The Tragedy of MacbethWilliam Shakespeare

Introduction

Background

Discussion Starters

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The Tragedy of MacbethWilliam Shakespeare

Be careful what you wish for.

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction

and then those predictions started coming true?

What would you do if you encountered three strange women who predicted your future

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction

Suppose the women predicted that you would become a powerful ruler someday.

Would you want to wait to see if this came true?

Or would you want to make it come true?

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction

As The Tragedy of Macbeth opens, the Scottish army is battling invading forces

Scotland

and King Duncan wants a victory.

Norwegian forces

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction

Macbeth fights ferociously

King Duncan is impressed.

killing the traitor Macdonwald and planting Macdonwald’s

head on the castle battlements.

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction

While crossing the stormy countryside after the battle, Macbeth and Banquo encounter a trio of witches.

Double, double, toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction

The weird sisters make these predictions:

Then, the witches vanish, and a messenger appears to tell Macbeth that King Duncan has just given him a noble title.

•Macbeth will earn noble titles.

•Banquo will produce a line of kings.

•Macbeth will be King of Scotland.

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction

All Macbeth can think about is the sisters’ final prophecy …

And the thought that he might become king.

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction

His wife, the ambitious Lady Macbeth longs for

She’ll do anything to make her husband king.

•power

•high position

•wealth

•prestige

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Introduction

She just may get her chance. King Duncan decides to visit Macbeth’s castle.

Will the king live to rule another day?

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background

William Shakespeare wrote more than 36 plays and 150 poems in his lifetime. He is considered the most influential writer in English literature.

More than four hundred years later, his works still influence

•movies

•video games•TV shows•music

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background

In the tragedy Macbeth, Shakespeare explores the damaging nature of overwhelming ambition and greed.

It is the shortest of Shakespeare’s tragedies, and includes this simple message: “Thou shalt not kill.”

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background

Before Shakespeare’s time, troupes of actors traveled the countryside, to perform

courtshalls

in parks

courtyards

and in other open spaces they could find.

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background

In 1576, the first playhouse, called The Theater, was built outside London’s city walls. Soon other famous London theaters followed.

•the Rose

•the Swan

•the Globe Theater

•the Fortune

•the Red Bull

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Background

Now drama could be a permanent experience for theater crowds, rather than a traveling show.

main stage

actors

covered seats

cheap standing room

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Discussion Starters

Discuss (1)

• Shakespeare’s works are just as popular today as they were in his lifetime. Why do you think these stories are still so admired and imitated 400 years later?

• Shakespeare’s writing works as well on the stage as it does on the written page. Why? Do you think that acting out a story on stage adds to its emotional effect?

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Discussion Starters

Discuss (2)

Macbeth and his wife are overwhelmed with ambition, so they plot to steal the throne of Scotland.

• Which character is more willing to do evil? Why? Do you think they will suffer a price for their actions?

• Do you think Shakespeare means for this story to be a cautionary tale, or warning? How?