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Introduction To Macbeth:. A look into the historic events, key dates, literary themes, imagery and plot summary of Macbeth. Historical Events during time the play was written: King James I. King James I -New king of Scotland -After British rule -Relationship with Shakespeare
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Introduction To Macbeth: A look into the historic events, key dates, literary themes, imagery and plot summary of Macbeth
Historical Events during time the play was written: King James I • King James I • -New king of Scotland • -After British rule • -Relationship with Shakespeare • -Reflections of that in play
Historical Events: The Gowrie Conspiracy • August 5, 1600 • Attempted assassination of king • Public stepped in • Pamphlets and Sermons • Royals considered called by God
Historical Events: The Gunpowder Plot • November 5, 1605 • Second attempt on king’s life. • Religious issues between Catholics and Protestants. • King favored Protestants • Conspirator=close friend of king
Historical Events: King James and Witchcraft • 1597 wrote a book called Daemonologie • Described demonic rights of witches and served as a tool to get people against people who practiced sorcery • Attended witch trials • Specific trial: Dr. Fian • Possessive spirits
Key Dates for Macbeth: • Written 1605 • First performance of play:1606-1607 at Globe Theater • Published: 1623 as part of the First Folio, the first authorized collection of Shakespeare’s Plays.
http://commons.trincoll.edu/watkinson/2012/05/03/watkinson-acquires-2nd-folio-1632-of-shakespeare/http://commons.trincoll.edu/watkinson/2012/05/03/watkinson-acquires-2nd-folio-1632-of-shakespeare/ There were four (4) folio editions of the collected plays of Shakespeare produced in the seventeenth century. The celebrated “First Folio” (1623) was the first edition. Eighteen of the plays had never been printed before, including Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Antony and Cleopatra, and The Tempest.
Sources for Play: • Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland • Main incidents taken from account of 2 separate events
Sources for Play Continued: • Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures (1603) by Samuel Harsnett • RerumScoticarumHistoria (1582) by George Buchanan • Talk about Condemning those who practice witch craft and present witch trial reports as evidence
Setting: • Used as a dramatic element of play • After English rule • Time period and setting increase drama and also create mood reflective of Macbeth • Location=Northern Scotland and England near King Duncan’s castle at Forres and Macbeth’s castle.
Genre of Play: • Tragedy • Protagonist commits murder
Main Characters: • Protagonist- Macbeth • Antagonists- Psychological and supernatural Forces, The Three Witches and Three Apparitions • Macbeth-Army general in Scotland, cousin of King Duncan • Hunger for kingly power drives him mad • Both hero and villain • Lady Macbeth- Wife of Macbeth. • Helps in the murder of king Duncan • Goes insane • Has hallucinations of Blood • Family past with Scottish royalty
Main Characters Continued: • King Duncan I • King of Scotland • Murdered by family member • Good and faithful to the people • Historically events accurate too • Malcolm and Donalbain: • Sons of King Duncan I. • Malcolm-older son; prince of Cumberland • Becomes king?
Main Characters Continued: • Banquo- • Army general and best friend of Macbeth • Ancestor of King Duncan I • Killed on Macbeth’s order to prevent him from becoming king. • Comes back as a ghost to King Macbeth • Three Witches- • Predict Macbeth becoming king • Represent fate • Fates could not be changed • Very real to the Scottish people
Literary Themes: • Ambition • Macbeth wants to be king so badly and wants to have power. Turns him to murder. • Deceit • Murdering King Duncan I and the affects of that on the murderers. • Price of becoming king and responsibilities • Omens given to Macbeth from the witches about his fate • Temptation • Witches tempting Macbeth with the crown and becoming king. • Guilt • The murders face guilt after killing King Duncan I • Cause both of them to turn insane • Stems from their consciences and fear of discovery
Climax of Macbeth: • Climax- the turning point at which the conflict begins to resolve its self for better or worst • Climax 1- Macbeth kills King Duncan and becomes King of Scotland • Climax 2- Macduff kills Macbeth at the end of the story
Imagery: • Darkness • The darkness goes throughout whole story. Reveals the evil events going on • Is a part of multiple events throughout the story like the witches prophecy and the murder of King Duncan I. • Blood • Murder • Innocent blood • Guilty blood that does not go away • Drives enemies of Macbeth
The End! • “ Life’s but a waling shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And is heard of no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” • - Act V; Scene 5