Early period (1590 ~ 1600): During this period, Elizabeth's central sovereignty was still consolidated, and the temporary alliance between the royal family and the industrial and commercial circles and new noble was still developing. After 1588 defeated the Spanish "Armada", the national situation was greatly boosted. This makes the author full of optimism about life and believes that humanism can be realized. The historical dramas and comedies created in this period all showed a bright and optimistic style. Historical dramas, such as Charles III (1592) and Henry III (1599), condemn feudal tyrants and praise enlightened monarchs, showing humanistic anti-feudal tyranny and enlightened political ideals of feudal separatism. Comedy films, such as A Midsummer Night's Dream (1596), Twelfth Night (1600), Everybody is Happy (16O0), etc. Describing gentle, beautiful, determined and brave women, breaking through numerous feudal obstacles and finally winning love shows humanism's praise for free love and opposition. Even the tragedy Romeo and Juliet (1595) written in this period has many bright and optimistic factors.
Mid-term (160 1 ~ 1607): At this time, the "enclosure movement" in the English countryside is accelerating, the temporary alliance between the monarchy and the bourgeoisie and new noble is disintegrating, social contradictions are deepening and regrouping, the political and economic situation is deteriorating, and James I's profligacy and retrogression after he succeeded to the throne have made the people more miserable and rebel again. In this case, Shakespeare deeply felt that the contradiction between humanistic ideal and reality was getting bigger and bigger, and his writing style changed from bright optimism to gloomy grief and indignation. The focus of his tragedies is not to praise humanistic ideals, but to expose all kinds of evils and darkness that criticize society. The masterpiece Hamlet (16O 1) shows the thrilling struggle between the outnumbered progressive forces and the dark forces. Othello (1604) describes a touching love tragedy of a young man and a young woman who broke through the feudal shackles and fell into the selfish conspiracy of capitalism. King Lear (1606) describes the process that the stubborn feudal king became a realistic and compassionate "man" under the sincere and hypocritical fact education. Macbeth (1606) exposed the destructive corrosion and toxic effects of power ambition on people. The comedies "All good endings are good" and "Tit for Tit" created in this period are also tragedies.
Later period (1608 ~ 16 12): At this time, the James I dynasty was more corrupt and the social contradictions were more acute. Shakespeare deeply felt the disillusionment of humanistic ideals and retired to write romantic legendary dramas. His creative style is also romantic and illusory. Cymbeline (1609) and The Story of Winter (16 10) describe reunion after separation or reconciliation after being framed. The Tempest (16 1 1) describes that the Duke of Milan used magic to take the boat of Antonio, his younger brother who sought power usurpation, to a desert island, and forgave him, and his younger brother returned to the throne. A political storm similar to Hamlet became calm in the process of forgiveness and probation.