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Macbeth

Macbeth. Background to the Play. Origin of the Play. Shakespeare was talented in creative dramatization of an existing story, not creating an original story often consulted Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland

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Macbeth

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  1. Macbeth Background to the Play

  2. Origin of the Play • Shakespeare was talented in creative dramatization of an existing story, not creating an original story • often consulted Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland • Idea was based off of a “real” Macbeth that became King of Scotland in 1040

  3. Macbeth kills a weak, youthful, inexperienced King Duncan Macbeth’s wife is hardly mentioned Macbeth reigns for 17 years and survived the battles that returned Malcom to the throne Macbeth murders on older, well-respected King Duncan Strong, ambitious Lady Macbeth Macbeth’s reign is short; he’s defeated and beheaded “Real” vs. Play

  4. Besides being more interesting of a story, the short answer is King James I Why the changes?

  5. James I • Was appointed King of England by Queen Elizabeth I (his distant cousin). He was King James VI of Scotland at the time, which made him the first monarch to join England and Scotland together peacefully

  6. James I • was a Stuart. • All monarchs were worried about keeping power, and despite having the throne for 8 generations, the Stuarts worried their decent to the throne in Scotland would one day be disputed because they came from a commoner (a steward) that was the husband of a royal family member.

  7. James I • In the early 1500s, a Stuart king hired a historian/“PR” guy that invented a family connection to a fictional Banquo from the time of Macbeth. This made the Stuart claim to the throne sound legit. • in this made up ancestor story, a goddess of Scottish destiny (supernatural) told Banquo that his descendents would one day become kings of Scotland

  8. James I • After James came to power in England, he quickly became the patron of Shakespeare’s theater company • Macbeth was written to please Shakespeare’s patron • Details of the story on purpose make Banquo look like a stellar guy…in Holinshed’s Chronicles, Banquo was involved in the conspiracy to murder King Duncan

  9. Shakespearean Tragic Hero • born of nobility • makes an error in judgment • falls from great height or esteem • has a tragic flaw (hamartia)

  10. More tragic hero characteristics • realizes has made an irreversible mistake • faces and accepts death with honor • affects the audience with fear and pity • meets a tragic death

  11. Numerous universal themes can be found within Macbeth. Here are 4 biggies

  12. Macbeth Theme #1 • Fate vs. Freewill – whether destiny or choice decides a man’s future

  13. Macbeth Theme #2 • Ambition - corrupting force of unchecked ambition

  14. Macbeth Theme #3 • Power – a good ruler vs. a tyrant

  15. Macbeth Theme #4 • Masculinity vs. Femininity – look at Lady Macbeth

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