William Shakespeare

Crude, immoral, vulgar, and senseless. (Novelist Leo Tolstoy, 1800’s) I have tried lately to read Shakespeare, and found it so intolerably dull that it nauseated me. (Charles Darwin, 1800’s) Not of an age but for all time. (Ben Jonson, 1623)

How do you feel about Shakespeare? Who was this man and why is he still so famous? His life? His plays? His quotes?

Did you know? He was born in Stratford- Upon Avon (England) in 1564 & died in 1616 Shakespeare wrote at least 37 plays but only 18 were printed in his lifetime The First Folio (his complete works) were first published in 1623

Cont... He was considered the best comedy writer of his day. Shakespeare wrote his plays in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter without stanzas) although sometimes his characters speak in prose. Shakespeare is responsible for the invention of over 2000 words and was thought to have coined many well worn expressions like: fair play, the game is up and laughing stock.

Protagonists and their Speeches Shakespeare’s protagonists are well known even to people with little knowledge of his plays. They are realistically portrayed and easy to identify with. Their speeches are often quite memorable. The speeches are set in a dramatic context and each has an important function to perform in the play it comes from. The speeches are sometimes meant for the audience only.

William Shakespeare’s times Elizabethan Beliefs

The Great Chain of Being Elizabethans believed in the “great chain of being” which describes the structure of the universe. The universe is hierarchical God is at the top 9 orders of angels (each in charge of a astronomical sphere, eg the stars, the sun, the moon, Jupitar, Mars, Venus etc)

The Great Chain of Being Mankind-Emperor -King -Prince -noble - man -peasants, beggar, fool -plants - rocks

The Great Chain of Being It confirms the idea that nature is ordered and everything has its place. There is a right order of things, which is disturbed by wrongful acts (like murder).

William Shakespeare’s works Plays

Tragedy…History…Comedy…Romance Shakespeare’s plays fall into one of the above broad categories (a 3rd were comedies). Like audiences of visual entertainment today, Elizabethans wanted to be entertained: amused and moved. Unlike today, sets, props, sound and stage technology were quite basic so Shakespeare used very descriptive language in his plays to help bring images alive in the imagination of the audience.

Tragedy a work with an unhappy ending Macbeth Romeo and Juliet Hamlet Othello King Lear Julius Caesar These plays are among the most highly respected works of literature ever created. Issues like love, death, revenge, jealousy, ambition and ingratitude are raised, just to name a few. The lead character (protagonist) suffers a tragic end as a result of some inner flaw or error in judgement.

Reading Shakespeare DO DO say the words aloud to find the rhythm of the speech DO find the sense of the whole passage or speech and see how it fits into the play DO use the punctuation to help you pause appropriately DON’T DON’T try to translate each word DON’T be putt off by ‘thee’ and ‘thine’ – they just mean ‘you’ and ‘your’ DON’T read it ‘flatly’. Give it expression and tone.

Macbeth

For his inspiration, he often consulted Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland. According to the Chronicles, the "real" Macbeth became King of Scotland in 1040 after having defeated a historical Duncan who was a weak, youthful ruler with little experience. Shakespeare presents an older King Duncan who is due the respect of his thanes; consequently, his murder is more heinous in the dramatic interpretation. Origins of the play …

In the Macbeth of Holinshed's Chronicles, the wife of Macbeth is hardly mentioned. Shakespeare develops the impressive character of an ambitious lady Macbeth from a different story found in the Chronicles. The historical Macbeth reigned for 17 years and survived the battles which returned Malcolm to the throne: whereas, Shakespeare presents a series of events which speed to the conclusion of a Macbeth defeated and beheaded Origins of the play …

Things are not what they seem Major Themes … Actors paid to line up for iPhone Blind ambition Sonny Bill walks out on Bulldogs

Power corrupts Major Themes … Preacher faked terminal illnees Order and disorder Iraq Guilt and conscience The power of evil Genocide in Darfur

Theme of Classic Tragedy The tragic flaw of ambition The role of fate The inevitable nature of tragedy The isolation of the tragic hero

Symbols Washing and Water Blood Light and Dark

Symbols Weather Blood Animals (birds) Clothing

The Curse of Macbeth The "Curse of Macbeth" is the misfortune that happens during the production of the play.

… is that Shakespeare included actual black magic spells in the incantations of the weird sisters. Those who appear in the play or those who mention the play's name within the a theatre risk having these evils brought down on their heads. The theory …

… that it is hardly ever called by name inside the profession. People refer to the play as “ that play ” “ the unmentionable ” “ the Scottish play ” It is supposed to be bad luck to quote from the play or to use any sets, costumes, or props from a production. It is so unlucky …

On its premier on August 7, 1606 the boy actor playing Lady Macbeth died back stage on opening night. In 1934, four actors played Macbeth in a single week. In 1937, Macbeth had to be postponed for three days after a change in directors and because of the death of Lilian Boylis. In 1954, the portrait of Lilian Boylis crashed down on the bar on opening night. A long line of disasters …

The first guess is that there is something mystical about the weird sisters incantations. The second guess is that the play has a history of bad luck. The third guess is that the play's crowd-pleasing popularity made it the stand-by when a show was flopping. The Answer?

The person who has said “ Macbeth ” in the theatre must: - step outside - turn around three times - spit - and say the foulest word he/she can think of - and wait for permission to re-enter the theatre. The Remedy?