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- It stunk but they gave him another shot

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!) 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

Lennox One of Duncan’s nobles, functions as observer. Grows sarcastic and fearful for the fate of Scotland. Ross Cousin of Macbeth acts as a messenger. Old Siward Earl of Northumberland; ally of Malcom and Macduff Young Siward Slain by Macbeth in combat. Seyton Macbeth’s Lieutenant

Hecate Queen of the witches. Presides over all supernatural happenings. The Three Witches Supernatural agents of fate who prophesize that Macbeth will become King of Scotland; and fall. Porter Keeper of Macbeth’s castle who drunkenly imagines that he the keeper of Hell’s Gate. Menteith, Angus, Caitness Noblemen of 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

The Scottish Play It is believed to be bad luck to even squeak the word ‘Macbeth’ in a theatre Legend has it you will lose all your friends involved in the production--horribly MORE ON THAT LATER...

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. However, how could John Proctor also be one?

So what really happens? Good guy goes bad Guy wants power Married to a pushy control freak She wants power Kills people- LOTS of people Gets power Gets paranoid (a.k.a. goes crazy) Ticks off a lot of people Want more power! Kill! Kill! Gets what’s coming to him in the end

“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