Stick Figure Iconography: King James I & VI

Everyone thinks of Shakespeare as an Elizabethan playwright, but actually he was just as much a Jacobean playwright, doing much of his work under the reign (and patronage) of Elizabeth’s successor, the numerically confusing King James I & VI.

Maybe James didn’t portrait well, but he always looks amazingly blank in all his depictions. Or maybe I’m just projecting…

Stick Figure Iconography: Queen Elizabeth I

No look at Shakespeare would be complete without a look at the two monarchs whose reigns overlapped his life. First up is Good Queen Bess herself:

Don’t mess with the Bess.

Stick Figure Iconography: Shakespeare

It’s Shakespeare’s birthday! To celebrate, here’s a look at Shakespeare’s iconography.

If that’s not enough to satiate your Shakespeare Birthday cravings, check out these other celebratory comics!

• Happy 450th Birthday, Shakespeare!

• The Game of Shakespeare’s Life

• Which Shakespeare Play Should You See?

• Happy 400th Deathday, Shakespeare!

• My Plot (a Hamilton/Shakespeare parody)

• Will Will Survive (a Disco Shakespeare parody)

• Shakespeare Month 2018

  • The Timeline

  • The Youth

  • The Lost Years

  • The Playwright

  • The Theatres

  • The End

  • The Legacy

Stick Figure Iconography: Portia

We’ve had Rosalind and Viola, so let’s take a look at another one of Shakespeare’s famous cross-dressing heroines!

It’s all about the hat, ladies. Put a hat on in a Shakespeare play, and HEY PRESTO, you’re a man.

Stick Figure Iconography: Coriolanus

Close your eyes…

Imagine Coriolanus…

…is he covered in blood?

GOOD. We’re on the same page.

BLOOD

Stick Figure Iconography: Isabella

Sometimes it’s very easy to decide how to visually depict a Shakespearean character. Case in point: Isabella from Measure for Measure.

SHE A SAD NUN.

Stick Figure Iconography: Jaques

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women can be depicted using standardized character costumes and props. Heeeeeeeres Jaques from As You Like It!

Can also be bald. Glasses and/or cigarette optional.

Stick Figure Iconography: Helena

In today’s installment of Shakespearean Stick Figure Iconography, we take a look at the key identifying features of Helena (the one from All’s Well That Ends Well, not A Midsummer Night’s Dream.)

There are a lot of plot-significant rings in Shakespeare’s plays, but Helena’s is one of the best.