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Macbeth By: William Shakespeare. What is the price of power?

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1 Macbeth By: William Shakespeare

2 What is the price of power?

3 Macbeth is a story of ambition, hubris, the supernatural, and the influence of destiny. The play is a tragedy which means humans are engaged in a terrible struggle with some indestructible force and death is the necessary result. Shakespearean tragedies always end in the death of the main character. Macbeth is one of the shortest tragedies and is a very fast moving play.

4 Macbeth was probably written in late 1606 or early 1607 and Macbeth is the last of Shakespeare’s four greatest tragedies, the others being Hamlet, King Lear, and Othello. It is a short play with only one major plotline, and is considered to be Shakespeare’s darkest work. In Macbeth, Shakespeare adds a supernatural dimension (ghosts and witches) that conspire against Macbeth and his kingdom.

5 So what happens? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzAujyWp K_s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzAujyWp K_s

6 Macbeth: Fact or Fiction? There was a real King Macbeth! In approximately 1020, Malcolm II, King of Scotland, killed Macbeth’s father, The Thane of Ross. About 10 years later, Malcolm, having no living sons, killed a possible claimant to the throne who was the grandfather of Macbeth’s wife. When Malcolm’s grandson, Duncan, succeeded to the throne in about 1034, a feud began between him and the Macbeths. Duncan’s rule was marked by weakness, and his death in 1040 may have been caused by Macbeth, who claimed the throne. Macbeth reigned prosperously and vigorously for 17 years.

7 In 1054, he went to battle against Siward, Earl of Northumbria, whose son and nephew were killed in the fighting. A few years later, Macbeth was killed in a battle against Malcolm Canmore. Macbeth was remembered as a good king and was called “Macbeth the Renowned”. Shakespeare made Macbeth into a villain mainly to please his benefactor (the person who gave him money) and monarch King James I. James I was descended from Malcolm Canmore.

8 Shakespeare has used only part of history to document his play. Whether Shakespeare borrowed material from history or invented his material is not really important. What is important is that the characters are portrayed as living persons, and the poetry and dramatic development of the tragic theme are the result of his creative imagination. We must accept this play as a piece of fiction.

9 Important Information

10 Setting The play is set in Scotland in the year 1030. This is a turbulent time and the government is weak. The kingship, not yet hereditary, often goes to the strongest or most fortunate man. The king, Duncan, is aging and gentle. Macbeth, a first cousin of Duncan, is leader of the King’s army. Banquo is also a general of the army.

11 Mood The atmosphere is the mood that is created from the setting of the play. Atmosphere has a big influence on the audience in Macbeth. Throughout the play, we sense evil wherever Macbeth is seen.

12 There are witches, lonely heaths (a low waste land with low growing bushes), gloomy castles, constant fear, blood, storms and darkness. There are many instances of the supernatural, primarily from the witches. The witches provide initial atmosphere and establish the background of evil. The second supernatural element is the predictions and prophecies. The first part of the play hinges on predictions that Macbeth will be the Thane of Cawdor and King, and that Banquo will be the father of kings. The second part hinges on the predictions made by the apparitions (ghosts).

13 Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

14 Themes Themes are fundamental and universal ideas that are explored in literature. They are the “big ideas” or morals of the story. Macbeth has four main themes: – The corrupting power of ambition. – Free will vs. destiny or fate. – The relationship between cruelty and masculinity. – The difference between kingship and tyranny.

15 Symbols Symbols are objects, characters, figures, and colours used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. Macbeth has two main symbols: – Blood – The weather

16 Motifs Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help develop and inform the text’s major themes. Macbeth has three main motifs: – Hallucinations – Violence – Prophecy

17 Confused? Online resources: Study notes: http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/ma cbeth/ http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/ma cbeth/ The text in plain English: http://nfs.sparknotes.com/macbeth


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