1 / 40

Macbeth Introduction

Macbeth Introduction. Written by William Shakespeare in 1605 Macbeth is a man who overthrows the rightful King of Scotland Shakespeare wrote Macbeth at the beginning of King James I reign Before James succeeded Elizabeth I he was king of Scotland

charlize-vaughn
Download Presentation

Macbeth Introduction

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Macbeth Introduction • Written by William Shakespeare in 1605 • Macbeth is a man who overthrows the rightful King of Scotland • Shakespeare wrote Macbeth at the beginning of King James I reign • Before James succeeded Elizabeth I he was king of Scotland • Placing the play in James’ homeland probably pleased him 1

  2. Will the real Macbeth please stand up? • Macbeth was a real king of Scotland • He did kill King Duncan • Reigned from 1040-1057 • Unlike the Macbeth in Shakespeare’s play • The real Macbeth had a legitimate claim to the throne • The real Macbeth was a strong leader • The real Macbeth’s reign was successful • The real Macbeth was killed at Lumphanan as opposed to Dunsinane 2

  3. Connections for British Society • “Remember, remember the fifth of November Gunpowder, treason and plot.I see no reason why gunpowder, treasonShould ever be forgot...” • In November 1605 the Gunpowder Plot was discovered • Guy Fawkes and his followers (Roman Catholics) planned to blow up Parliament • They wanted to bring down the British government and put a Catholic rulers on the throne • The plot was discovered and the men involved were tried and killed as traitors • Shakespeare sided with the king and seemed to think that a play about treason and death would find an audience at this time 3

  4. So this is a comedy… right? • Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies (it is also his shortest) • Aside from the violent nature of the plot Shakespeare uses several literary devices to enhance the feeling of evil • He creates a serious and sinister mood by having most of the play take place at night • There is a heavy emphasis on the supernatural (witches, dreams, spells, and ghosts) 4

  5. A little taste of MacbethThree Witches 5

  6. Let’s Get Ready • Let’s discuss the following to begin thinking about some of the major themes and motifs in Macbeth: • Have you ever given into temptation? • Do you believe in prophecies? • Do you believe that we are all in a battle of good vs. evil? • How do you decide what is good and what is evil? • Do you believe in the adage, “You reap what you sow’? Yes___ No___ • Do you believe that fate directs out lives or that our actions alone do? To what extent do you believe this? Why? • What does your moral code consist of? Would you break it for someone you loved? Would you break it for someone you lusted after? • Do you listen to your conscience? Yes___ No___ • Have you ever experienced guilt? Yes___ No___ Did the guilt change you? Yes___ No___ 6

  7. Getting Ready • Do you believe in the adage, “You reap what you sow’? • Do you believe that fate directs our lives or that our actions alone do? To what extent do you believe this? Why? • What does your moral code consist of? Would you break it for someone you loved? Would you break it for someone you lusted after? • Do you listen to your conscience? • Have you ever experienced guilt? 7

  8. Scotland V Norway • Scotland - Duncan - King • Generals -Macbeth - Banquo • Sons - Malcolm - Donaldbain • Lennox - a thane • Norway - Sweno - King • Macdonwald • Thane of Cawdor - a traitor 8

  9. Macbeth Act 1 - Scene 1 • Witches - Supernatural influences • “Fair being Foul” - Paradox • King Duncan - Scotland • Duncan’s sons- Malcolm and Donaldbain • Generals - Macbeth and Banquo • Thunder , lightning , and rain - sense of doom 9

  10. Macbeth Act 1 - Scene 2 • Macdonaldwald’s rebellion • Ross tells Duncan of Norway’s rebellion - King of Norway - Sweno • Thane of Cawdor rebels against Duncan • Scotland wins - Macbeth gets title - Thane of Cawdor - “ THE SPOILS OF WAR” • Macbeth and Banquo - “Two spent swimmers” 10

  11. Macbeth Act 1 Scene 3 • The witches first prophesy has come true - Thane of Cawdor • Macbeth - “So foul and fair a day , I have not seen - recalls witches first scene • Banquo - “The instrument of darkness tell us truths - only to betray us” • Banquo - father of Kings • Ross and Angus - confirm witches 11

