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Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
What is there about Shakespeare
that would interest
a contemporary American?
Why do we read this?
 If being a “contemporary American” means being
focused on dirty TV sitcoms, greed, casual sex, bigmoney sports, televangelism, professional
wrestling, crybabies, slot machines, political action
committees, and “war on drugs” profiteering, then
the answer is probably “Nothing.”
 If a contemporary American can still ask, “Is life
just a meaningless exercise in status-seeking, or
is there anything to give us hope that morality is
real?” -- then the answer is maybe that
Shakespeare deals with basic human issues.
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
WITCHES
TREACHERY
MURDER
BLOOD
FAITHLESSNESS
DECEPTION
AMBITION
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
Macbeth
A tragedy
By William
Shakespeare
The
Rise
and
Fall
of a
Great
Man
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
 The Scottish Play is based
loosely on an episode from
history, the death of King
Duncan at the hands of his
kinsman Macbeth.
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
Source of the play
 Shakespeare's
source for his
story is
Raphael
Holinshed's
Chronicles
of England,
Scotland and
Ireland (1577)
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
 Written between
1604-1606
 Performed
at the Globe
Theatre,
London
 Published in the
First Folio of
1623
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
Notes
Full title: The Tragedy of Macbeth
Genre: Tragedy
Setting (time): 11th century
Setting (place): Scotland, and briefly,
England
 Protagonist: Macbeth
 Major Conflicts: Macbeth struggles
with his conscience (before and after
murder); evil (Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth); struggles with good
(Malcolm and Macduff)




Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
Historical Connection
 Scotland at the time was a
violent and troubled country
 The castle was the center of
each rival aristocrat’s (thane)
power
 Political murder and
revenge were not
unusual means to gain
power
 Plundering Vikings
and Norsemen attacked
Scotland constantly
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
 The play is the shortest of
Shakespeare's tragedies,
without diversions or subplots.
 It chronicles Macbeth's seizing
of power and subsequent
destruction.
 It is considered Shakespeare’s
darkest work.
 His rise and fall are the result
of blind ambition.
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
 Macbeth was intended to stir the interest of
the new king, James I.
 The play's focus on regicide, a supreme
crime in Shakespeare's day, tied into the
November 1605 Gunpowder Plot where
English Roman Catholic conspirators plotted
to blow up
Parliament,
King James,
his queen
and oldest
son.
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
Importance of Patronage
 The play pays tribute to the interests and knowledge of
King James. With patronage, a writer composes one of his
works for a king, queen or another rich person for
continued support.
 This play compliments James by making Banquo, who is
said to be his ancestor, a hero in the play. Historically,
Banquo never existed.
Macbeth focuses on issues of kinship and
loyalty, important ideals to King James, who
had survived an assassination attempt early in
his life. His father had been murdered. His
mother, Mary Queen of Scots, had been
executed.
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
 The questions of the role of the monarch and the
duties of their subjects toward them were of major
importance to King James.
 A story suggests that King James wrote a letter of
acknowledgment about the play to Shakespeare.
 Shakespeare’s England, the political issue of
succession and order were of major importance.
 Belief in witchcraft was widespread.
 In 1604, the practice of witchcraft became
punishable by death because it was
believed that it attempted to change
God’s natural order.
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
The Historical Macbeth
 Born in 1005 to a family that ruled
Moray and Ross
 He married Gruach, granddaughter to
a High King of Scotland; no children
 No historical evidence of Lady
Macbeth’s influence on her husband
 Duncan, an ineffective king, was 38 when he was
killed, possibly by Macbeth
 Macbeth ruled for 17 years, elected High King of
Scotland in 1040. For the first 10 years, this
competent king reformed the country.
 Led Scotland in a long period of peace and
stability
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
Historical Macbeth
 No evidence of attention to witchcraft
 Strong supporter of the church
 Duncan’s son Malcolm invaded Scotland in
1054, supported by the English King
Edward the Confessor
Macbeth was killed on
Aug. 15, 1057
Buried at Iona, the
sacred burial place of the
kings of Scotland
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
Theme
 The play is
seen as a
tale of
dangers of
the lust for
power and
betrayal of
friends.
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
Inside the
theater
 Actors often consider
the play to be unlucky,
and usually refer to it
as “the Scottish play”
rather than by name.
To say the name of
the play inside a
theatre is considered
to doom the
production to failure.
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
Recurring motifs
(patterns)
 Blood
 Clothing
 Natural order
(nature)
 Insomnia
These are
examples of test
‘questions’
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
What to Watch For
what Macbeth is thinking and
feeling,
why he acts the way he does,
and what consequences his evil
brings about upon himself
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
At the Start of the Play
 Macbeth is a very successful and highly
respected member of a social group,
loaded with honors and enjoying every
prospect of future commendations . He
has a loving wife and a secure home in his
castle at Inverness. He is praised for his
heroic actions in defense of the kingdom.
King Duncan thinks of Macbeth with high
regard and treats him generously.
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
At the End of the Play
 Macbeth is totally alone. He has no
friends, he is universally despised, his
wife is dead, and all his most eager
hopes have been disappointed. He is a
man without a place in the social
community. He has become totally
isolated.
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
Why?
 Because
of his own
free
decisions!
 He destroys
himself.
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature
As we get to know Macbeth …
In-class reading points:
You are starting this unit with 25 on-task reading points.
You will keep these points by participating in the reading
and paying attention to the lessons.
How can you lose these points?
That would include doing other classwork/homework,
sleeping, not paying attention, passing notes, etc.
These points are non-negotiable. Rather than losing
momentum in the reading, I will simply write your name
down as you lose daily points. If you have any questions
about your point allocation, you may ask me at the end
of the period. I will not reassign points, but you will
know if you are keeping them.
Questions? Problems? Just pay attention, and these will
be free points for you – in addition to your better
understanding of the storyline.
P.S. If you sleep even once, you work alone on the
partner test. Stay awake to work with a partner.
READY TO ACT?
PLEASE TURN TO
PAGE 322
 You earn extra credit
by taking a part to read
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature