Elizabeth I

Picturing England | Elizabeth on Tour | Elizabethan Humanism | Elizabeth and the Poets

William Shakespeare
A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loves labors lost (London, 1598)
Newberry Library (Case 4A 949)
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The title page of William Shakespeare's play shows that performances for the queen were a source of great pride. Most of Shakespeare's greatest comedies and history plays were written during Elizabeth's reign. This comedy in particular reflects the cultural influence of Elizabeth by showing strong, inventive royal and aristocratic women who resist marriage in the end of the play.

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