Introduction to Shakespeare’s Macbeth

 Born April 23 rd, 1564  Started out performing with “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men”  Gave him a chance to write a play  Henry IV, Pt. 1- It stunk but they gave him another shot

 Only men were permitted to perform  Boys or effeminate men were used to play the women  Costumes were often the company’s most valuable asset  Costumes were made by the company, bought in London, or donated by courtiers

 1 shilling to stand  2 shillings to sit in the balcony  1 shilling was 10% of their weekly income  Broadway Today:  10% of a teacher’s weekly salary

 Set in Scotland  Written for King James I (formerly of Scotland, now England)  Queen of Denmark (James’s sister) was visiting  Shakespeare researched The Chronicles - Banquo is an ancestor of King James I

Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest tragedy

 Macbeth tumbles madly from its opening to its conclusion. It is a sharp, jagged sketch of theme and character; as such, it has shocked and fascinated audiences for nearly four hundred years.

Macbeth receives a prophecy from a trio of sinister witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. He is consumed by this and murders King Duncan He begins his reign racked with guilt and fear and soon becomes a tyrannical ruler, as he is forced to commit more and more murders to protect himself from enmity and suspicion. The bloodbath swiftly propels Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to arrogance, madness, and death. Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest tragedy

Scottish general Led to wicked thoughts from the three witches Brave soldier Powerful man Easily tempted into murder Once he commits his first crime he embarks on further atrocities with increasing ease Better warrior than political leader Solution to everything: violence and murder Unable to bear the psychological consequences of his atrocities.

Macbeth’s wife Lusts for power and position Seems stronger and more ruthless of the two Urges her husband to kill Duncan and seize the crown She and Macbeth are presented as being deeply in love Violence strengthens their relationship

Plot against Macbeth: charms, spells and prophecies. Their predictions prompt Macbeth to murder and to blindly believe in his own immortality. They take a delight in using their knowledge of the future to toy with and destroy human beings.

Macbeth’s best friend He represents the path Macbeth chose not to take

King of Scotland Macbeth murders him Model of a good leader His death symbolizes the destruction of Scotland

A Scottish General Macbeth murders Macduff’s wife and young son. He eventually becomes a leader of the crusade to unseat Macbeth. Macduff’s wife

 TRAGIC HERO: “ Man of high standard who falls from that high because of a flaw that has affected many ” – Aristotle  Macbeth is one of the most famous examples of the tragic hero.

1. Good guy goes bad 2. Guy wants power 3. Married to a pushy control freak 4. She wants power 5. Kills people- LOTS of people 6. Gets power 7. Gets paranoid (a.k.a. goes crazy) 8. Ticks off a lot of people 9. Want more power! Kill! Kill! Kill! 10. Gets what’s coming to him in the end

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