1. Can one selfish impulse lead to a chain of decisions you will later regret? The Domino Effect how just one action might affect the entire course of your life? Have you ever wondered...

2. You cannot have power for good without having power for evil too. —George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)

3. 1. Shakespeare understood human nature. Critics say that no one better understood human nature. 2. Shakespeare tells us who and what we are and reminds us what man’s actions are capable of. 3. Of all the writers in the world, Shakespeare has received the most attention and acceptance. His plays are performed in almost all languages throughout the world. More criticism has been written about his words than any other writer in history. 4. Shakespeare endures because of his knowledge of the characteristics of human beings, his close observations of the world, and his ability to transmute words into music. 5. His characters live and breathe as actual human beings. They are believable. 6. He dealt with universal issues, fundamental matters that concern all of us. 7. Theaters are built in his honor all over the world—even here in Montgomery, Alabama.

4. Do the supernatural forces plant the evil in Macbeth? OR Is the evil already within him?

5. Duncan, Malcolm Donalbain Macbeth Banquo Macduff Lennox Ross Menteith Angus Caithness Characters King of Scotland } noblemen of Scotland Fleance, son of Banquo Siward, earl of Northumberland, general of the English forces Young Siward, his son Seyton, an officer attending Macbeth Son to Macduff An English Doctor A Scottish Doctor A Porter his sons

6. Characters An Old Man Three Murderers Lady Macbeth Lady Macduff A Gentlewoman attending Lady Macbeth Hecate Witches Apparitions Lords, Officers, Soldiers, Attendants, Messengers Setting: Scotland; England

8. Someone in a high place (ruler, general, noble) whose own flaws and choices feed the downfall or who gets set up by an unscrupulous villain Ambition is a common tragic impetus in the Renaissance, as is love or a conflict of values (as in Hamlet with revenge) Tragic protagonists eventually have to recognize their faults and mistakes or the failure of their willful wrongdoing and accept responsibility for it In most tragedies, there is a point of no return, at which the protagonist is inescapably bound to disaster

9. In a tragedy ill-judged human actions lead to inevitable catastrophe, usually including one or more deaths By contrast, in a comedy the characters can do as they please as long as they amuse the audience the funny mess is easily cleaned up at the end

10. Renaissance tragedies: drama is about real people whose deeds are recorded in history Macbeth was a real king of Scotland (1040-1057) The historical Macbeth had a more legitimate claim to the throne than Shakespeare’s Macbeth does The historical Macbeth also had the support of nobles dissatisfied with King Duncan, and he ruled successfully

11. Shakespeare’s play was written near the time of the Gunpowder Plot (1605) Catholic zealots planned to blow up King James I and his Protestant Parliament King James would be particularly interested in a play about attacks on kings; he claimed he ruled by divine right “ For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft…” –I Samuel 15:23 (King James Version) King James was a Scot and claimed to a descendent of Banquo King James would not sit through long plays—is this why Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s shortest plays?

12. Regarding changes to the historical facts… Scottish king from AD 1040 to AD 1057 Scotland prospered under Macbeth’s rule He appeared to be a good king Shakespeare changed all of that--keep in mind, Shakespeare is more interested in psychology than history Macbeth is “real” in that it’s about real aspects of human nature: temptation, ambition, power, desire, etc.

13. every existing thing in the universe had its "place" in a divinely planned hierarchical order universal interdependence When things were properly ordered, reason ruled the emotions, just as a king ruled his subjects, the parent ruled the child, and the sun governed the planets. But when disorder was present in one realm, it was correspondingly reflected in other realms. all existing things have their precise place and function in the universe, and to depart from one's proper place was to betray one's nature God Angels Man Animals Plants Rocks

14. Human beings, for example, were pictured as placed between the beasts and the angels. To act against human nature by not allowing reason to rule the emotions--was to descend to the level of the beasts. In the other direction, to attempt to go above one's proper place, as Eve did when she was tempted by Satan, was to court disaster. The proscription against trying to rise beyond one's place was of course useful to political rulers, for it helped to reinforce their authority. The implication was that civil rebellion caused the chain to be broken, and according to the doctrine of correspondences, this would have dire consequences in other realms. It was a sin against God, at least wherever rulers claimed to rule by "Divine Right." In Shakespeare, it was suggested that the sin was of cosmic proportions: civil disorders were often accompanied by meteoric disturbances in the heavens.

15. Many thespians simply refer to it as “The Scottish Play” because even to utter the name in a theater is to invite bad luck Some believe the play is cursed because “real” incantations were used in it King James had written a book called Daemonologie which warned against witchcraft(keep in mind the “King James Version” is this king); acccording to legend, Shakespeare used some of the documented incantations from Daemonologie Some believe “real” witches cursed the play and its performers because of this

16. 1672: a real dagger was substituted for the prop, and an actor was killed on stage 1703: on the day of the opening performance, one of the most violent storms in history hit England 1721: the theater was burned down 1865: the play was supposedly Lincoln’s favorite, and apparently he was rereading it the night before his assassination Numerous accidents and deaths have been reported in association with the play, including film versions of it

17. If you utter the name of the play inside a theater… Spit three times Say a curse (or a line from a Shakespearean play, especially Hamlet’s “Angels and ministers of grace defend us”) Leave the theater Turn around and brush yourself off (or spit or break wind) Say “Macbeth” three times Knock and wait for someone to invite you back in

18. Tragic hero Hubris: excessive pride Hamartia: tragic flaw Paradox Aside Soliloquy Blank verse: regular meter but no rhyme Iambic pentameter Tanistry: law of succession by which the heir or successor of a chief or king is appointed during the lifetime of the reigning chief, is not necessarily his oldest son, is generally the worthiest and wisest of the male relatives of the chief, and is elected by the people from among the eligible candidates

19. Note references to the following: “Doubles” Appearance vs. reality Deception Clothing Light and darkness Gender The supernatural and superstition Sleep Blood and water Conscience Storms or stormy weather

20. Ask yourself Does my character shape my destiny? Does my destiny shape my character? Do my witches seek me out because of what I am, or am I this because of my witches? Do I seek them? -The Masks of Macbeth, Marvin Rosenberg

21. Macbeth’s Motivation Is Macbeth a true hero at the beginning, or is he already dangerous, too ambitious, “fallen”? Are the witches’ prophecies surprises, or are they reading his inner desires? Why does he “start”? How much of a struggle is there between good and bad in Macbeth? Does evil win easily or too easily? How does he react to the assassination, the first misdeed? How does that compare to his reactions to the subsequent murders? Why does he switch to using hired killers? What happens to his relationship with Lady Macbeth? Does it change? Why? What is Macbeth’s relationship with the witches? Does it change? How? How does Macbeth face the last challenge, the attack on his castle? Is he courageous or crazed or cynical?

22. Lady Macbeth’s Motivation Have the Macbeths already discussed “getting ahead in the world” or how to do it? Is her response to the witches’ prophecy different in degree or kind than her husband’s? What is her relationship with Macbeth? Who calls the shots when, how, why? Is she a kind of witch or a woman who wants the best for her husband, or…? Why does she insist the assassination be done that very night? Why doesn’t she just kill Duncan herself (do we believe the reasons she states)? When does Lady Macbeth show signs of instability? How? What does this suggest?

23. The Witches Who are the witches? Are they of this world or the next? How do you know? What are the witches’ powers? Are the witches a verbal presence (altogether on the level of thought/idea), or do they take an active role? How does that matter to or affect the action? What is the extent of the witches’ presence? What are the implications of that? If the witches are ugly, malformed, diseased, or disabled, how might that work with their figurative effect on Macbeth?