William

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Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That
struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And
then is heard no more."
William Shakespeare
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and
fury, signifying nothing. "
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William Shakespeare

• Probably April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon.
  Baptized on April 26, 1564.
• Married Anne Hathaway, who was pregnant with
  their daughter Susanna, when he was 18.
• Had three children Susanna, and twins Hamnet and
  Judith. Hamnet died at age 11.
• Began performing with the acting company the Lord
  Chamberlains Men (later called the Kings Men)
  in 1599.
• With business partners, constructed the Globe
  theatre.
• Wrote 37 plays and numerous sonnets.
• Died April 23, 1616.

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The Globe Theater
Reconstructed in the 1990s
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• See pages 284-285 in Elements of Literature book
  for detailed diagram

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In plays during this time

• Only men were permitted to perform.
• Boys or effeminate men were used to play the
  women.
• Costumes were often the companys most valuable
  asset. Costumes were made by the company, bought
  in London, or donated by courtiers

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The Cost of a Show

• 1 shilling to stand
• 2 shillings to sit in the balcony
• 1 shilling was 10 of their weekly income

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Tragedy
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Tragedy

• A tragedy is a literary work depicting serious
  events in which the main character, who is often
  high-ranking and dignified, comes to an unhappy
  end.

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Elements of Tragedy

• Tragic Hero
• Tragic Flaw, or Hamartia
• Hubris
• Catastrophe
• Catharsis

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Tragic Hero

• Man of high standard who falls from that high
  because of a flaw that has affected many
  Aristotle
• Protagonist
• A tragic hero is neither good nor evil to start.
  According to Aristotle, a tragic hero should have
  a character between these two extremes-that of a
  man who is not preeminently good and just, yet
  whose misfortune is brought about not by vice or
  depravity, but by some error in judgment or
  frailty.

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Hamartia (Tragic Flaw)

• The error of great frailty through which the
  fortunes of the hero of a tragedy are reversed.
• Leads to the tragic heros downfall
• May be caused by poor judgment, bad character,
  inherited weakness, or any of several other
  possible causes of error
• Must express itself through a definite action, or
  failure to perform a definite action
• Example Hubris-excessive pride or confidence

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Catastrophe

• The conclusion of a tragic play
• The final stage in the falling action, ending the
  dramatic conflict, winding up the plot and
  consisting of the actions that result from the
  climax.
• Since it is usually used in connection with
  tragedy and involves the death of the tragic
  hero, it is sometimes used to designate an
  unhappy ending

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Catharsis

• The purging of the emotions experienced by
  members of the audience
• Often, these emotions are pity and/or fear

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The Curse!
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• It is believed to be bad luck to speak the word
  Macbeth in a theater.
• There have been many horrible occurrences related
  to this curse. Example People being accidentally
  killed onstage

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Macbeth
The tragedy of

• Set in Scotland
• Written for King James I (formerly of Scotland,
  now England)
• Queen of Denmark (James sister) was visiting
• Shakespeare researched The Chronicles - Banquo is
  an ancestor of King James I

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Motifs

• Sleep/Sleeplessness
• Disturbances in nature
• Gender role reversal
• Virtue v. Evil
• Reason v. Passion

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Symbols

• Dagger
• Bell
• Witches
• Helmeted head
• Bloody child
• Crowned child