Shakespeare’s “Scottish Play”
 Violence, greed and
ambition, and witchcraft.
 Macbeth is ambitious and
ruthless.
 If he waivers, his wife goads
him on, making fun of him
and pressuring him to do
many evil acts to achieve
and maintain political
power.
 It's exciting but also
gruesome!
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 Shakespeare's famous play,
like most of his plays, is
loosely based on history.
 Real Macbeth story is
found in a book called
Scotorum Historiae
(Chronicles of Scotland,
1526-7) by Hector Boece.
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 The ‘real’ Macbeth's father was ruler
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of the northern tip of Scotland
(Caithness, Sutherland, etc)
Dad was killed/succeeded by
MacBeth’s cousin, Gillacomgain, who
was burned to death, along with his
supporters, by Macbeth in retaliation
The ‘real’ Lady Macbeth was
originally married to Gillacomgain.
Their son was Lulach the Simple.
Macbeth took Gillacomgain’s Lady as
wife, and raised Lulach
Duncan took the throne for 6 years
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 Duncan the I was a terrible ruler, and
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an incompetent military man
MacBeth plotted against Duncan
Duncan tried to attack two places at
once (breaking the rule of avoiding a
war on two opposing fronts)
One front was Macbeth’s territory of
Moray. Macbeth wiped out Duncan’s
army and killed Duncan himself
MacBeth ruled Scotland for 35 years
He was apparently a wise ruler
God
WORLDVIEWS
 William Shakespeare lived during the
'Elizabethan' period of England's history.
 The monarch of the time, Queen
Elizabeth, was a political genius
 She set the tone for the era
 Historians often say that her citizens
also shared a world view,
which guided their values
and behaviour.
Angels
Man
Animals
Plants
Inorganic
Matter
Chaos
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Established
Order
King Duncan
(the king, and
God's
representative)
Malcolm (direct
heir to the king)
Other nobles
(Macbeth,
Macduff, Banquo)
Knights
Gentlemen
The Poor
 In this worldview, each lower
order was expected to keep its
place, and acknowledge
dominion of the upper ones.
 This order was very rigid.
 Women btw are subservient to
men, and obedient to their rule.
 Within the order of mankind, in
fact, there was a further
subdivision, which is reflected
in Macbeth (see to the left)
Greek World
(Ancient history)
Elizabethan World
(Shakespeare’s time)
 Greek dramatists depicted a world
 In the Elizabethan world, tragic
that was essentially fated.
 Ancient Greek dramatists like
Sophocles showed characters whose
tragedy was not due to their choices,
but based on the fact that they
could not avoid their fate.
 Oedipus, for example, on
hearing from the oracle that he
was doomed to murder his
father, flees his homeland.
 In an odd twist of events,
however, he meets a stranger
(who he does not know is his
real father) and kills him in an
ancient version of road rage.
 Oedipus's tragedy is that his
fate awaited him
figures such as Macbeth operate
in a world that assumes free
will.
 Though facing monumental
forces and limitations, these
characters still possess the
power of choice.
 Their tragedy is one of personal
decision, turning upon major
questions of morality, ethics,
and religious belief.
 Keep this in mind when you turn
to a consideration of the
characters in Act I and their
actions.
 The theatre was a subtle
reminder of the social order:
staging was roughly circular
(see Globe theatre), a
reflection of the world and
universe
 The audience was seated
according to their station in
life, at least economically.
 The wealthiest could
afford private boxes.
 The poorest were known
as "groundlings“ who
stand on the ground in
front of the stage for the
entire performance.
Introducing the main characters
 Producing a performance
of Macbeth is supposed
to be unlucky.
 Fires, falls, and weapon
injuries have plagued
past productions.
 Superstition requires
those involved in
productions not to say
the play's title, but rather
"The Scottish Play" or
"the unmentionable".
 Duncan, as rightful
king, embodies order.
 Under heaven, he is the
apex of power and
privilege.
 He is an old man, and
considered to be wise
and generous.
 Real Duncan was
reputedly horrible
 Macbeth, the leader of the
army, is brave and
impetuous in battle.
 He seems to have defeated
the invading armies almost
single-handedly, and the
king is grateful.
 However, his desire for
power is all consuming.
 Real MacBeth was
generous and kind
 Lady Macbeth is
supportive of her husband
and seems suited to the role
of noble hostess when
Duncan visits her home.
 However, she reveals the
same lust for power that
afflicts her husband.
 She departs from the
“natural order” of an
obedient wife – she’s tough
 Banquo is, at first, a
friend and supporter of
Macbeth, as long as
Macbeth plays the role of
a defender of the king
and natural order.
 He cautions Macbeth
against being drawn into
the witches' prophecy.
 Did not really exist
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 Malcolm is the king's
elder son, a young man,
possibly in his teens.
 Has not yet been tested
in command.
 Really existed – became
King after MacBeth’s
demise
 Macduff and the other
Scottish thanes are noble
to Scotland and appear to
want what is just and
honourable.
 The MacDuff castle no
longer exists
 These three appear first
in the play
 Indicates BIG trouble
 They cannot kill directly,
but can bring a person to
great harm
 They fool with MacBeth
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