking closely, in the man's hand who was believed to be Mercury a Greek God from Greek mythology, is the Caduceus.
The caduceus is the popular symbol for medicine. The caduceus is associated with medicine and medicine is associated with chemistry as well as other sciences and alchemy an element of magic was the origin for most sciences used in modern medicine today.
In the center of the painting is Venus the Roman Goddess associated with encompassing love, beauty, sex, fertility, prosperity and victory. All of these entities that the Goddess Venus encompasses are also encompassed by magic. All of these things that Venus are thought to provide for, magic was also used to achieve success in these things.
To top the whole painting off there is an Angel floating above the whole scenery just to add another element of the supernatural and further add to the connection of man and divine.
This painting is an ideal representation of Renaissance artwork, and shows just how much the culture was influenced by magic as well as other influences such as religion. Artist's of the Renaissance era were inspired by interests in the supernatural and magic as it is evident in this well known painting by Bottecilli.
This painting has several magical elements in it such as the fact that the scene is taking place in a Forrest. The Forrest plays an important role in the world of magic, it provided a place of mystery and secrecy. Another element of magic within this painting is the spirit holding onto the woman in the corner. This supernatural element is associated with the magical thought that the human is connected directly to the spiritually divine world. It could also represent (being that the spirit is a darker color), human dealings with demons and darker magic.
The woman dressed in all floral and collecting flower petals, exemplifies the connection between humans and their connection with nature, furthermore the use of natural elements in magical ceremonies or incantations. It could be argued that this entire painting represents the overall connection with nature, and the Renaissance idea of man's search to exceed the natural order of things. The three women who appear to be dancing together, represents certain ceremonies that involved movement or "dancing" during ceremonies. This type of magic is usually associated with women, and later became associated with magic of the Salem witch trials which was largely magical women or witches.
There is one man in this painting, he is seems to be more attuned with nature and picking the fruit off of the tree could be allegory for Adam seeking and gaining knowledge by eating the fruit off of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Not only does this moment of the man seeking the knowledge represent the religious influences of the era but also the magical influences of the era. The scholars (Usually men) who were studying higher magic were seeking knowledge of the natural, and the good as well as evil. Dabbling with the magic both good and evil led to the interaction and conflicts between the church and magic. Looking closely, in the man's hand who was believed to be Mercury a Greek God from Greek mythology, is the Caduceus.
The caduceus is the popular symbol for medicine. The caduceus is associated with medicine and medicine is associated with chemistry as well as other sciences and alchemy an element of magic was the origin for most sciences used in modern medicine today.
In the center of the painting is Venus the Roman Goddess associated with encompassing love, beauty, sex, fertility, prosperity and victory. All of these entities that the Goddess Venus encompasses are also encompassed by magic. All of these things that Venus are thought to provide for, magic was also used to achieve success in these things.
To top the whole painting off there is an Angel floating above the whole scenery just to add another element of the supernatural and further add to the connection of man and divine.
This painting is an ideal representation of Renaissance artwork, and shows just how much the culture was influenced by magic as well as other influences such as religion. Artist's of the Renaissance era were inspired by interests in the supernatural and magic as it is evident in this well known painting by Bottecilli.
3. The Honorable Historie of Frier Bacon, and Frier Bongay
By. Robert Greene
This play was Renaissance writer Robert Greene's greatest work of literature, and was believed to be the inspiration for Christopher Marlow's play Dr. Faustus and Shakespeare's play The Tempest. The common theme of all three of these plays is the uses of magical elements.
This play is about a young prince named Edward who falls in love with a country maiden. The prince sends his friend to find out the feelings of Margaret the country maiden. Unfortunately the princes friend falls in love with Margaret, all the while the prince goes to visit to Friar Bacon, a great magician and finds out that his friend has fallen in love with the maiden, by looking into the friars magic glass. When confronted, The couple asks for death rather than to be separated, so the prince gives his blessing to the couple. More conflicts occur when fighting and love leads to death, and more death when the previous fighting and love is viewed through Friar Bacon's magic glass. All the while the Friar Bacon is working hard on his magic and when all of Friar Bacon's hard work is ruined he breaks his magic glass and repents, vowing to pray the rest of his life and never use magic again. There is also the Friar Bungay who is not as good of a magician but does not renounce his magic work. In the end, all ends well with the two couples getting married.
This play is full of magic, specifically the two characters that the play is named after Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay who are magicians. This play captures the excitement of magic as well as the complication's of magic. The Play-write Robert Greene exemplified his interest and knowledge of magical thought. Not only did Greene scratch the surface by including sensationalized elements such as fairies and potions, angels and demons, he goes further to include actual historical tools used in higher magic, such as the glass ball and the brass head that Friar Bacon created to help with his magical practices. Magic was a trivial and informative element in this play, it could be argued that the Friar and his glass ball could be the most trustworthy character in this play. Magic itself could be the most trustworthy element in this play. Greene was not only making a statement about his trust and admiration for magic by making magic the reveal the truth in this story. He also makes a bold statement on behalf of magic by making the magicians, Friars religious figures, catholic figures. This play is another example of the influence of magic on writers.
Below is a BBC televised production of serveral scenes from the play "The Honorable Historie of Friar Bacon, and Friar Bongay". To start the play, fast foreword to 6 minutes and 50 seconds and then the rest of the play is on the following video.
This play was Renaissance writer Robert Greene's greatest work of literature, and was believed to be the inspiration for Christopher Marlow's play Dr. Faustus and Shakespeare's play The Tempest. The common theme of all three of these plays is the uses of magical elements.
This play is about a young prince named Edward who falls in love with a country maiden. The prince sends his friend to find out the feelings of Margaret the country maiden. Unfortunately the princes friend falls in love with Margaret, all the while the prince goes to visit to Friar Bacon, a great magician and finds out that his friend has fallen in love with the maiden, by looking into the friars magic glass. When confronted, The couple asks for death rather than to be separated, so the prince gives his blessing to the couple. More conflicts occur when fighting and love leads to death, and more death when the previous fighting and love is viewed through Friar Bacon's magic glass. All the while the Friar Bacon is working hard on his magic and when all of Friar Bacon's hard work is ruined he breaks his magic glass and repents, vowing to pray the rest of his life and never use magic again. There is also the Friar Bungay who is not as good of a magician but does not renounce his magic work. In the end, all ends well with the two couples getting married.
This play is full of magic, specifically the two characters that the play is named after Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay who are magicians. This play captures the excitement of magic as well as the complication's of magic. The Play-write Robert Greene exemplified his interest and knowledge of magical thought. Not only did Greene scratch the surface by including sensationalized elements such as fairies and potions, angels and demons, he goes further to include actual historical tools used in higher magic, such as the glass ball and the brass head that Friar Bacon created to help with his magical practices. Magic was a trivial and informative element in this play, it could be argued that the Friar and his glass ball could be the most trustworthy character in this play. Magic itself could be the most trustworthy element in this play. Greene was not only making a statement about his trust and admiration for magic by making magic the reveal the truth in this story. He also makes a bold statement on behalf of magic by making the magicians, Friars religious figures, catholic figures. This play is another example of the influence of magic on writers.
Below is a BBC televised production of serveral scenes from the play "The Honorable Historie of Friar Bacon, and Friar Bongay". To start the play, fast foreword to 6 minutes and 50 seconds and then the rest of the play is on the following video.
All documentation can be found on the Bibliography page.