“By the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes ”

1. “By the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes” The Tragedy of Macbeth

2. Some of the QUESTIONS …. Can one selfish act affect our entire lives? Why are people obsessed with power? Who in today’s society is obsessed with power? Is it bad to be too ambitious? What is evil? Where does it come from? Why does it exist?

3. History Shakespeare • Ruled Scotland in 1040 • Defeated King Duncan (young, weak, and arrogant) in battle • Enraged many lords and princes by violating Scottish law and naming his young child, Malcolm, to rule after him • Wife not really in the picture • Ruled for 17 years • A capable and wise monarch • Ruled for a very short time • King Duncan is old and wise • Duncan is murdered in his sleep • Lady Macbeth is his partner in crime • Macbeth is evil and ambitious—an unwise monarch

4. “The Scottish Play”Is the play cursed????????????? • Actors have died—1st night, actor playing Macbeth became ill and later died. • Actors have been seriously hurt • Actors have gone insane—Lady Macbeth in 1700’s suffered a seizure and never was the same again • 1672 performance in Amsterdam, real dagger accidentally used killing the actor playing Duncan • 1937 Laurence Olivier’s sword broke and flew into the audience hitting a man who promptly died of a heart attack • An actress playing Lady Macbeth fell 20 ft in sleepwalking scene • Sir John Gielgud’s 1942 presentation marred by FOUR deaths: actor playing Duncan, two actors playing witches, and the suicide of the production’s designer • Charlton Heston, 1953 suffered severe burns when his robe caught fire • Theatres have caught fire