Shakespeare’s “Scottish Play”

 The play you are about to read is not for the faint hearted. It contains violence, greed and ambition, and witchcraft.  Macbeth is ambitious and ruthless. Every time he waivers, his wife goads him on, making fun of him and pressuring him to do many evil acts to achieve and maintain political power.  It's exciting and gruesome! Images ©2011 Thinkstock

 Shakespeare's famous play, like most of his plays, was loosely based on history.  The real Macbeth story is found in a book called Scotorum Historiae (Chronicles of Scotland, ) by Hector Boece. Images ©2011 Thinkstock

 The ‘real’ Macbeth's father was ruler of the northern tip of Scotland.  He was killed and succeeded by his nephew, Gillacomgain, who was, in turn, burned to death, along with his supporters, by Macbeth in retaliation for his father's death.  The ‘real’ Lady Macbeth was originally married to Gillacomgain. Their son was Lulach the Simple.  After Macbeth killed Gillacomgain, he took his Lady for his own wife, and raised Lulach as their stepson. Images ©2011 Thinkstock

 In a barbaric era, war and the slaughter of entire communities is a fact of life.  Survival depended on having a capable warlord to protect life and property, prevent infighting, and provide protection from distant enemies.  Groups of warlords would unite under the leadership of one king to promote their own interests and war on more distant nations.  While people pretended to believe in "the divine right of kings" and "lawful succession", effective leadership was assured by warlords killing off the less capable family members.  So, all in all, it wasn't a pretty time for those in power, or those under them. Images ©2011 Thinkstock

 William Shakespeare lived during what is called the 'Elizabethan' period of England's history.  The monarch of the time, Queen Elizabeth, was a political genius whose reign coincided with exploration, economic prosperity, and a tremendous growth in the arts.  She set the tone for the era, and her views greatly affected the destiny of her nation.  Historians often say that her citizens also shared a world view, which guided their values and behaviour. God Angels Man Animals Plants Inorganic Matter Chaos Images ©2011 Thinkstock

 In this hierarchy, each lower order was expected to keep its place, and acknowledge dominion by the upper one.  You may know from your study of feudal times in Social Studies, that the established order of society was very rigid.  Women, it was understood, would be subservient to men, and obedient to their rule.  Within the order of mankind, in fact, there was a further subdivision, which is reflected in Macbeth. Duncan (the king, and God's representative) Malcolm (direct heir to the king) Other nobles (Macbeth, Macduff, Banquo) Knights Gentlemen The Poor

Greek World (Ancient history)  Greek dramatists depicted a world that was essentially fated.  Ancient Greek dramatists like Sophocles showed characters whose tragedy was not due to their choices, but based on the fact that they could not avoid their fate.  Oedipus, for example, on hearing from the oracle that he was doomed to murder his father, flees his homeland.  In an odd twist of events, however, he meets a stranger (who he does not know is his real father) and kills him in an ancient version of road rage.  Oedipus's tragedy is that his fate awaited him, not matter what he did to avoid it.  In the Elizabethan world, tragic figures such as Macbeth operate in a world that assumes free will.  Though facing monumental forces and limitations, these characters still possess the power of choice.  Their tragedy is one of personal decision, turning upon major questions of morality, ethics, and religious belief.  Keep this in mind when you turn to a consideration of the characters in Act I and their actions. Elizabethan World (Shakespeare’s time)

 Producing a performance of Macbeth is supposed to be unlucky.  Fires, falls, and weapon injuries have plagued past productions.  Superstition requires those involved in productions not to say the play's title, but rather "The Scottish Play" or "the unmentionable". Images ©2011 Thinkstock

 Shakespeare knew his time and the people who would view his play.  In fact, the physical arrangement of the play in the theatre was a subtle reminder of the social order: the staging was roughly circular (as was the Globe theatre itself), a reflection of the world and universe depicted.  As well, the audience was seated according to their station in life, at least economically.  The wealthiest could afford private boxes.  The poorest were known as "groundlings“. Groundlings would have to stand on the ground in front of the stage for the entire performance.

Introducing the main characters

Images ©2011 Thinkstock  Duncan, as rightful king, embodies order.  Under heaven, he is the apex of power and privilege.  He is an old man, and considered to be wise and generous.

Images ©2011 Thinkstock  Macbeth, the leader of the army, is brave and impetuous in battle.  He seems to have defeated the invading armies almost single- handedly, and the king is grateful.  However, his desire for power is all consuming.

Images ©2011 Thinkstock  Lady Macbeth is supportive of her husband and even seems suited to the role of noble hostess when the king visits her home.  Almost immediately in Act I, however, she reveals the same lust for power that afflicts her husband.  Worse, she departs from the natural order as a wife who should be obedient to her husband.

Images ©2011 Thinkstock  Banquo is, at first, a friend and supporter of Macbeth, as long as Macbeth plays the role of a defender of the king and natural order.  He cautions Macbeth against being drawn into the witches' prophecy.

Images ©2011 Thinkstock  Malcolm is the king's elder son, a young man, possibly in his teens.  He is almost captured in battle and has not yet been tested in command.

Images ©2011 Thinkstock  Macduff and the other Scottish thanes are noble to Scotland and want what is just and honourable.

 In tragedy, we see the downfall of a great man, someone respected and held in high esteem by the community.  He would have performed brave deeds and shown his ability as a leader. We would know of (or have seen) his acts of compassion and understanding, his righteous feelings for his fellow human.  However, because of a fatal or tragic flaw in his character - something that leads a man to disregard the Divine or to disobey a moral law - he will make wrong choices, going with his 'darker side' rather than confronting the forces of evil and selfishness.  Aware of the alternatives, he goes ahead with unwise decisions - decisions that result in his personal decline into a state of misery and personal torment, leading to eventual death.  In the process, the community in which he lives and functions might well also suffer.  The audience should feel pity and fear at the decline of a great man into sin and disgrace.