Fair is Foul & Foul is
Fair: Macbeth
Intro to Shakespearean tragedy.
William Shakespeare’s Bio
Born circa 1564. Died 1616.
Shakespeare’s Work
As the video states, Shakespeare wrote not only plays
(drama), but also poetry.
In particular, he coined the form of English (or
Shakespearean) sonnet. He wrote at least 154 of these
poems.
A sonnet is a fourteen-line argumentative poem, meaning
that it contains a point that the author is trying to get across
to the reader.
Sonnets are written in iambic pentameter, which is a
repeating pattern of two syllables at a time, repeated five
times (hence penta- ).
For the pattern to be iambic, the first syllable of the pair is
unstressed and the second syllable is stressed.
Iambic Pentameter Practice
Look at the following lines from Shakespearean sonnets and
practice the iambic pentameter pronunciation:
“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” (Sonnet 18)
“When, in disgrace with fortune in men’s eyes….” (Sonnet
29)
“Take all my loves, my love, yea, take them all…” (Sonnet
40)
“My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun…” (Sonnet 130)
Other Sonnet Features
Remember, a sonnet must be an argument. Think of it as a
five-paragraph essay in poem form.
English/Shakespearean sonnets have a dedicated rhyme
scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
This means that there are three quatrains (four-lined stanzas)
followed by a single couplet (two-lined stanza—remember
Heroic couplets?).
Additionally, there is one essential feature to a
Shakespearean sonnet: The last two stanzas must contain a
volta, which is an ironic reversal in the speaker’s argument.
Remember: Even if we know Shakespeare is writing
autobiographically, the narration of a poem is always
attributed to the speaker, not the poet himself.
Sonnet Practice: Sonnet 130
My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, then black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask’d, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.
Macbeth, “The Scottish Play”
“Macbeth” by John Martin, 1820
“The Scottish Play”
Macbeth was written by Shakespeare around 1606. It takes place in
Scotland.
It was written early in the reign of King James I, who succeeded
the throne after Elizabeth I died. As we know, Elizabeth I was “the
virgin queen” who never married and bore no heirs. James was her
second cousin, and former king of Scotland.
Elizabeth and James were both Protestant monarchs, meaning they
rejected the supremacy and structural tenets of the Catholic
Church.
Protestants believed that an individual could study the Bible and its
teachings and be admitted into heaven (consider the contrast
between this and the Catholic Church we learned about in
Chaucer’s England).
“The Scottish Play”
James I was the son of Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth’s
cousin.
Mary was extremely Catholic and feuded with Elizabeth
from her position in Scotland, attempting to topple
Elizabeth’s power on more than one occasion.
Eventually, one of Mary’s assassination plots against her
cousin Elizabeth was discovered. Mary was tried, convicted,
and beheaded.
It is largely thought that Elizabeth named Mary’s son James
as her heir not only in a political move to assuage the rift
between the English and Scottish kingdoms, but to repent for
her sin of having her cousin murdered.
Origins of Macbeth
Macbeth was an actual historical figure in Scotland in the
11th century (born around 1005).
He did kill the sitting king, Duncan I, in battle in 1040. In
1045, he also killed Duncan’s father in battle.
After this, he became king. This made him a usurper, which
is a term for someone who seizes the throne away from
someone currently ruling.
His rule was threatened in 1054 by another nobleman who
was attempting to restore Duncan I’s son to the throne.
Macbeth was killed in 1054 and Malcolm III became king.
Macbeth in Shakespeare
In the 1500s, these chronicles of Scotland were recorded in
Latin and translated into English.
The “history” that Shakespeare would have gotten this from
would have already fictionalized.
For instance, Banquo, who was allegedly King James I’s
ancestor, had a hand in the death of Duncan I.
Shakespeare portrays Banquo favorably in the play for
obvious political reasons.
Also, because James I gave patronage to Shakespeare’s
theater company and he would have wanted to flatter him.
Dramatis Personae: Major
Characters
Macbeth, thane of Glamis
Lady Macbeth, his wife
Duncan, King of Scotland
Malcolm, his son
Donaldbain, his other son
Three Witches, the weird sisters
Banquo, a thane of Scotland
Macduff, thane of Fife
Lady Macbeth
Dame Ellen Terry as
Lady Macbeth, by
John Singer
Sargent, 1889
Drama Terms
A soliloquy is when the character speaks at length alone
onstage. The playwright does this so that we gain perspective
into the character’s thoughts and actions.
An aside is when the character speaks to themselves or directly
to the audience. The rest of the characters onstage are not
supposed to hear the content of the aside.
Foreshadowing is a device when a writer hints towards events to
come, whether explicitly or symbolically.
Dramatic irony is when the audience can predict what is about
to happen to a character, either through information given in
scenes the character wasn’t involved in, or foreshadowing, but
the character is not aware of the circumstances.
Macbeth Vocabulary
Regicide is the killing of a king. It is considered extremely
dishonorable. Unnatural murder is a theme throughout Macbeth.
A paradox is a statement that sounds or seems contradictory but it
strangely true.
Equivocation is the act of using unclear language so as to
deliberately deceive or mislead someone.
Infirmity is when someone is ill. In its older use, it indicated
mental illness (madness).
A scruple is an ethical consideration or principle that prevents
action.
Macbeth Themes & Motifs
The unnatural or the supernatural.
Internal conflict.
Ambition vs. Ethics.
Predetermination: Do we choose our paths in life?
Self-fulfilling prophecies.
Blood & darkness.
Hallucinations & ghosts.
Works Cited
Friedlander, Ed. “Enjoying "Macbeth” by William Shakespeare.”
Enjoying "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare. N.p., n.d. Web. 14
Oct. 2015.
“Macbeth.” BBC News. BBC, 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
“Shakespeare Sonnet 130 - My Mistress’ Eyes Are Nothing like the
Sun.” Shakespeare Sonnet 130 - My Mistress’ Eyes Are Nothing like
the Sun. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
“Themes in Macbeth.” SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 14 Oct.
2015.
“William Shakespeare.” Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web.
14 Oct. 2015.