BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV What is there about Shakespeare that would interest a contemporary American? Why do we read this?  If being a “contemporary American” means being focused on dirty TV sitcoms, greed, casual sex, big- money sports, televangelism, professional wrestling, crybabies, slot machines, political action committees, and “war on drugs” profiteering, then the answer is probably “Nothing.”  If a contemporary American can still ask, “Is life just a meaningless exercise in status-seeking, or is there anything to give us hope that morality is real?” -- then the answer is maybe that Shakespeare deals with basic human issues.  If being a “contemporary American” means being focused on dirty TV sitcoms, greed, casual sex, big- money sports, televangelism, professional wrestling, crybabies, slot machines, political action committees, and “war on drugs” profiteering, then the answer is probably “Nothing.”  If a contemporary American can still ask, “Is life just a meaningless exercise in status-seeking, or is there anything to give us hope that morality is real?” -- then the answer is maybe that Shakespeare deals with basic human issues.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV WITCHES TREACHERY MURDER BLOOD FAITHLESSNESS DECEPTION AMBITION WITCHES TREACHERY MURDER BLOOD FAITHLESSNESS DECEPTION AMBITION

Macbeth A tragedy By William Shakespeare A tragedy By William Shakespeare

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV The Rise and Fall of a Great Man

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV  The Scottish Play is based loosely on an episode from history, the death of King Duncan at the hands of his kinsman Macbeth.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV Source of the play  Shakespeare's source for his story is Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (1577)

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV  Written between  Performed at the Globe Theatre, London  Published in the First Folio of 1623  Written between  Performed at the Globe Theatre, London  Published in the First Folio of 1623

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV Notes  Full title: The Tragedy of Macbeth  Genre: Tragedy  Setting (time): 11th century  Setting (place): Scotland, and briefly, England  Protagonist: Macbeth  Major Conflicts: Macbeth struggles with his conscience (before and after murder); evil (Macbeth and Lady Macbeth); struggles with good (Malcolm and Macduff)  Full title: The Tragedy of Macbeth  Genre: Tragedy  Setting (time): 11th century  Setting (place): Scotland, and briefly, England  Protagonist: Macbeth  Major Conflicts: Macbeth struggles with his conscience (before and after murder); evil (Macbeth and Lady Macbeth); struggles with good (Malcolm and Macduff)

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV Historical Connection  Scotland at the time was a violent and troubled country  The castle was the center of each rival aristocrat’s (thane) power  Political murder and revenge were not unusual means to gain power  Plundering Vikings and Norsemen attacked Scotland constantly  Scotland at the time was a violent and troubled country  The castle was the center of each rival aristocrat’s (thane) power  Political murder and revenge were not unusual means to gain power  Plundering Vikings and Norsemen attacked Scotland constantly

