An introduction to…

Objective To understand the historical background of Macbeth To reflect on the nature of ambition as a motivating force To discover “The Curse” of Macbeth

Do Now- Answer the following: Have you ever given in to temptation? Are you a superstitious person? Explain. How do you personally decide what is good and what is evil? What is the difference between greed and ambition? Do you believe “you reap what you sow”? Do you believe our lives are lead by fate or our actions alone?

Rate each statement on a scale of =disagree completely to 10 = agree wholeheartedly Be prepared to explain your reasoning. 1. People who are striving to get ahead often step on other people. 2. Being powerful usually is the same thing as being happy. 3. One mistake can often lead to another. 4. Everyone is capable of murder under the right circumstances. 5. People who are involved in criminal activities can still feel love, fear, and concern for other people.

Macbeth: An overall sketch…

Macbeth is a dark, relentless tale of a man who is accounted a good and brave Scottish general who, encouraged by the dark prophesies of three evil witches and by his own wife, risks all for power.

Shakespeare wrote the play for James I, England's new king, who had been king of Scotland. To please James, Shakespeare set the play in Scotland, used many characters who were James' ancestors, and included witches, a subject that James had written about. The play is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy, probably because King James often fell asleep during performances.

Shakespeare's source for the story of Macbeth was The History and Chronicles of Scotland (1526), written by Hector Boece, a Scottish historian and humanist. (Many scholars question the factual reliability of Boece's work, and point out that Shakespeare took liberties with Macbeth's history for dramatic purposes.)

Macbeth: The HistoricalBackground Macbeth: The Historical Background

The King of England in 1606 was James I, a Stuart. There was no Tudor successor to the throne of England. Therefore, Elizabeth I chose James VI of Scotland to succeed her. After her death in 1603, James VI of Scotland became James I of England. Elizabeth I had been instrumental in the death of her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots, who was beheaded.

On her deathbed, Elizabeth wanted to ease her way into Heaven, so she chose Mary’s son James to become the next King of England. The appointment of James I was a good political move, unifying England and Scotland under one King.

Macbeth: a tribute to King James I Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in 1606, during King James’ reign. King James was a devout advocate of the “Divine Right of Kings.” The setting is Scotland, King James’ homeland. Banquo was an ancestor of James and is shown in the play to be a virtuous person. James believed himself to be an expert on witchcraft. James had an interest in faith healing.

Macbeth: an appeal to Elizabethan people’s interests Shakespeare demonstrated the Elizabethan belief that the country is stable only if the King is good and virtuous. Elizabethans believed that evil occurs in darkness, which is a recurring theme in Macbeth. Shakespeare included a lot of blood and murder, which the Elizabethans expected to see in a play. The play was considered a thriller – a threat to an anointed King and the perceived evil behind the threat

Before the Curtain Opens When the play begins, there are two wars in progress: 1. Civil War - King Duncan vs. Macdonwald’s rebels 2. National War - Scotland, led by King Duncan, against invading Norway, led by King Sweno

Setting King Duncan is the King of Scotland. Edward the Confessor is the King of England. The time period is the eleventh century ( ). Shakespeare used poetic license to bend some of the historical information.

The Scottish Play It is believed to be bad luck to even squeak the word ‘Macbeth’ in a theatre Legend has it you will lose all your friends involved in the production— horribly

Macbeth: The Plot Overview

Macbeth: The Characters

Macbeth: brave general under Duncan Lady Macbeth: wife of Macbeth Macbeth Characters

Macduff: A general, loyal to Duncan. Banquo: Macbeth’s friend and general. Fleance: Banquo’s son.

King Duncan: King of Scotland Malcolm: Duncan’s eldest son Donalbain: Duncan’s youngest son

The three witches: ladies with the power of prophecy Hecate: moon goddess and goddess of the witches, directs supernatural occurrences

Ross: Macduff’s cousin, messenger who carries news to people like Macbeth and Macduff throughout the play. Lennox: A nobleman

Seyton: Macbeth’s lieutenant. Porter: watches Macbeth’s castle Old Siward: Earl of Northumberland, ally of Malcolm and Macduff Young Siward: Old Siward’s son.

The Murderers: A group of ruffians Lady Macduff: Macduff’s wife. The scene in her castle provides our only glimpse of a domestic realm other than that of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.