MacbethMacbeth

An introduction to the playAn introduction to the play

Angela IveyAngela Ivey

SettingsSettings The action of the play takes place in The action of the play takes place in

northern Scotland and England.northern Scotland and England. In Scotland, the play is set at or near the In Scotland, the play is set at or near the

following locations:following locations:

King Duncan’s castle at ForresKing Duncan’s castle at Forres Macbeth’s castle at InvernessMacbeth’s castle at Inverness Macduff’s castle at FifeMacduff’s castle at Fife Birnam WoodBirnam Wood Dunsinane Hill in the countryside..Dunsinane Hill in the countryside..

A scene is also set at a castle in England.A scene is also set at a castle in England.

Character ListCharacter List

Macbeth: protagonist; ambitious army Macbeth: protagonist; ambitious army general in Scotland; viewed as a hero at general in Scotland; viewed as a hero at the onset of the play for his success in the onset of the play for his success in battlebattle

Lady Macbeth: Wife of Macbeth; very Lady Macbeth: Wife of Macbeth; very persuasive and aggressive in her marriagepersuasive and aggressive in her marriage

King Duncan: King of ScotlandKing Duncan: King of Scotland Malcolm: Oldest son of King Duncan; Malcolm: Oldest son of King Duncan;

Prince of CumberlandPrince of Cumberland Donalbain: Youngest son of King DuncanDonalbain: Youngest son of King Duncan

Character List (cont)Character List (cont)

Banquo: Army general; good, loyal friend Banquo: Army general; good, loyal friend of Macbethof Macbeth

Three Witches: Hags who can predict the Three Witches: Hags who can predict the future for Macbeth; also called the weird future for Macbeth; also called the weird sisters; Weird is derived from the Anglo-sisters; Weird is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word wyrd, meaning fate. The three Saxon word wyrd, meaning fate. The three witches are also a reference to the three witches are also a reference to the three goddesses of fate (Hesiod).goddesses of fate (Hesiod).

Hecate (Witch 4): Mistress of the witches’ Hecate (Witch 4): Mistress of the witches’ charms and queen of Hades; referred to as charms and queen of Hades; referred to as the Queen of the witchesthe Queen of the witches

Character List (cont)Character List (cont)

Macduff: Scottish nobleman and Lord of Macduff: Scottish nobleman and Lord of Fife; known for his wisdom and integrityFife; known for his wisdom and integrity

Lady Macduff: Wife of MacduffLady Macduff: Wife of Macduff Son of MacduffSon of Macduff Lennox, Ross, Menteith, Angus, Caithness: Lennox, Ross, Menteith, Angus, Caithness:

Scottish noblemenScottish noblemen Fleance: Son of BanquoFleance: Son of Banquo Siward: Earl of Northumberland; general of Siward: Earl of Northumberland; general of

the English forcesthe English forces Young Siward: Son of SiwardYoung Siward: Son of Siward

Character List (cont)Character List (cont)

Seyton: Officer attending MacbethSeyton: Officer attending MacbethSoldierSoldierPorterPorterDoctorDoctorOld ManOld ManThree Apparitions: Three ghosts of Three Apparitions: Three ghosts of

great significance for Macbeth; great significance for Macbeth; symbolicsymbolic

The Real MacbethThe Real Macbeth

Macbeth was an 11th Century Scot who Macbeth was an 11th Century Scot who took the throne in 1040 after killing King took the throne in 1040 after killing King Duncan I, his cousin, in a battle.Duncan I, his cousin, in a battle.

The real Macbeth was believed to be a The real Macbeth was believed to be a wise monarch who reigned over Scotland wise monarch who reigned over Scotland for seventeen prosperous years.for seventeen prosperous years.

In 1057, King Duncan’s oldest son, In 1057, King Duncan’s oldest son, Malcolm, ended Macbeth’s reign by killing Malcolm, ended Macbeth’s reign by killing him in battle and assuming the role as him in battle and assuming the role as King Malcolm III.King Malcolm III.

