The Tragedy of Macbeth By William Shakespeare This is a painting of Lady Macbeth done by Henry Fuseli, a Swiss painter ( ). This painting was done in 1784, it is an oil painting on canvas and it is now located in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Lady Macbeth

Background Composition date: c.1606 First performed: 1606 for King James I and Danish guests Published in: First Folio 1623 Shortest Shakespearean Tragedy (1993 lines)

Political Context Protestant Monarch (Elizabeth I) Scottish King (King James) Divine right of Kings

King James I Elizabeth’s successor Welcomed by England and Scotland Scholar Strict Protestant Believed in Witchcraft

Social Context Role of Woman –“Universal Hierarchy” –Primogeniture Mortality Rates –Infection/Diseases –Bubonic Plague ( ; 1603) Life in London –Largest European city (16 th century) –Problems with crowded city –Cultural, political, and social heart of England

The Theatre Located on the South bank of the Thames (Southwark) Performance took place during the day Thought to foster immorality Attempted to avoid city regulations, but still sensored Little scenery; intricate costuming All male companies

The Globe Located on the South bank of the Thames Theater of Shakespeare’s later plays Capacity—About 2,000 Groundlings—paid a penny to stand around the stage Performances at 2:00pm (used natural light) Lasted about 2 hours, no intermission

The Real Macbeth Source for Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Holinshed’s Chronicles of English, Scotland, and Ireland (1577) Deviates from history in order to portray Scotland in a more positive light This is a 3D image done by Riccardo Russi. It represents Macbeth. Macbeth

The Real Macbeth Duncan dies (possibly by Macbeth’s sword) Macbeth elected over Duncan’s son, Malcolm Siward (Earl of Northumbria) attempted to place Malcolm on the throne Malcolm challenged Macbeth for the throne and killed Macbeth

Themes/Symbols Explored Themes –Kingship –Human Nature –Evil –Gender Roles –Disorder of Nature –Reason v. Passion –Supernatural –Ambition Symbols –Blood –Daggers –Weather

Drama Terminology Aside Soliloquy Blank verse Tragedy Tragic Hero Tragic Flaw Imagery Irony (verbal & dramatic) Comic Relief Tragic Recognition Existentialism Stage Directions