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV  The play is the shortest of Shakespeare's tragedies, without diversions or subplots.  It chronicles Macbeth's seizing of power and subsequent destruction.  It is considered Shakespeare ’ s darkest work.  His rise and fall are the result of blind ambition.  The play is the shortest of Shakespeare's tragedies, without diversions or subplots.  It chronicles Macbeth's seizing of power and subsequent destruction.  It is considered Shakespeare ’ s darkest work.  His rise and fall are the result of blind ambition.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV  Macbeth was intended to stir the interest of the new king, James I.  The play's focus on regicide, a supreme crime in Shakespeare's day, tied into the November 1605 Gunpowder Plot where English Roman Catholic conspirators plotted  Macbeth was intended to stir the interest of the new king, James I.  The play's focus on regicide, a supreme crime in Shakespeare's day, tied into the November 1605 Gunpowder Plot where English Roman Catholic conspirators plotted to blow up Parliament, King James, his queen and oldest son.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV Importance of Patronage  The play pays tribute to the interests and knowledge of King James. With patronage, a writer composes one of his works for a king, queen or another rich person for continued support.  This play compliments James by making Banquo, who is said to be his ancestor, a hero in the play. Historically, Banquo never existed.  The play pays tribute to the interests and knowledge of King James. With patronage, a writer composes one of his works for a king, queen or another rich person for continued support.  This play compliments James by making Banquo, who is said to be his ancestor, a hero in the play. Historically, Banquo never existed.  Macbeth focuses on issues of kinship and loyalty, important ideals to King James, who had survived an assassination attempt early in his life. His father had been murdered. His mother, Mary Queen of Scots, had been executed.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV  The questions of the role of the monarch and the duties of their subjects toward them were of major importance to King James.  A story suggests that King James wrote a letter of acknowledgment about the play to Shakespeare.  Shakespeare’s England, the political issue of succession and order were of major importance.  Belief in witchcraft was widespread.  In 1604, the practice of witchcraft became punishable by death because it was believed that it attempted to change God’s natural order.  The questions of the role of the monarch and the duties of their subjects toward them were of major importance to King James.  A story suggests that King James wrote a letter of acknowledgment about the play to Shakespeare.  Shakespeare’s England, the political issue of succession and order were of major importance.  Belief in witchcraft was widespread.  In 1604, the practice of witchcraft became punishable by death because it was believed that it attempted to change God’s natural order.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV The Historical Macbeth  Born in 1005 to a family that ruled Moray and Ross  He married Gruach, granddaughter to a High King of Scotland; no children  No historical evidence of Lady Macbeth’s influence on her husband  Duncan, an ineffective king, was 38 when he was killed, possibly by Macbeth  Macbeth ruled for 17 years, elected High King of Scotland in For the first 10 years, this competent king reformed the country.  Led Scotland in a long period of peace and stability  Born in 1005 to a family that ruled Moray and Ross  He married Gruach, granddaughter to a High King of Scotland; no children  No historical evidence of Lady Macbeth’s influence on her husband  Duncan, an ineffective king, was 38 when he was killed, possibly by Macbeth  Macbeth ruled for 17 years, elected High King of Scotland in For the first 10 years, this competent king reformed the country.  Led Scotland in a long period of peace and stability

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV Historical Macbeth  No evidence of attention to witchcraft  Strong supporter of the church  Duncan’s son Malcolm invaded Scotland in 1054, supported by the English King Edward the Confessor  No evidence of attention to witchcraft  Strong supporter of the church  Duncan’s son Malcolm invaded Scotland in 1054, supported by the English King Edward the Confessor  Macbeth was killed on Aug. 15, 1057  Buried at Iona, the sacred burial place of the kings of Scotland

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV Theme  The play is seen as a tale of dangers of the lust for power and betrayal of friends.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV Inside the theater  Actors often consider the play to be unlucky, and usually refer to it as “ the Scottish play ” rather than by name. To say the name of the play inside a theatre is considered to doom the production to failure.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV Recurring motifs (patterns)  Blood  Clothing  Natural order (nature)  Insomnia  Blood  Clothing  Natural order (nature)  Insomnia These are examples of test ‘questions’

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV What to Watch For what Macbeth is thinking and feeling, why he acts the way he does, and what consequences his evil brings about upon himself what Macbeth is thinking and feeling, why he acts the way he does, and what consequences his evil brings about upon himself

