The Man That Would Be Shakespeare Born April 23 rd, 1564 Started out performing with “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men” Gave him a chance to write a play Henry IV, Pt. 1- Was not a success but they gave him another shot

Many playwrights with nowhere to “play” Barn turned into theatre Puritans burnt it down Globe built! Globe burns! Globe rebuilt! Globe burns! Reconstructed in the 1990’s

o Aristocrats o The Queen/King o 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

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

King Duncan of Scotland –Murdered by cousin 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 causing him to murder Duncan

Banquo –General and Macbeth’s best friend –Suspects Macbeth in Duncan’s murder –An actual ancestor of King James I Lady Macbeth –As ambitious as her husband –A dark force behind his evil deeds Macduff –Scottish general, suspects Macbeth of murdering the king –Macbeth has his family murdered –Swears vengeance

Def. “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.

Macbeth rap

“Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And is heard of no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.” - Act V; s.5