3, a great tragedy happened. During a performance of Henry VIII, a blast of flaming wadding shot from a canon and landed on the thatched roof. The building went up flames very quickly. The audience escaped safely, with the exception for one man who was badly burned. (Hartz 51) Fire was always a real danger in all Elizabethan buildings, since they were usually constructed of wood and thatch, and oil lamps or candles were used for light. (Hartz 50) The draperies and thatched roofs were very dry, and burned like a torch if sparked, which was the case in The Globe Theater. There were no fire extinguishers or fire departments at the time, so the normal practice was to get leather fire buckets, fill them with water, and dump them on the blaze. (Hartz 52)Many years later, a new globe was rebuilt, shortly before Shakespeare's death. This time, it was constructed with a tile roof and fire exits. (Yowell 32) It never stood up to the stature of the original Globe, but remained as a memory of William Shakespeare and his theater.The role of the theaters of the Elizabethan Era proved to be a very important one. It gave even the lowest class of citizens of London a subject to take interest in, and kept them entertained in the progression of the playwrights. The theaters opened up acting as an entirely new form of work, and opened up many jobs to the nearby citizens. Becoming a top-notch actor was not easy however. Only the best of the best were chosen to act. Shakespeare was by far the most influential factor of Elizabethan playwright history. (Richman 1) No other individual could possibly compare to the knowledge and depth of Shakespeare's plays. He kept the public entertained as well as involved. Looking back, the idea of the life and prosperity of the theaters is truly unique. How one man can change a person's life style, and transform a plain and simple theater to a historical artifact to be known for years to come is truly r...
