James Shirley was a renowned playwright who left a significant mark on the Caroline stage with his impressive repertoire of dramas. He was educated in the classics, served as a schoolmaster, and his career spanned several decades during which he wrote extensively. Despite the turbulent times, he managed to leave a lasting legacy through his plays, some of which were revived even decades after his death.

Early Life and Education

Born in London in September 1596, James Shirley was immersed in education from an early age. He attended Merchant Taylors’ School from 1608 to 1612, receiving a robust classical education typical of the era. While records suggest he may have spent some time at St. John’s College, Oxford, it is certain that he matriculated at St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge, in 1615. There, he achieved his Bachelor of Arts in 1617 and pursued his Master of Arts thereafter. With his M.A. in hand, Shirley was ordained in the Anglican Church, married Elizabeth Gilmet, and served as a curate in Lincolnshire. His career took a turn when he shifted to Catholicism and became the headmaster of a grammar school in St. Albans, where he authored several grammar texts. His first literary work, a narrative poem titled Eccho, was published in 1618. Additionally, the 1646 collection Poems &c. by James Shirley featured his witty verses.

Rise to Prominence

Shirley moved to London in 1625, settling in Gray’s Inn, where he quickly gained favor with Queen Henrietta Maria. During the next decade, he wrote the majority of his now-extant plays for Queen Henrietta’s Men, a company managed by Christopher Beeton at the Phoenix Theatre. The closure of theaters due to the plague in 1636 prompted Shirley to relocate to Ireland. He remained there until 1640, managing John Ogilby’s St. Werburgh Street playhouse in Dublin and continuing to write.

A Career Interrupted

Shirley’s time in Ireland may have cost him the poet laureateship, which was awarded to William Davenant following Ben Jonson’s death in 1637. Upon returning to England in 1640, Shirley took over as the principal playwright for the King’s Men at Blackfriars, succeeding Philip Massinger. Unfortunately, his work with the company was cut short when the Puritans shut down the theaters in 1642, effectively ending Shirley’s theatrical career. Within seventeen prolific years, he had penned over forty works, encompassing comedies, tragedies, tragicomedies, and masques, primarily for the elite audiences of London’s private theaters.

Later Years and Legacy

When the civil strife in England began, Shirley aligned himself with William Cavendish, fighting against Oliver Cromwell for two years. By 1645, Shirley returned to London, resumed teaching, and remarried after the death of his first wife. He continued to write masques, grammar texts, and poetry. He and his second wife, Frances, succumbed to injuries sustained during the Great Fire of London, both passing away on October 29, 1666.

Dramatic Style and Influence

Shirley emerged during the tail end of the Renaissance drama's golden age, adopting styles from his Elizabethan forebears. His works reflect the influences of Thomas Kyd’s and John Webster’s revenge tragedies, Thomas Dekker’s city comedies, and Ben Jonson’s humor-filled plays. His tragedies often mirrored the period's declining serious drama, while his comedies paved the way for later Restoration comedies by writers like George Etherege and William Wycherley. Despite utilizing familiar themes and character archetypes, Shirley’s unique contributions kept Renaissance drama vibrant into the 1640s. His inclination toward antilicentiousness connected him more closely with the Elizabethans than those writing for the Restoration stage. Through his realistic and sophisticated comedies of manners, he adeptly explored the dichotomy of town, country, and court values.

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