The Man Known as William Shakespeare Lived April 1564 – April 1616 in England Married in 1582 and had 3 children Around 1590, he left family and went to London (actor & playwright) Favored by Elizabeth I (ruled 1558 – 1603) & James I (ruled 1603 – 1625) –James I was a patron of Shakespeare’s acting company and of all the plays Shakespeare wrote during his reign Wrote 39 plays and 154 sonnets (he had A LOT of time on his hands)

Not much is known about William’s life because of the lack of biographical information Did he really write all those plays and sonnets? –Francis Bacon and the Earl of Oxford are most suspected of being the real writers –Had a modest education therefore it is believed he simply wasn’t smart enough –Most Shakespearean scholars believe Shakespeare is the true author Was he gay? Who knows….

A History Lesson Wrote during the Renaissance and the Elizabethan period –Renaissance: “the activity, spirit, or time of the great revival of art, literature, and learning in Europe beginning in the 14 th century and extending to the 17 th century, marking the transition from the medieval to the modern world” (source: dictionary.com) –Elizabeth I was a big part of how/when/why the arts and literature flourished during this time –Drama was the principal form of literature during this age and plays became more secular (about real life) –Primarily written for the entertainment of the court

The Globe was originally built in in London –3 tiers of gallery –Brothel and gambling house –Huge success!!! Shakespeare had a stake holding in the theater Plays are used to spread propaganda and shut down The Globe is burned down in 1613 and rebuilt in 1614, referred to as Globe 2 – back in business! Puritans demolish the Globe and plays are not allowed to be performed In 1660, King Charles II allows theaters to open again but the Globe is not rebuilt Rebuilt in the 1990’s in exactly the same way and in the same manner

o The Groundlings (a.k.a. the commoners) – standing room only – “The Pit” o The Gallery – could sit on a cushion and stay out of the rain o See and Be Seen Section – Royalty and Nobility

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

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

Shakespeare is written in Early Modern English Shakespeare’s plays are meant to be acted out and read aloud Modern English is still changing everyday originally-sounded

Written for King James I (formerly of Scotland, now England) in 1606 –Macbeth reflects the relationship b/t Shakespeare and the King Set in Scotland to pay homage to the King’s Scottish heritage –James I is a descendent of Banquo

The Tragedy of Macbeth Cont.’d… Not a very complex play, but it is definitely the most powerful and emotionally intense Shortest and bloodiest of all of Shakespeare’s tragedies Issues in text that are still relevant today: peer pressure, the difference between right and wrong, ambition (how far is too far), unhealthy relationships, and suicide

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

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

Def. - “Man of high standard who falls from that high because of a flaw that has affected many… The change of fortune should be not from bad to good, but, reversely, from good to bad.” – Poetics by Aristotle A tragic hero must be: born into nobility, endowed with a tragic flaw, doomed to make an error in judgment, responsible for their own fate, and realize at some point that they have made an irreversible mistake and therefore face and accept death with honor. Macbeth is one of the most famous examples of the tragic hero

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

DID IT!!!

“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