Shakespeare’s InspirationShakespeare’s Inspiration

Shakespeare got his idea for Macbeth from Shakespeare got his idea for Macbeth from Raphael Holinshed’s Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles,Chronicles, which tells which tells a different tale using similar characters and a different tale using similar characters and references to husband-wife relationships, references to husband-wife relationships, murder, deceit, and mutiny.murder, deceit, and mutiny.

Shakespeare was also influenced by the Shakespeare was also influenced by the Roman dramatist Seneca (4-65 A.D.), who Roman dramatist Seneca (4-65 A.D.), who wrote horrific plays about revenge and wrote horrific plays about revenge and murder. Shakespeare appears to be inspired murder. Shakespeare appears to be inspired by some of the same themes as Seneca.by some of the same themes as Seneca.

Fascinating FactsFascinating Facts

The words blood and night (or forms The words blood and night (or forms of them, such as bloody and tonight) of them, such as bloody and tonight) occur more than 40 times each in occur more than 40 times each in Macbeth.Macbeth.

Other commonly occurring words Other commonly occurring words that help maintain the mood of the that help maintain the mood of the play are terrible, horrible, black, play are terrible, horrible, black, devil, and evil.devil, and evil.

POOR KING JAMESPOOR KING JAMES

James was taken from his mother (Mary, James was taken from his mother (Mary, Queen of Scots) shortly after birthQueen of Scots) shortly after birth

Father murdered soon after (by his Father murdered soon after (by his mom?)mom?)

His mom was forced from the throne of His mom was forced from the throne of Scotland, imprisoned for 19 years in Scotland, imprisoned for 19 years in England ((by cousin Elizabeth), and England ((by cousin Elizabeth), and finally beheaded (also by cousin finally beheaded (also by cousin Elizabeth)Elizabeth)

Things are looking up…Things are looking up…

James began ruling Scotland at age 19James began ruling Scotland at age 19Married Anne of DenmarkMarried Anne of DenmarkHad 9 childrenHad 9 childrenSurvived numerous assassination Survived numerous assassination

attemptsattempts In 1603, Elizabeth died without an heir In 1603, Elizabeth died without an heir

and James IV of Scotland became—and James IV of Scotland became—simultaneously—James I of Englandsimultaneously—James I of England

Helping the Bard…Helping the Bard…

James was taken with Shakespeare’s James was taken with Shakespeare’s plays.plays.

Gave Shakespeare and his company Gave Shakespeare and his company royal protectionroyal protection

In 1606, he commissioned In 1606, he commissioned Shakespeare to write a play in honor Shakespeare to write a play in honor of his brother-in-law, King Christian of his brother-in-law, King Christian IV of Denmark, who came to visit.IV of Denmark, who came to visit.

Here Comes Trouble…Here Comes Trouble…

James was fascinated by witchcraft and demons.James was fascinated by witchcraft and demons. In 1591, when he was King of Scotland, King In 1591, when he was King of Scotland, King

James was almost murdered by a group of James was almost murdered by a group of witches and sorcerers. Their trial and testimony witches and sorcerers. Their trial and testimony convinced King James that they were sources of convinced King James that they were sources of evil. evil.

He had written a book on demonology and was He had written a book on demonology and was considered the foremost authority on the subject.considered the foremost authority on the subject.

With this in mind, Shakespeare wrote With this in mind, Shakespeare wrote Macbeth,Macbeth, his only play including witches. Shakespeare his only play including witches. Shakespeare knew very well of King James’s superstition, and knew very well of King James’s superstition, and he also knew that a play about witchcraft would he also knew that a play about witchcraft would cause a stir and make a quick buck. Therefore, he cause a stir and make a quick buck. Therefore, he wrote Macbeth, a play full of elements of evil!wrote Macbeth, a play full of elements of evil!

The Curse Begins…The Curse Begins…

The plot of The plot of MacbethMacbeth is really a thinly is really a thinly disguised telling of the death of James’ disguised telling of the death of James’ father.father.

