MacbethMacbeth“The Scottish Play”“The Scottish Play”

by William Shakespeareby William Shakespeare

Shakespeare BackgroundShakespeare Background

Born 1564Born 1564 Educated at Educated at

Stratford Grammar Stratford Grammar SchoolSchool

Parents John, a Parents John, a glove maker, and glove maker, and Mary (Arden)Mary (Arden)

Married Ann Married Ann Hathaway when he Hathaway when he was 18 and she 26was 18 and she 26

Three children: Three children: Susanna, Judith Susanna, Judith and Hamnetand Hamnet

Shakespeare’s Grammar School Shakespeare’s Grammar School in Stratford-Upon-Avonin Stratford-Upon-Avon

Shakespeare BackgroundShakespeare BackgroundContinued…Continued…

Moved to London to be Moved to London to be come an actor and come an actor and playwrightplaywright

During plague During plague outbreaks, he wrote outbreaks, he wrote poetry.poetry.

In 1599 he built and In 1599 he built and became a partner in the became a partner in the Globe Theater.Globe Theater.

He wrote 37 plays and He wrote 37 plays and 154 Sonnets154 Sonnets

Member of the Lord Member of the Lord Chamberlin’s men which Chamberlin’s men which became the King’s men became the King’s men when Elizabeth the first when Elizabeth the first died, and James the I died, and James the I took the throne.took the throne.

Shakespeare died April Shakespeare died April 23, 1616 at the age of 5223, 1616 at the age of 52

Shakespeare’s Family Tree

Shakespeare’s Coat of ArmsShakespeare’s Coat of ArmsMotto: Not without reasonMotto: Not without reason

The TheaterThe Theater•Only men were permitted to perform

•Boys or effeminate men were used to play the women

•Costumes were often the company’s most valuable asset

•Costumes were made by the company, bought in London, or donated by courtiers

The Theater Continued…The Theater Continued…

1 shilling to 1 shilling to standstand

2 shillings to sit 2 shillings to sit in the balconyin the balcony

1 shilling was 1 shilling was 10% of their 10% of their weekly incomeweekly income

Broadway Today:Broadway Today: $85 Orchestra$85 Orchestra $60 Balcony$60 Balcony 10% of a middle-10% of a middle-

class salaryclass salary

Set in ScotlandSet in Scotland Written for King Written for King

James I (formerly James I (formerly of Scotland, now of Scotland, now England)England)

Shakespeare Shakespeare researched researched The The ChroniclesChronicles - - Banquo is an Banquo is an ancestor of King ancestor of King James IJames I

Shakespeare's sources for the tragedy Shakespeare's sources for the tragedy are the accounts of are the accounts of King Macbeth of ScotlandKing Macbeth of Scotland, , MacduffMacduff, and , and DuncanDuncan in in Holinshed's ChroniclesHolinshed's Chronicles (1587), (1587), a history of England, Scotland and a history of England, Scotland and Ireland familiar to Shakespeare and his Ireland familiar to Shakespeare and his contemporaries. However, the story of contemporaries. However, the story of Macbeth as told by Shakespeare bears Macbeth as told by Shakespeare bears no relation to real events in Scottish no relation to real events in Scottish history as Macbeth was an admired and history as Macbeth was an admired and able monarch.able monarch.

Macbeth Continued…Macbeth Continued…

King Duncan of ScotlandKing Duncan of ScotlandMurdered by cousin MacbethMurdered by cousin MacbethHonest and goodHonest and good

Malcolm & DonalbainMalcolm & DonalbainSons of the KingSons of the KingMalcolm is the eldest sonMalcolm is the eldest son

MacbethMacbethDuncan’s most courageous generalDuncan’s most courageous generalAmbition to become king corrupts Ambition to become king corrupts

him causing him to murder Duncanhim causing him to murder Duncan

BanquoBanquo General and Macbeth’s best friendGeneral and Macbeth’s best friend Suspects Macbeth in Duncan’s murder Suspects Macbeth in Duncan’s murder An actual ancestor of King James IAn actual ancestor of King James I

Lady MacbethLady Macbeth As ambitious as her husbandAs ambitious as her husband A dark force behind his evil deedsA dark force behind his evil deeds

MacduffMacduff Scottish general, suspects Macbeth of Scottish general, suspects Macbeth of

murdering the kingmurdering the king Macbeth has his family murderedMacbeth has his family murdered Swears vengeanceSwears vengeance

““The Scottish Play”The Scottish Play”

It is believed to It is believed to be bad luck to be bad luck to even squeak even squeak the word the word ‘Macbeth’ in a ‘Macbeth’ in a theatretheatre

Legend has it Legend has it you will lose all you will lose all your friends your friends involved in the involved in the production--production--horriblyhorribly

The Tragic HeroThe Tragic Hero

Def. “Def. “Man of high standard Man of high standard who falls from that high who falls from that high because of a flaw that has because of a flaw that has affected manyaffected many” - Aristotle” - Aristotle

Macbeth is one of the most Macbeth is one of the most famous examples of the famous examples of the tragic hero.tragic hero.

Macbeth in a nut shell…Macbeth in a nut shell… Good guy goes badGood guy goes bad Guy wants powerGuy wants power Married to a pushy Married to a pushy

control freakcontrol freak She wants powerShe wants power Kills people- Kills people- LOTS LOTS

of peopleof people Gets powerGets power Gets paranoid Gets paranoid

(a.k.a. goes crazy)(a.k.a. goes crazy) Ticks off a lot of Ticks off a lot of

peoplepeople Want more power! Want more power!

Kill! Kill!Kill! Kill! Gets what’s coming Gets what’s coming

to him in the endto him in the end

Macbeth as performed by The Macbeth as performed by The Lord Chamberlin’s men~ Lord Chamberlin’s men~

Stratford-Upon-Avon 2005Stratford-Upon-Avon 2005

Macbeth as performed by The Macbeth as performed by The Lord Chamberlin’s men~ Lord Chamberlin’s men~

Stratford-Upon-Avon 2005Stratford-Upon-Avon 2005