  12. Scene 3 • Macbeth conflict begins - “ If chance will have me King , why , chance may crown me without my stir.” • Witches - religious times so the witches may be procurators of sin. • Suggestion -desire - consent 12

  13. Act1 Scene 3 13

  14. Macbeth Act 1 Scene 4 • Execution of Cawdor • “You can’t tell what is in a person’s heart by looking at his face” • “Nothing in his life became him like the leaving of it” • Duncan- Malcolm to be King - Prince of Cumberland • Macbeth- “Let not light see my black and deep desires” • scene shows differences of Duncan &Macbeth 14

  15. Ambition • What does the word ambition mean ? • an ardent desire for rank, fame, or powerb: desire to achieve a particular end • Do you think that you are ambitious? • Who are some people that you feel have ambition? • Who are some that you feel have little or no ambition? • Do you think that a person's ambition has helped or harmed other people? • Is it possible for a person to be too ambitious? Too little? Explain. 15

  16. Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5 • Macbeth’s home - Castle of Inverness • “Dearest partner in greatness” • Lady Macbeth comes up with plan to kill Duncan - Husband weak • “The milk of human kindness” • Lady Macbeth - Must pour spirits in thine, ear. (Hamlet killed that way) • powerful character 16

  17. Act 1 Scene 5 • LM’S Prayer -Deprive her of her femininity -thicken her blood -unsex me - take my milk for gall - hide action in a blanket of darkness • Macbeth enters - all hail and hereafter • Lady Macbeth - use of metaphors - face like a book - Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent underneath • LM - does not hide her feelings • “Leave the rest to me” a person of action 17

  18. Lady Macbeth 18

  19. Macbeth Act 1 Scene 6 • Lady Macbeth - chameleon - perfect hostess • Duncan’s speech full of dramatic irony - Dramatic irony is when the words and actions of the characters of a work of literature have a different meaning for the reader than they do for the characters“castle pleasant” - “air is sweeter” sees a martlet (a summer bird) • to Duncan the castle appears to be a paradise 19

  20. Macbeth Act 1 Scene 7 • Lady Macbeth - convinces Macbeth to do the “horrid deed” • Macbeth’s Soliloquy - marked by confusionDuncan - Kinsman and his subject , a good King and virtuous man , a popular King , and death would bring sorrow to Scotland -Imagery -“trumpeted tongue “reflects on biblical images”- Sympathetic? • Lady Macbeth Argument- “What could have been when he can be King” - “ Would kill her own baby to do this” - mocks him 20

  21. Act 1 Scene 7 • The steps in Lady Macbeth’s plan for killing the King. • First, Duncan will … • Then, his two servants will … • Finally, she and Macbeth will … • Blame for the murder will fall upon … 21

  22. Macbeth Act 2 Scene 1 • Past midnight - Moon has set and the “Candles” of heaven cannot be seen - dark brooding • Banquo draws sword - irony doesn’t know Macbeth is going to kill Duncan • Dagger Speech - Mental disturbance • “Is this a dagger which I see before me,The handle toward my hand?” —Macbeth, 2.1.42–3 22

  23. Macbeth Act 2 Scene 2 • Lady Macbeth - “That which have made them drunk, hath made me bold, What hath quenched them have given me fire” • Drunk with boldness and on fire with passion • Lady Macbeth -would have murdered Duncan had he not looked like her father • Macbeth has two concerns - he has murdered sleep , bloodiness of deed • Lady Macbeth - blood is only like paint wash it off 23

  24. Scene 2 • Knocking - knocking of their consciences actual knock • “With all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand?”—Macbeth, 2.2.78–9 24

  25. Macbeth Act 2 Scene 3 • Porter - light comedy • farmer and equivocator have specific religious and historical connotations • A few months before Macbeth performed - Gunpowder plot - King James Guy Fawkes and John Garnett (nickname the farmer) • Lennox - extraordinary weather -unnatural events - The universe and events related 25

