Macbeth

1
Macbeth

• Cyrs Summary

2
The Play Macbeth Interesting Factoids

• Believed to be Shakespeare's darkest play
• Shakespeares shortest play
• Underground rocker and former The Velvet
  Underground member John Cale wrote a darkly
  lyrical song entitled Macbeth.
• Based on real people and SOME real events
• In 2008, magician Teller (of Penn Teller)
  co-directed Macbeth at Folger Theatre with Aaron
  Posner. The directors incorporated the plays
  magic and illusions into a supernatural horror
  thriller production.
• Many television episodes, movies, and songs are
  based on Macbeth.

3
Background

• Perhaps written for King James I
• King James I was a writer himself
• King James I was from Scotland
• King James I was reportedly a fan of theater, but
  not loooong plays (Macbeth is Shakespeares
  shortest play)
• King James I was supposedly a direct descendant
  of Banquo (your sons will become kings)
• King James I was intrigued with witches and
  witchcraft

4
Real People

• Macbeth
• Duncan
• Malcolm
• Donald Ban (Donalbain)
• Banquo
• Macdonalwald
• Banquo

• Siward
• Young Siward (did die at the hands of Macbeth)
• Lady Macbeth (Gruach)
• Macduff

5
Tragedy

• A literary work depicting serious events in which
  the main character, who is usually high-ranking
  and dignified, comes to an unhappy end.
• Human actions have inevitable consequences
• An ill judged action will lead to a catastrophe

6
Shakespearean Tragedy

• The fatal flaw. Shakespeares tragic heroes are
  all fundamentally flawed. It is this weakness
  that ultimately leads to their downfall.
• The bigger they are, the harder they fall. The
  Shakespeare tragedies often focus on the fall of
  a nobleman. By presenting the audience with a man
  with excessive wealth or power, his eventual
  downfall fall is all the more tragic.
• External pressures. Shakespeares tragic heroes
  often fall victim to external pressures. Fate,
  evil spirits and manipulative characters all play
  a hand in the heros downfall.

7
Themes

• The Consequences of Actions
• The Corruption of Power and Ambition
• The Connection between Cruelty and Masculinity
• The Difference between Kingship and Tyranny
• Fate vs. Free Will
• Distorted/Different views of Reality
• The Supernatural and its Power
• Guilt and Remorse
• Natural vs. Unnatural
• Gender Roles

8
Famous Lines

• Fair is foul, and foul is fair
• Witches1.1.12
• So foul and fair a day I have not seen.
• Macbeth1.3.39
• Come you spirits/That tend on mortal thoughts,
  unsex me here...
• Lady Macbeth1.5.4748
• Yet I do fear thy nature It is too full o th
  milk of human kindness
• Lady Macbeth1.5.4748
• The be-all and the end-all here.
• Macbeth1.7.5
• Is this a dagger which I see before me,/The
  handle toward my hand?
• Macbeth2.1.4445
• It will have blood, they say blood will have
  blood.
• Macbeth3.4.151

• Double, double toil and trouble/Fire burn, and
  cauldron bubble.
• Witches4.1.1011
• At one fell swoop?
• Macduff4.3.258
• Out, damned spot, out, I say!
• Lady Macbeth5.1.37
• Whats done cannot be undone.
• Lady Macbeth - 5.1.7
• Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
• Macbeth5.5.22

9
Soliloquy

• a speech in which a character reveals his
  thoughts to the audience but not to other
  characters in the play
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vsVs7XrTv1YM
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v4x0T_1tLpi4