Elizabethan england macbeth

Elizabethan England

Fun With Will ShakespeareFun With Will Shakespeare

Queen ElizabethQueen Elizabeth Lived from 1533 Lived from 1533 to 1604to 1604

Was loved Was loved by her by her subjectssubjects

Queen ElizabethQueen Elizabeth Was a patron of the Was a patron of the

arts; Shakespeare’s arts; Shakespeare’s company gave several company gave several command command performances for herperformances for her

Wrote Wrote Merry Wives of Merry Wives of WindsorWindsor for her for her featuring her favorite featuring her favorite character, John Falstaff.character, John Falstaff.

•1604 -- James VI of Scotland becomes King James I of England

•Commanded a new translation of the Bible into English; did NOT ask Shakespeare to participate.

Shakespeare wrote a play for James … Macbeth.

James was not impressed and walked out of the first performance, setting into motion what has been called the “Macbeth curse.”

• For the performance, the actor playing Lady Macbeth got sick and Shakespeare himself ended up playing the role for the King.

To this day, actors will not call the play by name, but only refer to it as “that Scottish play.”

If an actor DOES say the play’s name out loud, they are forced to leave the building, turn around three times and spit in order to remove the curse.

William Shakespeare

Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-Born April 23, 1564 in Stratford-on-Avonon-Avon

John Shakespeare, his father, was a tannerJohn Shakespeare, his father, was a tanner Also a member of the town council. He held Also a member of the town council. He held many positions here, including taking care of many positions here, including taking care of revenues and paying bills.revenues and paying bills.

• We don’t know for sure that William attended school in Stratford-on-Avon, but his father was educated and there are references to schools in his plays.

King Edward VI school

Stratford-on-Avon, England

Will’s education• Grammar school in Stratford-on-Avon considered “excellent.”

• started in the “petty” school at age 4 or 5; learned to read and write English

• after 2 years, moved to the upper grades (the ‘grammar’ school) and learned to read and write Latin

• by age 10 or 11, boys are writing their own speeches in Latin; also studying Greek

Married Anne HathawayMarried Anne Hathaway

Had 3 children: Had 3 children: Susanna Susanna Judith Judith

Hamnet Hamnet

(he was 18; she was(he was 18; she was 26)26)

William’s personal life, continuedWilliam’s personal life, continued

Shakespeare’s family

A n ne H a th aw ay1 55 5 (? ) - 1 623

S uzan na1 58 3-1 636

Ju d ith1 58 5-1 625

H a m n et1 58 5-1 595

W illia m S h akesp ea re1 56 4-1 616

Left his family and went to London (around 1592)

Was very successful in his own lifetime

Retired and went back to Stratford-on-Avon

Joined the Lord Chamberlain’s Men

Will’s life, part IIWill’s life, part II

• New Place – William’s retirement home

• Second largest building in Stratford and the only one made of brick.

•Torn down by the last private owner; if he couldn’t have peace there, no one could

Will’s life, part IIIWill’s life, part III

Wrote 37 plays in three genre:Wrote 37 plays in three genre:

Will’s career

• History

• Tragedy

• Comedy

• also wrote 150+ sonnets

William’s deathWilliam’s death

Died April 23, 1616Died April 23, 1616

In his will, he left the house and his In his will, he left the house and his money to Suzanna;money to Suzanna;

to Anne, he left the second-best bedto Anne, he left the second-best bed

Good frend for Jesus sake forebeare, to digg the dust encloased heare,Bleste be ye man yt spares thes stones,And curst be he yt moves my bones.

Shakespeare’s epitaph

Trinity Church, Stratford-on-Avon,

England

Misc. info about Master Will was considered a threat to the language was considered a threat to the language

because he added over 2000 words to our because he added over 2000 words to our vocabularyvocabulary

ignored the unities of time, place and ignored the unities of time, place and action, so critics said he couldn’t write wellaction, so critics said he couldn’t write well

Owned by James & Richard Owned by James & Richard BurbageBurbage

The Lord Chamberlain’s MenThis is the company This is the company Shakespeare joined when he Shakespeare joined when he went to Londonwent to London

$

Company owned Company owned The TheatreThe Theatre

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men

•Actually, they owned the building, Actually, they owned the building, but not the land.but not the land.• Took the timbers they owned Took the timbers they owned and floated them down the and floated them down the Thames River to a new spot.Thames River to a new spot.• Named the new theatre Named the new theatre The The GlobeGlobe..

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men

Later became the King’s Later became the King’s Men -- James I became King Men -- James I became King after Elizabeth and he bought after Elizabeth and he bought the naming rights.the naming rights.

Lord Chamberlain’s MenLord Chamberlain’s Men

Audiences ranged from low Audiences ranged from low class to royaltyclass to royalty

Language of the play Language of the play reflected both parts of his reflected both parts of his audienceaudience

Only men could be Only men could be actorsactors

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre

The Globe then . . .

And now . . .

This sketch was made by DeWitt in a letter sent to a friend. It is actually a picture of the stage of the Swan.

The Globe from across the Thames

New Globe' Company members of the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London assemble for a group picture on the newly completed stage. The theater is a thoroughly researched reproduction of the original 16th Century structure which stood on the same site. The Globe's actor-led company is drawn from Britain and America and will officially open its season with Shakespeare's Henry V on June 14.

The reconstructed stage

Johann Zoffany. David Garrick and Mrs. Pritchard in "Macbeth," 1768.

Oil on canvas, approximately 38.5 x 48.5 inches. Garrick Club, London

Alexandre-Marie Colin. The Three Witches from "Macbeth," 1827.

Steel engraving, approximately 6.5 x 9.5 inches, by C. W. Sharpe. The engraving is from Charles Knight's two-volume Imperial Edition of The Works of Shakespere(London: Virtue and Company, 1873-76).

Alexander Johnston. Macbeth.

Maggie Smith as Lady Macbeth

Sean Bean and Samantha Bond in a 2004 London stage production of Macbeth. Note the modern dress.

Three witches and Macbeth

Clare Swinburne, Alexandra Moen, Jayne McKenna, Sean Bean

Bloody child apparition from Bean/Bond production

Earliest Broadway production May 3, 1768

Orson Welles also did a Broadway production in spring 1936; had 56 perfomances. His most famous Macbeth was a film he made….

Orson Welles as Macbeth – a subtitled movie production he starred in as well as directed

Had expression in silent films:

One made every year for four years:

1st Italians

2nd French

3rd English

4th Americans

There are 28 film versions listed on There are 28 film versions listed on www.imdb.comwww.imdb.com, including:, including:

Throne of BloodThrone of Blood – 1957 Japanese version – 1957 Japanese version by Akiro Kirowsawaby Akiro Kirowsawa

Roman Polanski’s 1971 bloody version Roman Polanski’s 1971 bloody version (seen by some as a reaction to the (seen by some as a reaction to the death of his wife, Sharon Tate)death of his wife, Sharon Tate)

A 1979 version directed by Trevor Nunn A 1979 version directed by Trevor Nunn and starring Ian McKellan and Judi and starring Ian McKellan and Judi DenchDench

Men of RespectMen of Respect (1991)– with John (1991)– with John Tuturro as a mob hitman who gets Tuturro as a mob hitman who gets propheciesprophecies

2003 – a Hindi language Bollywood film, 2003 – a Hindi language Bollywood film, complete with music and dancingcomplete with music and dancing