1. The Historical Context of MACBETH

2. Characters and Their Relationships
King Duncan of Scotland |
Malcolm Donalbain
Macbeth -m-Lady Macbeth Macduff –m- Lady Macduff
Baby Boy
Banquo
Fleance
Nobleman
General
General
The Weird Sisters

3. A Tragedy of Ambition
Macbeth was one of Shakespeare’s last and greatest tragedies. It deals with power and how it can be used for good but can also be a corrupting force. Some examples of power in the play:
The power of a ruler
The power of women.
The power of supernatural forces.
The power of fate.

4. The Real Macbeth
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5. The Real Macbeth
England and Scotland were separate countries until In Scotland, kings were elected and often a dying king would appoint who would become the next king. Duncan and Macbeth were cousins and when their grandfather, King Malcolm II, died, he appointed Duncan as king. However, Duncan was a poor ruler and was later overthrown by his cousin, Macbeth. There is no record of who, in fact, killed Duncan.

6. The Real Macbeth
The Macbeth of the history books ruled Scotland in comparative peace for 17 years. Later, Duncan’s son, Malcolm, returned to Scotland from England where he had spent his childhood and regained the throne.

7. The Real Macbeth
There is no record of who actually killed Macbeth, but in the 14th century a figure named Macduff appeared and was credited with slaying Macbeth. Though this was probably not true, because Macduff was in support of English ideas and because he was rumored to have been an ancestor of the English Tudor line, it was prudent to paint him in a good light. Shakespeare borrowed from these historical facts and myths to write his play.

8. The Real Lady Macbeth
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9. The Real Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth was also a real person in 11th century Scotland. Her name, though her name is never mentioned in the play, was Gruoch. She also came from a long line of kings and a marriage with her would have been beneficial to secure power. It is possible that she ruled alongside her husband, as women in Scotland could own property, be elected chieftain, and lead troops into battle. Though her portrayal in the play may not be entirely accurate, it is safe to say that she was a strong woman and effective leader.

10. The Gunpowder Treason
“Remember, remember the 5th of November.”

11. Why would Shakespeare have written macbeth when he did?
In 1605, the year before Macbeth was performed, a plot to blow up parliament was discovered. Led by Guy Fawkes, a group of Catholic extremists were attempting to de-stabilize the protestant government. The “Gunpowder Plot” was discovered, and the offenders were executed, but it still left England feeling unsure and wary of political unrest. This may have been part of the reason Shakespeare wrote a play that is centered on power and ambition.

12. Witchcraft

13. Witchcraft
The appearance of the “Weird Sisters” in Macbeth also points out a cultural phenomena of the 17th century. During this time, the threat of witches was taken very seriously and considered to be highly probable. Laws were passed against witchcraft in England, and one could even be executed for being found guilty. Shakespeare borrowed from this idea and also from Greek mythology to create the witches in the play.