William Shakespeare’s Macbeth Renaissance Drama

William Shakespeare ( ) He is considered to be the greatest writer in English, because of:  His deep understanding of human nature  His compassion for all types of people  The power and beauty of his language Shakespeare’s plays continue to be read widely and produced throughout the world.  They have the same powerful impact on today’s audiences as they had when they were first staged. Shakespeare in total wrote 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and 2 narrative poems.

Critical Praise “He was not of an age, but for all time.”  Ben Jonson ( ) “He was the man who of all modern, and perhaps ancient poets, had the largest and most comprehensive soul.”  John Dryden ( ) “Shakespeare is, above all writers, at least modern writers, the poet of nature: the poet that holds up to his readers a faithful mirror of manners and life.”  Samuel Johnson ( )

Critical Praise “The English man, who, without reverence, a proud and affectionate reverence, can utter the name of William Shakespeare, stands disqualified for the office of critic.”  Samuel Coleridge ( ) “Where his power of art is fully exerted, it really does resemble that of nature”  A.C. Bradley ( ) “About any one so great as Shakespeare, it is probable that we can never be right…”  T.S. Elliot ( )

William Shakespeare ( ) It is a myth that we know absolutely nothing about Shakespeare’s life. Born in Stratford-on-Avon on April 23, 1564  Date based on his baptism on April 26 His father was a successful glove maker It is highly probable that Shakespeare was educated at Stratford Grammar School, where he studied Latin.

William Shakespeare ( ) In 1582, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway.  They had a daughter, Susanna (1583), and twins Judith and Hamnet (1585). Shakespeare worked in London away from his family. He became a part owner the acting group Lord Chamberlain’s Men, who built the Globe theatre.  This theatre was where most of Shakespeare’s plays were staged.

William Shakespeare ( ) When James I became king in 1603, James took control of Shakespeare’s acting group, renaming them the King’s Men. In 1610, Shakespeare retired to Stratford, yet still continued to write plays. Shakespeare died in Stratford on April 23, 1616 and was buried in Holy Trinity Church.  His epitaph read: “Blest be the man that spares these stones, And curst be he that moves my bones.”

Shakespeare’s Sources By Shakespeare’s time, the story of 11 th Century Scottish king Macbeth was a mixture of fact and legend.  One source believed to be completely factual in this day and age was Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Shakespeare uses Holinshed’s work as his main source, yet freely adapts the material to fit his dramatic purposes.

A Tribute to the King Shakespeare chose the Scottish play concerning an 11 th Century battle for power knowing that the Stuart kings, the lineage of James I, took power in the 11 th Century. One of the most virtuous characters in the play, Banquo was thought to be the father of the first Stuart king. Also, Shakespeare placated James I through his addition of the 3 witches, knowing that James I had written a book on witches.

Literary Elements of Importance Conflict: the struggle between opposing forces.  External conflict: a struggle between two characters or groups  Internal conflict: a struggle within a character; psychological. Climax: point at which the primary conflicts are greatest; moment of highest tension.

Literary Elements of Importance Dramatic Irony: When the words or actions of a character take on a meaning for the audience or readers different from the one the character intends. Archetypes: images that relate to ideas or emotions expressed by people in many cultures.  In Act IV, look for images of a fallen world.