  26. Scene 3 • Equivocation - The practice of lying in court about one’s religion • Lady Macbeth faints when Macbeth proclaims he has killed the guards - avenge the act of treasonous malice - not in the plan • Malcolm - England • Donalbain - Ireland 26

  27. Scene 3 • Macbeth says he has killed servants - Lady Macbeth faints • Macbeth and other Thanes swear to meet “in manly rediness” to avenge this act of “treasonous malice” • “ There’s daggers in men’s smiles” • Donaldbain - Ireland • Malcolm - England 27

  28. Macbeth Act 2 Scene 4 • Macbeth has become King • Donaldbain and Malcolm have fled • Old Man - Traditional figure in lit represents what “has been” • owl kills falcon - daylight has been replaced by night - horses of the King’s stable have eaten each other • The world he has known has been turned on its head 28

  29. Macbeth Act 3 Scene 1 • Banquo suspects Macbeth - gains comfort from 2nd prediction - his own children will be Kings • Even with new title Macbeth does not feel at ease • calls murderers dogs but he shows his inhumanity and imperfections -also wants to kill Fleance 29

  30. Act 3 Scene 2 • Macbeth plans murder not Lady Macbeth • Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s world not at peace • Macbeth wants to get rid of his bond with humanity • “We have scorched the snake, not killed it.”—Macbeth, 3.2.15 • “Duncan is in his grave; After lifeʼs fitful fever he sleeps well.”—Macbeth, 3.2.24–5 30

  31. Act 3 Scene 3 • Banquo killed - Murderers lantern extinguished - Fleance escapes • Forces of darkness are at odds with light • Murderers capable of poetry • Escape of Fleance turning point - Peripeteia - sudden reversal of fortune • Banquo’s dying words “to revenge” 31

  32. Act 3 Scene 4 • Macbeth has Thanes of Scotland over - Macduff not there • Murderers tell Macbeth what happened - Macbeth losses it • Macbeth sees ghost - goes into a fit • Macbeth has lost control • Macbeth will kill Macduff and visit three sisters • “It will have blood, they say: blood will have blood.” —Macbeth, 3.4.152–53 32

  33. Act 3 Scene 5 • Hecate joins three sisters • Some say this scene was not in the orginal play 33

  34. Act 3 Scene 6 • Lennox reveals doubts about Macbeth - Did he kill the guards hastily? • Macduff has fled to Scotland to join forces with Malcolm also asks help from King Edward of England 34

  35. Macbeth Act 4 Scene 1 • “Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.”—Witches, 4.1.10–1 • Macbeth goes to weird sisters and demands to be shown apparitions of the future • 1. disembodied head of a warrior who warns Macbeth of revenge • 2. blood-covered child who cannot be killed by any man “ of woman born” 35

  36. 3. a child wearing a crown promises Macbeth cannot lose in battle until Birnam wood moves to Dunsinane • Macbeth asks about Banquo’s sons and sees a procession of Banquo and future kings • Macbethless future • Macduff has fled to England and Macbeth announces revenge of Macduff’s wife and children • “I’ll make assurance double sure.”—Macbeth, 4.1.93 36

  37. Act 4 Scene 2 • Lady Macduff feels Macduff has acted dishonestly • Son says the world is full of dishonest men 37

  38. Act 4 Scene 3 • “At one fell swoop.”—Macduff, 4.3.256 • Malcolm tests Macduff’s loyalty - says he would be a great tyrant - reverse psychology • Macduff still hates Macbeth - Malcolm has gotten what he wants Macduff’s loyalty • Ross tells him of the slaughter of wife and child - Macduff vows revenge 38

  39. Macbeth Act 5 Scene 1 • “Out, damned spot! out, I say!”—Lady Macbeth, 5.1.31 • “All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.” —Lady Macbeth, 5.1.46–7 • “What’s done cannot be undone.”—Lady Macbeth, 5.1.62–3 • Played in dark except one candle • Lady Macbeth has gone mad - sleepwalks and tells fragments of events 39

  40. overheard by doctor and lady-in-waiting • Lady Macbeth is seen rubbing her hands - (quotes at the beginning) • Lady Macbeth needs a “divine” • Spiritual darkness - 1 candle 40

More Related