What did Elizabethans believe about magic?

Answer 1

Elizabethan England marked the begining of the "Age of Reason" in British history and while the peasent class was still primarily superstitious, the aristocracy was much more sceptical. What little remains of the written magical record is mostly occupied with mystical interpretations of Christianity and most magical rituals used Christian themes and ideas, as well as "reinterpretations" of tradtitional christian ceremonies.

Answer 2

Magic and witchcraft figure prominently in several of Shakespeare's plays. Witches are central to Macbeth, and everyone knows their famous cauldron chant. In Midsummer Night's Dream we have fairies who are able to perform magic, transform themselves, make themselves invisible and use a magical love potion. The main character in The Tempest is a sorcerer who uses his spirit servant Ariel to beguile the shipwreck victims with magic. In Henry VI Part II the Duchess of Gloucester seeks out the advice of a witch, Margery Jourdain.

Unjustified accusations of witchcraft are also found. The Syracusan twins in The Comedy of Errors, perplexed by the behaviour of the Ephesians, attribute it to witchcraft. Richard III gets rid of Hastings by accusing him of bewitching his arm.

Answer 3

Well, lots of things, most of which you also believe, and some you probably don't. They believed they were living in England, that the sun rises in the east, and that if you drink too much beer you will get drunk. They believed that if you bought a ticket to one of the Lord Chamberlain's Men's productions, you would probably get good value for your money. Most of them believed that whatever kind of Christian they were were going to Heaven, and the other Christians were going to Hell. A good many of them believed that Astrology worked and that there were alchemists who could change iron into gold. Even more of them believed that the people who believed in astrology and alchemy were ripe for the picking by con artists.

Answer 4

Probably many of them believed in it, as many people do these days.

Answer 5

They thought that witches were something to be feared and respected

Answer 6

We have no reports of any contemporary performances of The Tempest so we cannot know.

Answer 7

Nobody knows what Shakespeare believed or did not believe.