1. Introduction to Shakespeare’s
Macbeth

2. To be, or not to be, that is the question...
William
Shakespeare's
World
To be, or not to be, that is the question...
This above all, to thine own self be true...

3. The Man That Would Be Shakespeare
William
The Man That Would Be Shakespeare
Born April 23rd, 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

4. Reconstructed in the 1990’s
The Globe
Many playwrights with nowhere to “play”
Barn turned into theatre (Yea!)
Puritans burn it down (Evil theatre! Boo!)
Globe built! (Yea!)
Globe burns (sniff, darn cannon!)
Globe rebuilt! (Yea!)
Globe burns (Dang that Fire of London!)
Reconstructed in the 1990’s

5. 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

6. 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:
10% of a teacher’s weekly salary 

7. Macbeth The tragedy of 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

8. Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest tragedy
Macbeth

9. Macbeth tumbles madly from its opening to its conclusion
Macbeth tumbles madly from its opening to its conclusion. It is a sharp, jagged sketch of theme and character; as such, it has shocked and fascinated audiences for nearly four hundred years.

10. Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest tragedy
Macbeth receives a prophecy from a trio of sinister witches that one day he will become King of Scotland.
He is consumed by this and murders King Duncan
He begins his reign racked with guilt and fear and soon becomes a tyrannical ruler, as he is forced to commit more and more murders to protect himself from enmity and suspicion.
The bloodbath swiftly propels Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to arrogance, madness, and death.

11. The Characters

12. Macbeth Scottish general Led to wicked thoughts from the three witches
Brave soldier
Powerful man
Easily tempted into murder
Once he commits his first crime he embarks on further atrocities with increasing ease
Better warrior than political leader
Solution to everything: violence and murder
Unable to bear the psychological consequences of his atrocities.

13. Lady Macbeth Macbeth’s wife Lusts for power and position
Seems stronger and more ruthless of the two
Urges her husband to kill Duncan and seize the crown
She and Macbeth are presented as being deeply in love
Violence strengthens their relationship

14. The Three Witches Plot against Macbeth: charms, spells and prophecies.
Their predictions prompt Macbeth to murder and to blindly believe in his own immortality.
They take a delight in using their knowledge of the future to toy with and destroy human beings.

15. Banquo 
Macbeth’s best friend
He represents the path Macbeth chose not to take

16. King Duncan King of Scotland Macbeth murders him
Model of a good leader
His death symbolizes the destruction of Scotland

17. Macduff Lady Macduff A Scottish General
Macbeth murders Macduff’s wife and young son.
He eventually becomes a leader of the crusade to unseat Macbeth.
Lady Macduff
 Macduff’s wife

18. The Curse!

19. 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...

20. The Tragic Hero

21. 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.

22. 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! Kill!
Gets what’s coming to him in the end

23. Dramatic Introduction to Macbeth