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Introduct ion to Shakespea re’s

Introduction to Shakespeare’s Macbeth

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Introduction to Shakespeare’s Macbeth. William Shakespeare's World. To be, or not to be, that is the question. This above all, to thine own self be true. William. The Man That Would Be Shakespeare. Born April 23 rd , 1564 Started out performing with “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men” - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

Introduction to

Shakespeare’s

Macbeth

Page 2: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth
Page 3: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

The Man That Would Be Shakespeare

Born April 23rd, 1564

Started out performing with “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men”

Gave him a chance to write a play

Henry IV, Pt. 1- It stunk but they gave him another shot

Page 4: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

Many playwrights with nowhere to “play”

Barn turned into theatre (Yea!)

Puritans burn it down (Evil theatre! Boo!)

Globe built! (Yea!)Globe burns (sniff,

darn cannon!)Globe rebuilt!

(Yea!)Globe burns

(Dang that Fire of London!)

Reconstructed in the 1990’s

Page 5: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

When in a play...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

Page 6: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

The Cost of a Show1 shilling to

stand2 shillings to sit

in the balcony1 shilling was

10% of their weekly income

Broadway Today: 10% of a teacher’s weekly salary

Page 7: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

Set in ScotlandWritten for King

James I (formerly of Scotland, now England)

Queen of Denmark (James’s sister) was visiting

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

Page 8: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

MacbethShakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest tragedy

Page 9: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

Macbeth tumbles madly from its opening to its

conclusion. It is a sharp, jagged sketch of theme and character; as such,

it has shocked and fascinated audiences for

nearly four hundred years.

Page 10: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

•Macbeth receives a prophecy from a trio of sinister witches that one day he will become King of Scotland.

• He is consumed by this and murders King Duncan

• He begins his reign racked with guilt and fear and soon becomes a tyrannical ruler, as he is forced to commit more and more murders to protect himself from enmity and suspicion.

• The bloodbath swiftly propels Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to arrogance, madness, and death.

Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest tragedy

Page 11: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

The Characters

Page 12: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

Macbeth 

• Scottish general• Led to wicked thoughts from the three

witches• Brave soldier • Powerful man• Easily tempted into murder• Once he commits his first crime he

embarks on further atrocities with increasing ease

• Better warrior than political leader• Solution to everything: violence and

murder• Unable to bear the psychological

consequences of his atrocities.

Page 13: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

Lady Macbeth 

• Macbeth’s wife• Lusts for power and position• Seems stronger and more ruthless of the two

• Urges her husband to kill Duncan and seize the crown

• She and Macbeth are presented as being deeply in love

• Violence strengthens their relationship

Page 14: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

The Three Witches 

• Plot against Macbeth: charms, spells and prophecies.

• Their predictions prompt Macbeth to murder and to blindly believe in his own immortality.

• They take a delight in using their knowledge of the future to toy with and destroy human beings.

Page 15: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

Banquo 

• Macbeth’s best friend • He represents the path Macbeth chose not to take

Page 16: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

King Duncan

• King of Scotland

• Macbeth murders him

• Model of a good leader • His death symbolizes the destruction

of Scotland

Page 17: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

Macduff 

• A Scottish General

• Macbeth murders Macduff’s wife and young son.

• He eventually becomes a leader of the crusade to unseat Macbeth. Lady Macduff

•  Macduff’s wife

Page 18: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth
Page 19: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

The Scottish PlayIt is believed to be bad luck to even squeak the word ‘Macbeth’ in a theatre

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

MORE ON THAT LATER...

Page 20: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth
Page 21: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

TRAGIC HERO: “Man of high standard who falls from that high because of a flaw that has affected many” – Aristotle

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

Page 22: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

So what really happens?

1. Good guy goes bad2. Guy wants power3. Married to a pushy control freak4. She wants power5. Kills people- LOTS of people6. Gets power7. Gets paranoid (a.k.a. goes crazy)8. Ticks off a lot of people9. Want more power! Kill! Kill! Kill!10.Gets what’s coming to him in the

end

Page 23: Introduction to Shakespeare’s  Macbeth

Dramatic Introduction to Macbeth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WczOqCy_Mnk