Introduction to Shakespeare’s Macbeth 4/22/2017 Introduction to Shakespeare’s Macbeth Today we're beginning our study of Shakespeare's "historic tragedy", Macbeth. John Worston, Macbeth and Banquo Meeting the Witches

The Many Meanings of Macbeth 4/22/2017 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 for example, “appearance versus reality” 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.

Historical Context of Macbeth 4/22/2017 Historical Context of Macbeth Shakespeare was a playwright, not an historian. However, he knew that history provided great material for plays: war, conflict, ambition, the downfall of great rulers. Eleventh-Century Scotland was a violent and troubled country. Feuding families and clans fought to control trade and territory. The castle was the power base of each rival war-lord (thane). Political murder and revenge killings were commonplace. BEFORE INSERTING THE BULLETS . . . Can anyone tell me when the action of the play takes place? Where the action takes place? **Lay out the main characters and the basic plot line without giving too much away** Bring in the bullets

4/22/2017 The Real Macbeth The real Macbeth was born in 1005, the son of a ruling family. Macbeth’s father was murdered by his cousin. Macbeth married the granddaughter of the High King of Scotland (Gruach) Lots of politics, intrigue and dirty dealings going on in Scotland at the beginning of the Eleventh Century . . . Martin, Banquo and Macbeth on the Heath

4/22/2017 Duncan and Macbeth Duncan was the king of Scotland at the time the real Macbeth was born Duncan was 38 at the time of his murder - a murder possibly committed by the real Macbeth. Macbeth was elected High King of Scotland in 1040. Macbeth ruled Scotland for 17 years, during which time Scotland became comparatively peaceful and stable. Duncan’s son, Malcolm, invaded Scotland in 1054, supported by Edward the Confessor. Macbeth was killed on August 15, 1057 and buried at Iona, the sacred burial place of the Kings of Scotland. BEFORE BRINGING IN THE BULLETS . . . Anyone remember who "Duncan" is? Remember, this play is loosely based on factual information. Where would this factual information be found? How much to you trust the factual information? That might be a good project for you - determine the extent to which the play is based on fact or deviates from established fact . . .

A Macbeth for King James? 4/22/2017 A Macbeth for King James? King James succeeded Queen Elizabeth in 1603 - a Stuart, he was already King of Scotland Shakespeare’s Macbeth may have been performed for the first time before King James in 1606 Macbeth contains many echoes of King James’ interests . . . Just a little more historical background. . . Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in the early 1600s. The time during which the play appeared is called the Renaissance. Characteristics of the Renaissance from students. Although he was writing plays and performing them in front of a Renaissance audience, Shakespeare and his contemporaries were most heavily influenced by the mores of the Elizabethan Era. A little reinforcement of the Elizabethan World Picture (on blackboard) Remember our discussion of the Globe Theatre? Well, it was likely that at any one performance, Shakespeare's audience would have consisted of the lowest of the low ("the unwashed masses") and the higest of the high (nobility, courtiers, perhaps even the King/Queen). How was Shakespeare paid? You must remember how important patronage would have been to a playwright at this time . . . it's very likely that Macbeth was written with the preoccupations of the new King in mind . . . sucking up would have been one way to 'get in good' with the new monarch . . .

A Macbeth for King James? 4/22/2017 A Macbeth for King James? Banquo (pictured at right) an elaborate family tree of the Stuart dynasty suggests that King James is descended from a real Banquo (Holinshed). In fact, Banquo never existed. Shakespeare lays full responsibility for Banquo’s death upon the Macbeths the change to the traditional telling of the story was probably made to appease King James, who hated King-killers (regicides). Shakespeare wasn't the first playwright to interpret the story of Macbeth, King of Scotland. Earlier, a playwright named Holingshed created a similar play. Holingshed's play described a really elaborate family tree that showed King James as a direct descendent of Banquo. In Holinshed's play, Banquo was an accomplice to the murder of Macbeth. Shakespeare lays full responsibility for Macbeth's murder on the Macbeth clan . . . Why would Shakespeare make this change? Banquo is a fictional character - unlike many others in the play, he never existed (or, at least, his existence cannot be proven!). The appearance of Banquo in Shakespeare's version of the Macbeth story shows you the extent to which Shakespeare's play is modelled on those that came before it. . . . another good project - compare/contrast the Shakespeare version of Macbeth with others . . . Henry Fuseli, Macbeth, Banquo and the Witches on the Heath

A Macbeth for King James? 4/22/2017 A Macbeth for King James? King James’ interest in witchcraft was well known King James visited Oxford in 1605 and was greeted by three witches who hailed him as the descendent of Banquo . . . interesting. There are the weird sisters . . . The weird sisters - the witches - open the play, Macbeth. They're a pretty gruesome threesome, and when we view one of the film versions of the play, you'll see just how awful one director thought they should look . . . (Kenneth Branagh version) Alexandre-Marie Colin, The Three Witches from Macbeth

Witches & Witchcraft A witch-mania characterized the Elizabethan era. 4/22/2017 Witches & Witchcraft A witch-mania characterized the Elizabethan era. Most people believed in witches and circulating pamphlets containing tales of witches and witchcraft were the equivalent of today’s popular newspapers. Remember that a person is very much a product of their times. Elizabethan and Renaissance audiences were morbidly fascinated with witches and witchcraft. Persecution of people for the "crime" of witchcraft reached terrifying proportions - between 1560 and 1603, hundreds of people (nearly all of them women) were convicted as witches and executed. The most popular method of execution? King James was as fascinated by witchcraft as were his subjects. There is a story that in 1590, a group of witches tried to kill James (before he was king). Their plot was discovered, and they were brought to trial. One of the "witches", Agnes Sampson, claimed that she had collected toad venom to poison the king, christened a cat, tied parts of a dead man's body to it (we don't know which parts), sailed out to sea in a "sieve" and had thrown cat and body-bits overboard in order to raise a storm that would sink James' ship. A bit elaborate . . . King James personally interrogated one of the three accused witches, "Doctor Fian" - a male. The doctor was tortured during the interrogation: "his nails upon all his fingers were riven and pulled off . . . his legs were crushed and beaten together as small as might be, and the bones and flesh so bruised that the blood and marrow spouted forth in great abundance". Yuck. So. . . all fired up by his witchy experience, King James personally investigated other cases, and in 1597 he wrote and published "Demonology", a book on witchcraft. When he became king of England in 1603, he ordered its immediate printing in London. Henry Fuseli, The Three Witches

