1. Shakespearean Tragedy and

2. Characteristics of the Shakespearean Tragic Hero
He must be a person of high position
He must be basically a good person.
Because of his position, his actions usually have far­reaching effects.
He must possess a character trait which would normally be a virtue, but which under the special circumstances of the play proves to be a fatal flaw.
Although a great man, he often shows promise of further greatness.

3. The Shakepearean Tragic Hero Cont.
Frequently, he makes serious errors in judgement which lead him to committing the deed which begins his downfall.
He must be ultimately responsible for the deed which begins his downfall.
He usually makes further errors in judgement following his misdeed.
Often he has a distorted perception reality.

4. The Shakespearean Tragic Hero Cont.
He frequently commits further crimes which precipitate his downfall.
He suffers both outwardly (isolation, alienation, attacks) and inwardly (tortured conscience).
He must elicit both pity and fear from the audience (catharsis).
Usually he recognizes his mistakes.
14. He must die

5. The Tragic Flaw The hero leads to his or her own downfall.
Hubris – (also Greek) – Excessive pride
Hamartia – Tragic flaw
Flaw becomes an obsession

6. The Tragic Story
The tragic story leads up to, and includes, the death of the hero.
The suffering and calamities that befalls the hero are unusual and exceptionally disastrous.
3. Shakespeare’s tragic heroes are responsible for the calamity of their falls

7. The Abnormal, The Supernatural, Fate/Fortune/Chance
Shakespeare frequently represents abnormal conditions of mind: insanity, hallucinations etc.
Shakespeare also introduces the supernatural: ghosts and witches who have supernatural knowledge.
Shakespeare allows chance, fate or fortune in some form to influence some of the action.

8. The Tragic Pattern
1. A man of high estate- A king, a prince, a general
2. A flaw of character- Within the first two acts, the reader will become aware of the Tragic Hero’s obsession.
3. Intrusion of time and a sense of urgency- As the inner and outer conflicts intensify, the reader sees the Tragic Hero’s actions snowball to his final demise. (Act 3)

9. The Tragic Pattern Cont.
4. The Tragic Hero operates on what he believes to be the case rather than what he actually knows to be the case. 5. Murder, exile, alienation of enemies and allies- Brought on by new conflicts 6. Gradual Isolation of the Tragic Hero- Brought on by new conflicts, which forces the Tragic Hero to face the responsibility for his actions alone.

10. The Tragic Pattern Cont.
Mobilization of the opposition- The stage will occur when the opposing forces mobilize against the Tragic Hero to bring the tragedy to his conclusion. Generally Act V
Tragic recognition of the Flaw by the Tragic Hero: too late
9. Last courageous attempt to restore lost

11. The Tragic Pattern Cont.
Audience recognizes potential for greatness
Death of the tragic hero
12. Restoration of order

12. Guy Fawkes Former soldier and devout Catholic
Caught in the cellars of Parliament with nearly 1800 pounds of gunpowder on November 5, 1605
If successful, the plot would have not only blown up Parliament and many members of the English aristocracy, but King James I, who would be addressing the general assembly on planned date of detonation.

13. The Gunpowder Plot
Under Protestant James, Catholics were severely persecuted; their faith was deemed a crime.
Fawkes and his co-conspirators (including Robert Catesby and Henry Garnet) wanted to rid England of Protestant James, and install his 9 year-old daughter on the throne, making England a Catholic nation again.
The plan did not succeed: Fawkes was arrested, tortured into confession, and charged with treason and attempted murder.
Fawkes, along with many others, was executed on January 31, 1606.

14. What does this have to do with Macbeth??
Scottish-born James I claimed to trace his linage back to Banquo, a contemporary of the real Macbeth. Having a play set in Scotland would certainly please the Scottish king, especially when it dealt with witches and other things of a dark nature (James was a firm believer in the evils of black magic).
It is widely thought that Shakespeare published Macbeth in order to sooth the king in this time of national turmoil. Shakespeare also took liberties with the character of Banquo, making him more heroic and noble than history claimed him to be.

15. Macbeth Written sometime between 1603-1607
Set in approx AD in Scotland
Macbeth is the Thane (Duke) of Glamis and a captain in King Duncan’s army
Slowly, Macbeth’s lust for power overwhelms his sensibilities
Theme of "fair is foul, foul is fair" – paradoxes of appearance and reality – What’s good is bad, and what’s bad is good.
Blood is mentioned over 100 times in play

16. Settings The action of the play takes place in countryside.
A scene is also set at a castle in England.

17. Character List
Macbeth: protagonist; ambitious army general in Scotland; viewed as a hero at the onset of the play for his success in battle
2. Lady Macbeth: Wife of Macbeth; very persuasive and aggressive in her marriage
3. King Duncan: King of Scotland
4. Malcolm: Oldest son of King Duncan; Prince of Cumberland
5. Donalbain: Youngest son of King Duncan
. Macbeth: protagonist; ambitious army

18. Character List Continued
6. Banquo: Army general; good, loyal friend of Macbeth
7. Three Witches: Hags who can predict the future for Macbeth; also called the weird sisters; Weird is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word wyrd, meaning fate. The three witches are also a reference to the three goddesses of fate (Hesiod).
8. Hecate (Witch 4): Mistress of the witches’ charms and queen of Hades; referred to as the Queen of the witches

19. Character List Continued
9. Macduff: Scottish nobleman and Lord of Fife; known for his wisdom and integrity
10. Lady Macduff: Wife of Macduff
11. Son of Macduff
12. Lennox, Ross, Menteith, Angus, Caithness: Scottish noblemen
13. Fleance: Son of Banquo

20. The Real Macbeth
Macbeth was an 11th Century Scot who took the throne in 1040 after killing King Duncan I, his cousin, in a battle.
The real Macbeth was believed to be a wise monarch who reigned over Scotland for seventeen prosperous years.
In 1057, King Duncan’s oldest son, Malcolm, ended Macbeth’s reign by killing him in battle and assuming the role as King Malcolm III.
monarch who reigned over Scotland for seventeen

21. Witchcraft in Shakespeare’s Day
Many people believed in the power of witches in Shakespeare’s day, especially King James I. In 1591, when he was King of Scotland, King James was almost murdered by a group of witches and sorcerers. Their trial and testimony convinced King James that they were sources of evil (witches).
King James became the King of England in Shakespeare knew very well of King James’s superstition, and he also knew that a play about witchcraft would cause a stir and make a quick buck. Therefore, he wrote Macbeth, a play full of elements of evil!

22. The Curse!

23. The Scottish Play
It is believed to be bad luck to even squeak the word ‘Macbeth’ in a theatre.
Legend has it that horrible things will befall a person who doesn’t honor the curse.
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

24. Fascinating/Disturbing Fact
The words blood and night (or forms of them, such as bloody and tonight) occur more than any other words in Macbeth.
Other commonly occurring words that help maintain the mood of the play are terrible, horrible, black, devil, and evil.