The real-life story behind the school of night in A Discovery of Witches

A discovery of witches It takes on a new life after its addition to Netflix in the US. The show offers a dramatic look at a world that has a secret supernatural underbelly, complete with long-standing political battles between witches, vampires and demons on their governing board, the Congregation. The show tackles very human themes through a supernatural lens, occasionally shedding some light on actual historical events. A perfect example of this is the night school.

The school of night in A discovery of witches is explored as the show’s story travels back to Elizabethan England. After tragically losing her parents as a child (and being spellbound) prevents her magic from awakening until adulthood, Diana realizes that she needs to learn to manage her powers wisely. As it turns out, she is one of the most powerful witches of all time. In order to learn to control the newfound powers, she decides to travel to the 16th century with Matthew to find the right teacher. Here, Matthew once lived as Matthew Roydon – a member of the real school of the night.

As a discovery of witches linked in the school of night

One of Matthew’s many identities is Matthew Roydon

The school of the night was an Elizabethan-era group of poets, dramatists and free thinkersComposed by Christopher Marlowe, George Chapman, Matthew Roydon and Thomas Harriot. It remains a mystery how well these people knew each other, but their similar beliefs first led Oxford historian Frederick S. Boas to categorize them together as the school of night (by by Michigan Quarterly Review). Queen Elizabeth I was the last monarch of the Tudor dynasty, and her reign was defined by divisions between Protestants and Catholics. The School of the Night was originally called the School of Atheism, because their beliefs fell outside the traditional religious binary.

in A discovery of witchesMatthew de Clermont is a 1,500-year-old vampire who has taken on different identities throughout history to keep his supernatural secret, including the poet Matthew Roydon. In fact, Roydon was a poet known for his An Elegy, or Friends Passion, for his AstrophelA poem written in memory of his late friend, Sir Philip Sidney. It is also widely speculated that Roydon may have secretly authored Willoughby his AvisaA narrative poem, which is supposed to contain the first literary mention of William Shakespeare. This theory was popularized by historian Arthur Acheson, who believed that Roydon used Henry Willoughby as a pseudonym.

The real story of the night school

Christopher Marlowe, nicknamed Keith, also appears in A Discovery of Witches

The Night School overall led an unprecedented charge in early modern literature, philosophy, and science.. Christopher Marlowe, who also appeared in A discovery of witches Played by Tom Hughes, was a playwright and poet who was widely known to rival Shakespeare. Known for his translations of the works of Ovid and his plays Tamburlaine, the Jew of Malta, And Doctor Faustus, Marlowe was a defining force in Elizabethan theatre.

Little is known about Marlowe’s life, but historians have conjectured that he potentially worked as a spy for the Crown, and may have identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community (via The Guardian). Despite a 20th century discovery of a coroner’s report of his death at age 29, his death is still widely regarded as mysterious, with some accounts that he was murdered for his beliefs and others stating that he died in a bar fight.

Astronomer and mathematician Thomas Harriot, another member of the Night School, reportedly discovered refraction (per. NCAR). According to the First Colony FoundationHarriot was among the first few English nobles to sail to the American South and meet with the indigenous Algonquin tribe of Roanoke Island. His discoveries changed the course of modern science, including his early illustrations of the moon.

Why the night school is perfect for a supernatural show

The group is still surrounded by mystery

Strange deaths and interesting circumstances continue to haunt some members of the School of Night, making it the perfect historical school of thought for A discovery of witches to Tap for supernatural inspiration because there is room for creativity. Mysterious deaths, pseudonyms, and rebellions against the norm have all been themes present in vampire literature, and the show’s choice to revisit this era in history was very intelligent. The show is adapted from the All souls Series By author Deborah Harkness, who is also an accomplished historian.

The very real history of the group included a number of people who were ready to lay down their lives for what they believed in (Christopher Marlowe could be one of them). In a supernatural context, many of these actions would make sense from immortal beings, who would not always actually risk death. A discovery of witches‘ Referring to The School of Night was a complex historical fiction choice, which makes the show much more interesting for viewers.

Sources: The University of Michigan, The Guardian, The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, All Poetry, Willobie His Avisa, Oxford University Press