William Shakespeare wrote plays for the aristocracy and the nobility: they were the elite of the society and thus, made the major part of Shakespeare’s audience. People from the aristocratic class who were his patrons include Queen Elizabeth, King James, the Earl of Southampton and the Herbert family.
2. The Middle Class
Shakespeare’s plays were not just for the elite, they also appealed to the urban people such as merchants, landowners and lawyers. It was in the late sixteenth century that this class expanded and became very rich. These individuals loved literature and could pay to see plays.
3. Lower Class
People of the lower class in the seventeenth century included tradesmen and artisans, who loved to watch street performances and plays in playhouses. This class made up the majority of the population.
4. Women
Although women at that time were not allowed to act in dramas because acting was predominantly carried out by men. However, that doesn't mean women did not attend. They made up a significant number of Shakespeare's audience.