Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Macbeth

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

What is there about Shakespeare

that would interest

a contemporary American?

Why do we read this?

If being a “contemporary American” means being

focused on dirty TV sitcoms, greed, casual sex, big-money sports, televangelism, professional wrestling, crybabies, slot machines, political action committees, and “war on drugs” profiteering, then the answer is probably “Nothing.”

If a contemporary American can still ask, “Is life just a meaningless exercise in status-seeking, or is there anything to give us hope that morality is real?” -- then the answer is maybe that Shakespeare deals with basic human issues.

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

WITCHES

TREACHERY

MURDER

BLOOD

FAITHLESSNESS

DECEPTION

AMBITION

Macbeth

A tragedy

By William

Shakespeare

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

The

Rise

and

Fall

of a

Great

Man

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

The Scottish Play is based

loosely on an episode from

history, the death of King

Duncan at the hands of his

kinsman Macbeth.

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Source of the play

Shakespeare's

source for his

story is

Raphael

Holinshed's

Chronicles

of England,

Scotland and

Ireland (1577)

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Written between

1604-1606

Performed

at the Globe

Theatre,

London

Published in the

First Folio of

1623

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Notes

Full title: The Tragedy of Macbeth

Genre: Tragedy

Setting (time): 11th century

Setting (place): Scotland, and briefly,

England

Protagonist: Macbeth

Major Conflicts: Macbeth struggles

with his conscience (before and after

murder); evil (Macbeth and Lady

Macbeth); struggles with good

(Malcolm and Macduff)

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Historical Connection

Scotland at the time was a

violent and troubled country

The castle was the center of

each rival aristocrat’s (thane)

power

Political murder and

revenge were not

unusual means to gain

power

Plundering Vikings

and Norsemen attacked

Scotland constantly

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

The play is the shortest of Shakespeare's tragedies, without diversions or subplots.

It chronicles Macbeth's seizing of power and subsequent destruction.

It is considered Shakespeare’s darkest work.

His rise and fall are the result of blind ambition.

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Macbeth was intended to stir the interest of

the new king, James I.

The play's focus on regicide, a supreme

crime in Shakespeare's day, tied into the

November 1605 Gunpowder Plot where

English Roman Catholic conspirators plotted to blow up

Parliament,

King James,

his queen

and oldest

son.

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Importance of Patronage The play pays tribute to the interests and knowledge of

King James. With patronage, a writer composes one of his

works for a king, queen or another rich person for

continued support.

This play compliments James by making Banquo, who is

said to be his ancestor, a hero in the play. Historically,

Banquo never existed. Macbeth focuses on issues of kinship and

loyalty, important ideals to King James, who

had survived an assassination attempt early in

his life. His father had been murdered. His

mother, Mary Queen of Scots, had been

executed.

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

The questions of the role of the monarch and the duties of their subjects toward them were of major importance to King James.

A story suggests that King James wrote a letter of acknowledgment about the play to Shakespeare.

Shakespeare’s England, the political issue of succession and order were of major importance.

Belief in witchcraft was widespread.

In 1604, the practice of witchcraft became punishable by death because it was believed that it attempted to change God’s natural order.

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

The Historical Macbeth

Born in 1005 to a family that ruled Moray and Ross

He married Gruach, granddaughter to a High King of Scotland; no children

No historical evidence of Lady Macbeth’s influence on her husband

Duncan, an ineffective king, was 38 when he was killed, possibly by Macbeth

Macbeth ruled for 17 years, elected High King of Scotland in 1040. For the first 10 years, this competent king reformed the country.

Led Scotland in a long period of peace and stability

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Historical Macbeth

No evidence of attention to witchcraft

Strong supporter of the church

Duncan’s son Malcolm invaded Scotland in

1054, supported by the English King

Edward the Confessor

Macbeth was killed on

Aug. 15, 1057

Buried at Iona, the

sacred burial place of the

kings of Scotland

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Theme

The play is

seen as a

tale of

dangers of

the lust for

power and

betrayal of

friends.

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Inside the

theater

Actors often consider the play to be unlucky, and usually refer to it as “the Scottish play” rather than by name. To say the name of the play inside a theatre is considered to doom the production to failure.

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Recurring motifs

(patterns)

Blood

Clothing

Natural order

(nature)

Insomnia

These are

examples of test

‘questions’

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

What to Watch For

what Macbeth is thinking and

feeling,

why he acts the way he does,

and what consequences his evil

brings about upon himself

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

At the Start of the Play

Macbeth is a very successful and highly

respected member of a social group,

loaded with honors and enjoying every

prospect of future commendations . He

has a loving wife and a secure home in his

castle at Inverness. He is praised for his

heroic actions in defense of the kingdom.

King Duncan thinks of Macbeth with high

regard and treats him generously.

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

At the End of the Play

Macbeth is totally alone. He has no friends, he is universally despised, his wife is dead, and all his most eager hopes have been disappointed. He is a man without a place in the social community. He has become totally isolated.

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Why?

Because

of his own

free

decisions!

He destroys

himself.

As we get to know Macbeth …

In-class reading points:

You are starting this unit with 25 on-task reading points. You will keep these points by participating in the reading

and paying attention to the lessons.

How can you lose these points?

That would include doing other classwork/homework, sleeping, not paying attention, passing notes, etc.

These points are non-negotiable. Rather than losing momentum in the reading, I will simply write your name down as you lose daily points. If you have any questions about your point allocation, you may ask me at the end

of the period. I will not reassign points, but you will know if you are keeping them.

Questions? Problems? Just pay attention, and these will be free points for you – in addition to your better

understanding of the storyline.

P.S. If you sleep even once, you work alone on the partner test. Stay awake to work with a partner.