Shakespeare and the Astrology of His Time

In the England of Shakespeare's day, as in the rest of Renaissance Europe, there was wide-spread belief in the power of the stars. There is evidence of this in the many almanacs and prognostications" which have been preserved, in the numerous writings for and against astrology,2 and in countless astrological statements and references in the literature of the time. In particular the frequent mention of astrology in the drama, which baffles even learned commentators today, presupposes an audience familiar with the subject and with its technical terminology. The characters in Shakespeare's plays have much to say about the stars, and most of them believe in their influence on human destiny, but a few of them express nothing but scorn and disdain for such superstition. In King Lear, for example, Kent is convinced that the stars exert an influence on human characters (Act IV, sc. 3), which is denied by Edmund (Act I, sc. 2). Since the characters in his plays contradict one another it is difficult o define Shakespeare's own attitude; and the commentators who have studied this question have reached varying conclusions. Camden holds that it is impossible to define Shakespeare's attitude towards the science of astral predictions and quotes Kittridge, who, on the subject of Shakespeare's 'beliefs in general' gives the plausible answer, 'namely, that we do not know.'3 And yet I cannot think we are justified in adopting this view. Even though we may not hope to find complete documentary evidence, the investigations of astrological belief in Shakespeare's environment may bring us nearer the solution of the problem. Shakespeare's general mode of thought, as expressed in his works, may provide confirmation, and we may even be fortunate enough to discover statements made by the poet himself which can be regarded as embodying his own opinion on astrology. II