macbeth! by william shakespeare why we should study it what we should learn from it
TRANSCRIPT
Macbeth!By William Shakespeare
Why We Should Study It
What We Should Learn from It
Macbeth
• It inspires…see art, see writing, see common cultural knowledge.
• It reveals a bit of Scottish history that we should all learn.
• It illustrates the power of writing: as an example of how an author uses his writing to purposely affect a viewer (how Shakespeare wrote it for King James I)
• It makes us think (themes and human condition).
Macbeth - reveals
• History– Shakespeare based his play, “Macbeth,” on
the Scottish king, Mac Beth, and his rise and reign.
Mac Beth
• Lived in Scotland• Became king • Killed his king before
him, Duncan• Reigned for 17 years
and was beloved for bringing peace and prosperity to Scotland
Macbeth
• Lived in Scotland• Became king • Killed his king before
him, Duncan• Reigned for months
and was hated for bringing such violence and unrest as a demoralizing man.
Mac Beth vs. Macbeth
• 1044• King Duncan was born in
1001• Duncan became king
after killing his grandfather
• Duncan “was a spoiled and over zealous young man whose reign was wrought with failed campaigns and death for his people” (http://students.roanoke.edu/t/tnunez/actualstory.html)
• His people hated him and his lords overthrew him.
• 1606
• Duncan was beloved by his people and his thanes.
• In the play (I, i), he arrives after the action, which would not have been “okay” as a leader. He would have fought.
Mac Beth vs. Macbeth
• Mac Beth, his cousin, killed him and became king.
• Duncan’s sons fled: Donald Ban to Ireland and Malcolm to England, but later returned to reign as kings
• They murdered Mac Beth’s father in 1020
• Macbeth, his loyal thane, killed him.
• Macbeth framed Duncan’s sons, so that Macbeth could assume the throne.
• Duncan’s sons fled: to Ireland and Malcolm to England, but later returned, and Malcolm reigned as king.
Mac Beth vs. Macbeth
• Blood• Blood• Murder• Murder• Murder• Deceit• Power• murder
• Blood• Blood• Murder• Murder• Murder• Deceit• Power• murder
Macbeth – power of words
• Shakespeare wrote the play for King James I
• First, he wanted to provoke a reaction from King James I, who was known to fall asleep during plays (http://students.roanoke.edu/t/tnunez/TheRoyalPlay.html).
– Ego?– Please the king? Sycophant??
Macbeth – King James I
• Enthralled by Scottish History
• Events correlated to James’ life– Treachery and Deceit=many assassination
attempts on King James I– Macbeth was Thane of Glamis=James held
hostage by Thane of Glamis– Witches provoked evil=James wrote a book
on witches and how to punish them
http://students.roanoke.edu/t/tnunez/TheRoyalPlay.html
Macbeth – King James I
• Rumor maintained that his father (if James was product of illegitimate affair) was stabbed to death in presence of his mother, the queen.
• Queen’s husband murdered in 1567
• Fear of uprising
• Crowned king at 13 months
• Mother, Mary Queen of Scots, killed for being against Queen Elizabeth
• Many plots to kill James throughout his reign
Macbeth – King James I
• King James I , unlike other kings, died in his bed (age 59) at peace with subjects and foreign countries.
• Also, he passed his crown onto his adult son, also very unusual for the times and history of kings.
• His life was troubled, depressed, and pained.• http://students.roanoke.edu/t/tnunez/TheRoyalPlay.html
Macbeth – makes us think
• Themes– Greed– Power– Fate– Masculinity– Loyalty– Going against Nature– Evil– Supernatural– Ambition
• Human Condition– Tragic hero– Moral degradation
• Choices• responsibilities
– Purpose of life• “Tomorrow and
tomorrow and tomorrow, creeps by in this petty pace…out, out brief candle…”
The Question:
• Is life a series of meaningless events surrounded by violence and treachery of a dog-eat-dog world resulting in tiresome pointlessness, (despair)
or
• is there hope for a better life, for some point to it all? (hope)
Macbeth – bonus
• It is Shakespeare’s shortest play.
• It is full of action.
• Much murder and blood drives the plot of the play.
• Reversals, twists, and gender issues with a touch of madness accent the play.
• You get to chant.