Perhaps the most notable individual of the day, aside from the monarch herself, was William Shakespeare whose theatre and poetry works are still studied in schools today. Many interpretations of the prolific playwright's creations can still be seen in theatres across the world and the language used within these, as well as the costumes and staging, are an excellent resource in understanding the people of the era.
Education throughout the era was improving, with grammar schools available to the middle class and the availability of information was enhanced by the development of printing techniques, making books more widely available. In addition to this, theatre was utilised as a tool for influencing and educating the masses as it was cheap and reached wide and varied audiences, including the lower classes. As education was bettered, the employment situation improved. The population had taken a knock due to bouts of the plague and as a result of this, even peasants were now paid a small fee for their labour. As we know, better rates of employment stimulate the economy and whilst the Elizabethan poor were very poor, generally the country and it's people were doing well.
In an age where so much stood out, it is unsurprising that the fashions of the day were unique and distinctive. Influenced most strongly by the Queen herself, the Elizabethans were very much alike in style. Without the subcultures we are so familiar with today, what really divided the people of the golden age was the definite class system of the time. The heavy fabrics and intricate embroideries which we imagine when we think of this period were exclusive to the monarchy and aristocracy, whilst lower classes were limited in their choice of attire by the 'Statutes of Apparel'. This was known formally as the Sumptuary Law which was implemented by the Queen to ensure that the class system retained a clear structure; breaches of this law carried heavy penalties.
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