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11 th century Scotland
Based on Holinshed’s History titled Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland
Shakespeare takes history and shapes it into tragedy – makes some characters more innocent, others more guilty.

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Holinshed’s History titled Chronicles of England,
Scotland, and Ireland is an historical account of the areas/nations based on what was known at the time.
People did believe in witches, and Holinshed’s History actually does include a report of Macbeth’s encounter with witches.
Additionally, King James I of England (King James VI of Scotland) had written Daemonlogie, a book which made clear his belief in the existence of witches and that they should be hunted and executed .

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The tanist system was used in Scotland at this time.
In Literature, see p. 382.
The tanist system/tanistry- In this system, the position of ruler shifted from tribe to tribe/clan to clan, not from father to son; the next ruler was chosen prior to the current ruler’s death; the next ruler had to be of age (at least 16) and had to be worthy (a strong warrior).
Therefore, Macbeth had a legitimate reason to expect the position of king to be his.

 Macbeth:
 Throughout, he holds the titles of Thane of
Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and King of Scotland
 Kills Duncan
 Has Banquo killed
 Has Macduff’s family killed
 Over the course of the play, his mental state deteriorates.
 Is killed by Macduff (Macbeth’s death occurs offstage.)

 Lady Macbeth
 Wife of Macbeth
 Deeply ambitious, desires power
 Urges Macbeth to kill King Duncan
 Exerts incredible influence over Macbeth
 Eventually goes mad with guilt
 Dies (off-stage)….Most think that she committed suicide, but we don’t have proof in the play.

 The Three Witches
 Also called “the weird sisters” (*The word “weird” originates from “wyrd.” “Wyrd” is an Old English word that means fate—and a fate that cannot be resisted.)
 Make predictions about future – tempt Macbeth
 Are presented as evil and perverse
 Are ruled by Hecate

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Banquo
 Witches predict his children will inherit throne of
Scotland
 Is killed by murderers that Macbeth convinces to kill him
 He’s a foil to Macbeth – has opposite character traits.
King Duncan
 King of Scotland – virtuous and kind
 Is killed by Macbeth (His death occurs off-stage.)
 His death symbolizes disruption of order in Scotland

 Macduff
 Scottish nobleman who opposes Macbeth
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 Kills Macbeth
Malcolm
 Eldest son of King Duncan
 Is declared heir to the throne by his father/Duncan
 Challenges Macbeth
 Restores rightful throne in Scotland – return to order

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Elizabethan drama
Tragedy
Tragic flaw

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Symbols (e.g. the owl)
Characters (e.g. foils, internal conflict, and external conflict)
Plot
 Overall structure (Freytag’s Pyramid)- exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution
 Internal conflict vs. external conflict

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Language of contradiction (3 witches)
Gender play/gender shifting
Prose (vs. poetry)
Rhyming couplets
Blank verse
Dramatic irony
Prose (vs. poetry)
Soliloquy
Monologue
Pathetic fallacy