The sound of the church bell pierced through the air, drowning out the voices of the town criers and marking the end of the hour. The stench of feces in the street was inescapable, as was the anticipation of one’s death. The threat of illness hung over our heads like heavy grey clouds blocking out the sky; the decapitated heads from the executions doubled in amount, and stared down at us intently. Still, the conflict amongst the townspeople persisted…
Each day, groups of young men gathered for a violent game of football, ending often in several casualties; the familiar feeling of battle corrupting their judgment. The weekly cockfighting matches only added to the overall restlessness of the town: everywhere you went, you would hear people shouting at each other, for who knows what reason. In the pub, physical brawls were a daily occurrence. As the political uncertainty in the country worsened, so did everyday life for those living in poverty. Beggars lined the streets, desperately relying on the generosity of others. Appearing emaciated, they pleaded with hoarse voices.
One popular form of entertainment at the time was theatre. Excitement grew within the town whenever William Shakespeare put on a new play. Crowds of people rushed through the doorway of the Globe Theatre, furiously shoving past each other for a better view. Watching a Shakespeare play was playing a game of football: there was no guarantee that you would make it out alive and well. Like most other locations, it was one where people took out their frustrations on each other. Bumping into someone in the packed theatre would come with the risk of a stab wound. One would have to be very careful of their behaviour to avoid being injured. Due to the absence of a roof, audience members would be exposed to all kinds of weather. Often, one would have to watch, or perform in, a play while the rain fiercely poured down on them.
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