Witches and Witchcraft 4/22/2017 Witches and Witchcraft Witches were said to have “diabolical” powers. They could: predict the future bring on night in the daytime cause fogs and tempests kill animals curse enemies with fatal, wasting diseases cause nightmares and sterility take demonic possession of any individual raise evil spirits by concocting a brew It was believed that witches allowed the devil to suck their blood. Accused witches were examined for the “Devil’s Mark” - a red mark on their body from which the devil had sucked blood. So here's some of the stuff Elizabethans and Renaissance people thought about witches . . .

4/22/2017 Witches and Witchcraft – Misogyny (dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women)? Between 1560 and 1603, hundreds of people, nearly all of them women, were convicted as witches and executed In 1604 an official Act of Parliament decreed that anyone found guilty of practicing witchcraft should be executed Those who confessed to being witches did so under torture or because they were in the grip of delusions recognized today as psychiatric disorders. You would think that these "witches" would be pretty powerful people . . . . . . but it was mostly single, old women who kept cats that were in danger of being accused of witchcraft. Remember, in 1604 an Act of Parliament decreed that if you were convicted, you were to be executed - and with the methods of "information extraction" used by the interrogators, people were likely to "spill their guts" (literally - know where that term comes from?).. CHECK - does the group want to get into women's rights in the Seventeenth Century? . . . here's another idea for your project: maybe you could examine Shakespeare's portrayal of women in Macbeth - very interesting topic . . .

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 The Characters

Banquo Lady Macbeth Macduff 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

Remember, don’t read with your own eyes… Shakespeare’s time was also considered the English Renaissance of 1500 – 1650. • Humans had potential for development. • The idea of medieval Christianity, that this world is a preparation for eternal life, was questioned. Instead, people began to see everyday life as meaningful and an opportunity for noble activity. • This was a time for heroes. The ideal Elizabethan man was a talented courtier, adventurer, fencer, poet, and conversationalist. He was a witty and eloquent gentleman who examined his own nature and the causes of his actions. • Marriages were arranged, usually for wealth. • Women had a lower social status than men. • People were concerned over the order of things. They felt there was “a great chain of being.” This concept originated with Plato and expressed the idea that there is a proper order within all things, and among all things, based on complexity, from the tiniest grains of sand to heaven and God. When everything was in its proper position, there was harmony. When the order was broken, everything was upset and everyone suffered. • People felt that their rulers were God’s agents. To kill a King was a heinous crime; the heavens would show ominous signs when such evil was present.

Literary Devices Iambic Pentameter Blank Verse Shakespeare’s essential pattern in his plays is blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter). Therefore, whenever a reader notices a change in this pattern (a change in rhythm from iambic to trochaic; a shift in meter from pentameter to tetrameter; a shift from poetry to prose) there is a reason for the change. With the change, Shakespeare is creating a mood, establishing character … something. Be aware of shifts in language like this. For example: • the witches speak in rhymed couplets of irregular iambic tetrameter; • the Porter (Act II, Scene III) speaks in prose; • Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking scene (Act V, Scene I) is in prose.

Literary Devices Figurative Language Similes and Metaphors Compare and contrast Macbeth’s figurative language (abundant and complex) to Lady Macbeth’s (infrequent and simple) Be certain not to miss the “like” or “as” or the text will indeed seem incomprehensible. Personification Hyperboles Understatement Irony

Literary Devices Motifs • Fair is foul, foul is fair; • Cleaning Duncan’s blood from their hands; • The witches’ abuse of words—ambiguities and hidden meanings; • Guilt, repression, and madness; • Sleep and sleeplessness.

Literary Devices Characterization Dynamic vs static Round vs flat Foil Tragic hero: “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.

Literary Devices An allusion is an indirect reference to another event, person or work with which the writer assumes the reader is familiar. Shakespeare uses allusions as techniques for establishing character, building theme, setting mood. In Macbeth, there are allusions to Greek and Roman mythology, history, and the Bible. Use of the supernatural is another device Madness, either real or pretended, was another popular device in Elizabethan drama Conflict: internal vs external

Dramatic Devices A soliloquy is a monologue. The character is alone onstage. It is a device the playwright uses to give the audience insight into the character’s thoughts and emotions. Shakespeare uses soliloquies to allow the reader to witness the conflict between Macbeth’s honorable nature and his ambition combined with his desire to please his wife. • The aside is another device used by the playwright to give the audience insight into the character. Here the character is speaking either to himself or directly to the audience. There are other characters onstage who by convention do not hear the aside.

How to Read Shakespeare Use the character list (dramatis personae) Never break with end lines, but rather with punctuation Use notes Read more than once Read aloud, remembering its meant to be acted Read as a director Identify subject, predicate, and object as a way to work through reversed, inverted, or delayed syntax Recognize and embrace the challenge that language is living and thus changing Let the text teach you and mold you into an effective reader Paraphrase (using a similar length of prose, put into your own words) Apostrophes take the place of letters Verb roots are often the same, even in suffix changes Pay attention to antecedents (the noun which the pronoun replaces)