Shakespeare’s
A Classic Tragedy
Elements of a Tragedy
• Main character (tragic hero) has a fatal character flaw
• This flaw leads to the character’s downfall or death
A true story?•Shakespeare used historical accounts of real people such as Macbeth when writing many of his plays.
•However, he changed many facts of history to create more interesting stories.
Setting: Medieval Scotland
• Scotland’s King Duncan lives in Glamis Castle.
• The castle was the childhood home of England’s Queen Mother (Prince Charles’ grandma).
• Glamis is reputed to have several ghosts.
Scotland’s Royalty
M alco lme ld es t son o f D u n canP rin ce o f C u m b erlan d
B an q u oTh an e o f L och ab er
M acb e thTh an e o f G lam isTh an e o f C aw d or
M acd u ffTh an e o f F ife
O th er Th an es :R oss , L en n ox,
M en te ith , A n g u s &C a ith n ess
K in g D u n canK in g o f S co tlan d
D on a lb a inyou n g es t son o f D u n can
Female Characters
Lady Macbeth Macbeth’s wife
Lady MacDuff Macduff’s wife
Three Witches
Opening Battle Scene
• Norwegians attacking Scotland• Norway led by Macdonwald and the
King of Norway• Norway being assisted by the Thane of
Cawdor (a Scottish nobleman)• Scottish troops led by the Thane of
Glamis (Macbeth) & Thane of Lochaber (Banquo)
Witchcraft• Many people in
Shakespeare’s day believed in witches.
• King James I, who financially supported Shakespeare’s theater, wrote a book about witches.
• In literature, “fate” is often represented as three old women (Weird Sisters); “wyrd” or weird meant fate or destiny.
Common Beliefs about Witches• Beards on women identified them as
witches • Agents of the devil• Had demon companions who appeared in
animal form (cats & toads)• Blamed for killing farm animals• Could create havoc but could not kill
humans• Nine is a magical number.
Themes
• Great ambition ultimately brings ruin.
• All things are not as they appear.
• “Fair is foul and foul is fair.”
Now enjoy one of Shakespeare’s greatest (and shortest) plays!
Literary Terms
• Aside—private words that a character in a play speaks to the audience or to another character, which are not supposed to be overheard by others on stage
• Blank verse—poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter
• Foil—a character who sets off another character by sharp contrast
• Soliloquy—a long speech in which a character who is usually alone onstage expresses his or her private thoughts or feelings.
• Tragic flaw—an error in judgment or character weakness that leads to a character’s downfall
