About Macbeth

2. About Macbeth • The play is about “regicide” (Latin for “king killer”), and the aftermath of such an act • Macbeth is a good soldier. His king, Duncan, has ordered him to go fight in a war. Upon his return, Macbeth is visited by three witches who tell him that one day he will be king. From this news, Macbeth murders King Duncan and inherits the throne. He spends the rest of his time protecting his throne, attempting to get an heir to the throne, and killing anyone who doubts his legitimacy as king.

3. Fiction or Fact? • A little bit of both. The play of Macbeth is fiction (there are witches and ghosts!). However, the story itself is very real. • Somewhere between 980 AD – 1050 AD, there was a man named Mac BethadmacFindlaích (that’s Gaelic/Scottish for Macbeth) • He was King of the Scots • He was known as the Red King • He did kill a Duncan who was either a king or an army general

4. Early Scotland • This play takes place in 1000 AD in Scotland. • The major castles will be: • Inverness (evil) • Forres (good) • Caithness, Ross, Cawdor, Glams are all located within Scotland territory

5. Meeting Macbeth • Rumor has it he was a good monarch and a noble man. • However, it’s impossible to say as the records of that time are sketchy and impossible to validate. • Shakespeare, more than likely, took the people and events (realistic enough) and added dramatic effects (ghosts and murder and lies and corruption). • Macbeth’s name translates to “son of God” – this is important to understand some of the aspects of the play.

6. Meeting Duncan • Best known for being a gentle leader – but was also best known for being a “push-over” • He was not known for protecting the kingdom which is why Macbeth and Banquo overthrew Duncan by force • He was subsequently killed by Macbeth during this time

7. The “Banquo” Factor • In real-life, Banquo helped Macbeth overthrow and kill Duncan. • In the play, he will have no part in the murder. This play was written for the supposed descendant (and KING OF ENGLAND) of Banquo. • It would be foolish for Shakespeare to write about how Banquo would kill a king. This hurts the validity of King James I reign as a honest king (and could possibly cause one to lose their hand… or head).

8. Points about the characters… • Macbeth is a TRAGIC character. • Please do not be surprised if he dies in the play. • He has to die in order for a “Hollywood happy ending” to take place. Rightfully so, Macbeth will kill anyone who stands in his way of power. • Lady Macbeth is a TRAGIC character. • Please do not be surprised if she dies in the play. • She is the MAIN villain of the play (at least at the start of it). So again, rightfully, she must die in order to pay penance for her atrocious behaviors.

9. Major Motifs: There are many more, but looks for these three ideas! • Corrupting Power of Unchecked Ambition • The play will examine how one can lose control and be further and further corrupted if they are not ethically put into place. • Relationship between Cruelty and Masculinity • The play questions masculinity in the sense that to be a man, one must be violent. If not, the play does consider you to have more “womanly” behaviors. • Kingship vs. Tyranny • It is one thing to be king… it is another to be a tyrant. • Good vs. Evil – it does get as simple as that. Macbeth is pure evil by the end of the play. Good must triumph.

10. Major Conflicts • Internal: • Macbeth: He will slowly go mad (as in psycho-crazy) due to his own actions. He is a dynamic character that will be forever altered by his actions. • Lady Macbeth • These two characters will reverse roles by the end of the play. Lady Macbeth will be the more dominant/masculine character at the start of the play. Macbeth “gains” his masculinity through murder. • External • Macbeth versus the political world • Macbeth versus the natural world

11. What to look for… • Additioanl major motifs to look for that will help with understand the play: • Blood • Violence • Hallucinations • Weather/storms • Prophecies/predictions of the future • For example: if you read about a storm, something bad will happen. It’s like watching a horror movie and having shrill music in the background. You know something bad is about to happen.

12. Fun Facts About the Play • Actors believe it is cursed. In the backstage of any play production, even if they are performing Macbeth, they will only refer to it as “that Scottish play”. • It was written for King James I of England. He claimed he was a descendent of Banquo. • This is important to remember. • It is the shortest and BEST of his plays. I chose the best materials to read… this is the best of Shakespeare. • It has one of the best villains of all time: Lady Macbeth (she is second only to Iago… another Shakespeare villain). • He lies and schemes to cause the death of almost everyone in the play he is in.

13. Help with the play? • See me before or after school according to my availabilities on the white board, or even during aca-prep! • I take my time with Macbeth – for good reason. • It is one of his best works • It’s in a language not automatically familiar to you. • If you are absent, you must do the reading on your own to get caught up. I recommend going to the link on my website to read the original and a translated copy of the play. • DO NOT TAKE MY BOOKS. There are more than enough sources available online to help you at home if necessary.