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV At the Start of the Play  Macbeth is a very successful and highly respected member of a social group, loaded with honors and enjoying every prospect of future commendations. He has a loving wife and a secure home in his castle at Inverness. He is praised for his heroic actions in defense of the kingdom. King Duncan thinks of Macbeth with high regard and treats him generously.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV At the End of the Play  Macbeth is totally alone. He has no friends, he is universally despised, and all his most eager hopes have been disappointed. He is a man without a place in the social community. He has become totally isolated.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV Why?  Because of his own free decisions!  He destroys himself.  Because of his own free decisions!  He destroys himself.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV Main Characters: MacBeth  Macbeth: Macbeth is a Scottish general and the thane of Glamis who is led to wicked thoughts by the prophecies of the three witches, especially after their prophecy that he will be made thane of Cawdor comes true. Macbeth is a brave soldier and a powerful man, but he is not a virtuous one. He is easily tempted into murder to fulfill his ambitions to the throne, and once he commits his first crime and is crowned King of Scotland, he embarks on further atrocities with increasing ease.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV Lady MacBeth  Macbeth’s wife, a deeply ambitious woman who lusts for power and position. Early in the play she seems to be the stronger and more ruthless of the two, as she urges her husband to kill Duncan and seize the crown. After the bloodshed begins, however, Lady Macbeth falls victim to guilt and madness to an even greater degree than her husband.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV The Three Witches  Three “black and midnight hags” who plot mischief against Macbeth using charms, spells, and prophecies. Their predictions prompt him to murder Duncan, to order the deaths of Banquo and his son, and to blindly believe in his own immortality. The play leaves the witches’ true identity unclear—aside from the fact that they are servants of Hecate, we know little about their place in the cosmos.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV Banquo  The brave, noble general whose children, according to the witches’ prophecy, will inherit the Scottish throne. Like Macbeth, Banquo thinks ambitious thoughts, but he does not translate those thoughts into action. In a sense, Banquo’s character stands as a rebuke to Macbeth, since he represents the path Macbeth chose not to take: a path in which ambition need not lead to betrayal and murder.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV King Duncan  The good King of Scotland whom Macbeth, in his ambition for the crown, murders. Duncan is the model of a virtuous, benevolent, and farsighted ruler. His death symbolizes the destruction of an order in Scotland that can be restored only when Duncan’s line, in the person of Malcolm, once more occupies the throne.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV MacDuff  A Scottish nobleman hostile to Macbeth’s kingship from the start. He eventually becomes a leader of the crusade to unseat Macbeth. The crusade’s mission is to place the rightful king, Malcolm, on the throne, but Macduff also desires vengeance for Macbeth’s murder of Macduff’s wife and young son.

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV Malcolm  The son of Duncan, whose restoration to the throne signals Scotland’s return to order following Macbeth’s reign of terror. Malcolm becomes a serious challenge to Macbeth with Macduff’s aid (and the support of England).

BURKETT – BRITISH LITERATURE ENGLISH IV Other Characters  Hecate: The goddess of witchcraft, who helps the three witches work their mischief on Macbeth.  Fleance: Banquo’s son, who survives Macbeth’s attempt to murder him. At the end of the play, Fleance’s whereabouts are unknown  Lennox: A scottish nobleman  Ross: another scottish nobleman  The Murderers: a group of ruffians conscripted by macbeth to murder banquo  Porter: the drunken doorman of Macbeth’s castle  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  Donalbain: Duncan’s son and Malcolm’s younger brother  Hecate: The goddess of witchcraft, who helps the three witches work their mischief on Macbeth.  Fleance: Banquo’s son, who survives Macbeth’s attempt to murder him. At the end of the play, Fleance’s whereabouts are unknown  Lennox: A scottish nobleman  Ross: another scottish nobleman  The Murderers: a group of ruffians conscripted by macbeth to murder banquo  Porter: the drunken doorman of Macbeth’s castle  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  Donalbain: Duncan’s son and Malcolm’s younger brother

As we get to know Macbeth … Realize that the struggle over morality and power can be shockingly real. If you were placed in the same situation, with the same opportunity to be able to control and rule the environment you maintain everyday…would you do it? Would you be able to sacrifice everything in your life for immense power and success? Just some things to think about… Realize that the struggle over morality and power can be shockingly real. If you were placed in the same situation, with the same opportunity to be able to control and rule the environment you maintain everyday…would you do it? Would you be able to sacrifice everything in your life for immense power and success? Just some things to think about…