2. 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

3. William Shakespeare 1564- 1616 -From a “well-to-do” family -Father -John Shakespeare -Mother - Mary Arden -Born in Stratford, England -William was one of 7 children -Marries Anne Hathaway at age 18. She is 26. -Has three children -Spent most of his life in London

4. So what’s the big deal? Some stats: 37 plays, 154 sonnets Invented 21,000 words Plays are still acted on stage today with great frequency Hamlet is the most written about work in the English language -- - Famous Lines "To be, or not to be, that is the question" "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?" "All the world's a stage" "Though this be madness, yet there is method in it" "My only love sprung from my only hate" "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them" "We are such stuff as dreams are made on" “Life is a tale told by an idiot -- full of sound and fury, signifying nothing” “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears” “Et tu, Brute?” “This was the most unkindest cut of all” -- Style Rhythm of language Iambic pentameter Note his arrangement of subjects and verbs in comparison to ours -- Shakespeare Rumors Was he the author? Homosexuality? Did he steal the plays?

5. Really, though, what’s the big deal? Discussion of humanity #1 form of entertainment Flexibility of interpretation / directors’ freedom Humor, tragedy – people went to the theatre to feel People went to the theatre knowing how the play would turn out Mastery of language – beauty of the spoken word when acted

6. 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

7. o Aristocrats o The Queen/King o The Groundlings!

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Some things to think about while reading: Paradox - A statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense yet might be true. Dualism - The quality or state of being dual (double) or of having dual (double) nature.

14. Conceits - Whimsical, extravagant, fanciful ideas. Extended metaphors - often laced through a poem or soliloquy Soliloquies - Somebody talking to himself/herself Asides - Something that is said to the audience that the other players cannot hear

16. 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...

18. 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?

19. 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

20. “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