The witchcraft scenes are authentically The witchcraft scenes are authentically detailed. Some say too authentic…detailed. Some say too authentic…

Some people believe that the Some people believe that the incantations in the play are incantations in the play are actualactual incantations which create a curse and incantations which create a curse and that the curse is renewed each time that the curse is renewed each time the words are spoken.the words are spoken.

Others say that the local witches Others say that the local witches were so angry at having their secrets were so angry at having their secrets revealed that they placed a revealed that they placed a perpetual curse on the play.perpetual curse on the play.

For 400 years, the play has been For 400 years, the play has been surrounded by death and disaster.surrounded by death and disaster.

The Curse of The Curse of MacbethMacbeth

In the first production, the young In the first production, the young man scehduled to play Lady Macbeth man scehduled to play Lady Macbeth came down with a fever right before came down with a fever right before the performance. Some say he died.the performance. Some say he died.

King James, horrified by the death King James, horrified by the death scenes, banned perfromance for 5 scenes, banned perfromance for 5 years.years.

After the ban, the play was After the ban, the play was performed in the Globe. A few days performed in the Globe. A few days later it burned to the ground.later it burned to the ground.

Disaster Strikes!Disaster Strikes! Early 1900’s: Prompter found dead in prompting boxEarly 1900’s: Prompter found dead in prompting box 1937: Old Vic theatre’s founder suddenly died of a 1937: Old Vic theatre’s founder suddenly died of a

heart attack just before the play opened. Laurence heart attack just before the play opened. Laurence Olivier was almost killed when a sandbag fell from the Olivier was almost killed when a sandbag fell from the raftersrafters

1948: Actress playing Lady Macbeth fell 15 feet off 1948: Actress playing Lady Macbeth fell 15 feet off the edge of the stage.the edge of the stage.

1942: One of the witches died of a heart attack, 1942: One of the witches died of a heart attack, “Duncan” died of a heart attack; Another witch died of “Duncan” died of a heart attack; Another witch died of a heart attack; set designer committed suicide…all in a heart attack; set designer committed suicide…all in one production!one production!

Russian version to be filmed in Georgia was canceled Russian version to be filmed in Georgia was canceled when 9 members of the crew died of food poisoning.when 9 members of the crew died of food poisoning.

1971: 7 burglaries, one fire during a 3 month run.1971: 7 burglaries, one fire during a 3 month run.

Macbeth Macbeth Superstitions Superstitions It is considered bad luck to even say “Macbeth” It is considered bad luck to even say “Macbeth”

except during rehearsal or performance. When except during rehearsal or performance. When referring to the work one instead uses terms, such as referring to the work one instead uses terms, such as “the Scottish play” or “Mackers” or “the Scottish “the Scottish play” or “Mackers” or “the Scottish business” or “the Glamis comedy” or just “that play." business” or “the Glamis comedy” or just “that play."

Some say this rule applies only when inside a Some say this rule applies only when inside a theater; it’s OK, therefore, to use the dread name in theater; it’s OK, therefore, to use the dread name in other settings – like classrooms, for instance. other settings – like classrooms, for instance.

The remedy, if someone does happen to utter the The remedy, if someone does happen to utter the unutterable, is to leave the room, close the door, unutterable, is to leave the room, close the door, turn around three times, say a dirty word (or spit, turn around three times, say a dirty word (or spit, some say), then knock on the door and ask tobe let some say), then knock on the door and ask tobe let back in. If you can’t do all that, you simply quote back in. If you can’t do all that, you simply quote from Hamlet, act 1, scene 4: “Angels and ministers of from Hamlet, act 1, scene 4: “Angels and ministers of grace defend us!”grace defend us!”

Macbeth Macbeth Superstitions cont.Superstitions cont.

In fact, it is said that, the night In fact, it is said that, the night before he was assassinated, before he was assassinated, Abraham Lincoln was quoting from Abraham Lincoln was quoting from MacbethMacbeth!!