Weapons and Fighting
Shakespeare used many of the weapons pictured above in his writing. In many of his tragedies the weapons pictured above were used. In the Elizabethan Era the musket was a new invention that was starting to be used. Other weapons of that era included a rapier, a mace, an axe, an arbalest, a halberd, a lance and a cross bow. Firearms were invented during this period. Some included cannons and matchlock. In the Shakespearean tragedy Romeo and Juliet, Romeo, Tybalt and Mercutio get into a fight in the street. Mercutio and Tybalt are fighting with rapiers. Tybalt stabs and kills Mercutio and then Romeo kills Tybalt. In Elizabethan society, nobles were expected to be knowledgeable in the skills of fencing. Romeo, Tybalt and Mercutio were all men of nobility, therefore they were skilled at fencing. Shakespeare used the weapons of the era to inspire some parts of his stories.