Be careful what you wish for… Macbeth Be careful what you wish for…

Macbeth: An Introduction Macbeth is among the best-known of William Shakespeare’s plays. Next to Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet, anyway Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy. Believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606.

Macbeth: An Introduction Often regarded as archetypal, the play tells of the dangers of the lust for power and the betrayal of friends.

As The Tragedy of Macbeth opens, the Scottish army is battling invading forces Norwegian forces Scotland and King Duncan wants a victory.

Macbeth fights ferociously killing the traitor Macdonwald and planting Macdonwald’s head on the castle battlements. King Duncan is impressed.

While crossing the stormy countryside after the battle, Macbeth and Banquo encounter a trio of witches. “Double, double, toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble”

All Macbeth can think about is the sisters’ final prophecy … …And the thought that he might become king.

His wife, the ambitious Lady Macbeth longs for high position power wealth prestige She’ll do anything to make her husband king.

The Real Macbeth king of Scotland (1040–57). He succeeded his father as governor of the province of Moray c.1031 was a military commander for Duncan I. (Right: portrait of Macbeth)

The Real Macbeth In 1040, Macbeth killed Duncan in battle and seized the throne. Possibly of royal descent himself, acquired a direct claim to the throne through his wife, Gruoch; Grandfather was overthrown by an ancestor of Duncan (Right: portrait of Duncan I)

The Real Macbeth William Shakespeare's version of the story comes from the accounts of Raphael Holinshed and Hector Boece.

Holinshed’s Chronicles Raphael Holinshed (d. 1580 English chronicler Chronicled British history from the time of the Great Flood (approx. 4000-3000BC) to Queen Elizabeth (reigning 1558-1603).

Hector Boece Lived 1465-1536 A Scottish philosopher Wrote Historia Gentis Scotorum (1527) Shakespeare used this text as a basis for the character of Macbeth

“The Scottish Play” There are many superstitions centred on the belief that the play is somehow “cursed”.

“The Scottish Play” Explanation #1 Shakespeare is said to have used the spells of real witches in his text, purportedly angering the witches and causing them to curse the play.

“The Scottish Play” Explanation #2 Struggling theatres or companies would often put on this popular 'blockbuster' in an effort to save their flagging fortunes. However, it is a tall order for any single production to reverse a long-running trend of poor business. Therefore, the last play performed before a theatre shut down was often Macbeth, and thus the growth of the idea that it was an 'unlucky' play.

“The Scottish Play” A large mythology has built up surrounding this superstition, with countless stories of accidents, misfortunes and even deaths, all mysteriously taking place during runs of Macbeth (or by actors who had uttered the name). Many actors will not mention the name of the play aloud, referring to it instead as "The Scottish play".

Superstition of Characters’ Names “The Scottish Play” Superstition of Characters’ Names MacBee Macker’s Mr. and Mrs. M. The Scottish King MacWhat’s-his-face

The Witches AKA the Weird Sisters Painting by William Rimmer depicting the witches’ conjuration of an apparition (Act IV, scene i) Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches (Act I, scene iii) by Johann Heinrich Fussli Portrayal in the 2006 film version of Macbeth

The Witches They tell Macbeth that he is destined to be king, and urge him to do bloody things.

The Witches Their character is modeled after Norse mythology- the Norns (three Fates) the name Urðr (Wyrd, Weird) means "fate" or simply "future", The norns- by Arthur Rackham

Three Fates of Greek and Roman mythology The Witches The witches were also modeled after the Three Fates of Greek and Roman mythology control the metaphorical thread of life of every mortal and immortal from birth to death . The names of the three Parcae (Roman Fates) were: Nona - spun the thread of life from her distaff onto her spindle. (Greek Clotho); Decima - measured the thread of life with her rod. (Greek Lachesis); Morta - cut of the thread of life. She chose the manner of a person's death. When she cut the thread with "her abhorrèd shears", someone on Earth died. (Greek Atropos).

The Witches Represent darkness, chaos and confusion. “Fair is foul and foul is fair”- a contradiction. Evil is good, while good is evil.

The Witches “Double, double toil and trouble” – they cause more grief for the mortals around them. The witches never actually tell Macbeth to kill Duncan, but merely tempt him with the idea of becoming king. What theme of temptation might Shakespeare be representing here?

The Many Meanings of Macbeth 11/14/2017 The Many Meanings of Macbeth A historical thriller a fast-moving, action-packed murder mystery demonstrating that crime doesn’t pay A psychological study of a murderer’s mind A play of political and social realism how oppressive and hierarchical society can corrupt individuals A play of illusions the effect of the mysterious or supernatural on humans A play of ideas or themes Ex: corruptive nature of unchecked ambition A play about gender A tragedy the fall of a great person brought about by a fatal flaw in their character Everyone brings something unique to their reading of a play or a novel . . . How people interpret something is largely due to their own prior experiences . . . These are just a few of the interpretations of Macbeth that people have dreamed up over the years. More than anything else, I want to impress you with the fact that Macbeth is a really gutsy, interesting play.

The tragedy of Macbeth Set in Scotland Written 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

The Characters King Duncan of Scotland Malcolm & Donalbain Macbeth Honest and good Malcolm & Donalbain Sons of the King Malcolm is the eldest son Macbeth Duncan’s most courageous general Ambition to become king corrupts him The Characters

The Characters Banquo Lady Macbeth Macduff General and Macbeth’s best friend Suspicious of Macbeth An actual ancestor of King James I Lady Macbeth As ambitious as her husband A dark force behind his evil deeds Macduff Scottish general, also suspicious of Macbeth Swears vengeance The Characters

Images of Macbeth

Creation Theatre Company-Summer 2006 production, Oxford, England

Poster advertising a performance at The University of Texas at Austin What are your thoughts on the mood of this poster? What techniques are used to evoke this mood?

Globe review ...

The Man That Would Be Shakespeare William 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

Reconstructed in the 1990’s Many playwrights with nowhere to “play” Barn turned into theatre (Yeah!) Puritans burn it down (Evil theatre! Boo!) Globe built! (Yeah!) Globe burns (sniff, darn cannon!) Globe rebuilt! (Yeah!) Globe burns (Dang that Fire of London!) The Globe Reconstructed in the 1990’s

Aristocrats The Queen/King The Groundlings!

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

The Cost of a Show 1 shilling to stand 2 shillings to sit in the balcony 1 shilling was 10% of their weekly income Broadway Today: $85 Orchestra $60 Balcony 10% of a teacher’s weekly salary