William Shakespeare’s Macbeth

1. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth Renaissance Drama

2. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) • He is considered to be the greatest writer in English, because of: • His deep understanding of human nature • His compassion for all types of people • The power and beauty of his language • Shakespeare’s plays continue to be read widely and produced throughout the world. • They have the same powerful impact on today’s audiences as they had when they were first staged. • Shakespeare in total wrote 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and 2 narrative poems.

3. Critical Praise • “He was not of an age, but for all time.” • Ben Jonson (1572-1673) • “He was the man who of all modern, and perhaps ancient poets, had the largest and most comprehensive soul.” • John Dryden (1631-1700) • “Shakespeare is, above all writers, at least modern writers, the poet of nature: the poet that holds up to his readers a faithful mirror of manners and life.” • Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

4. Critical Praise • “The English man, who, without reverence, a proud and affectionate reverence, can utter the name of William Shakespeare, stands disqualified for the office of critic.” • Samuel Coleridge (1772-1834) • “Where his power of art is fully exerted, it really does resemble that of nature” • A.C. Bradley (1851-1935) • “About any one so great as Shakespeare, it is probable that we can never be right…” • T.S. Elliot (1888-1965)

5. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) • It is a myth that we know absolutely nothing about Shakespeare’s life. • Born in Stratford-on-Avon on April 23, 1564 • Date based on his baptism on April 26 • His father was a successful glove maker • It is highly probable that Shakespeare was educated at Stratford Grammar School, where he studied Latin.

6. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) • In 1582, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. • They had a daughter, Susanna (1583), and twins Judith and Hamnet (1585). • Shakespeare worked in London away from his family. • He became a part owner the acting group Lord Chamberlain’s Men, who built the Globe theatre. • This theatre was where most of Shakespeare’s plays were staged.

7. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) • When James I became king in 1603, James took control of Shakespeare’s acting group, renaming them the King’s Men. • In 1610, Shakespeare retired to Stratford, yet still continued to write plays. • Shakespeare died in Stratford on April 23, 1616 and was buried in Holy Trinity Church. • His epitaph read: • “Blest be the man that spares these stones, And curst be he that moves my bones.”

8. Shakespeare’s Sources • By Shakespeare’s time, the story of 11th Century Scottish king Macbeth was a mixture of fact and legend. • One source believed to be completely factual in this day and age was Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland. • Shakespeare uses Holinshed’s work as his main source, yet freely adapts the material to fit his dramatic purposes.

9. A Tribute to the King • Shakespeare chose the Scottish play concerning an 11th Century battle for power knowing that the Stuart kings, the lineage of James I, took power in the 11th Century. • One of the most virtuous characters in the play, Banquo was thought to be the father of the first Stuart king. • Also, Shakespeare placated James I through his addition of the 3 witches, knowing that James I had written a book on witches.

10. Literary Elements of Importance • Conflict: the struggle between opposing forces. • External conflict: a struggle between two characters or groups • Internal conflict: a struggle within a character; psychological. • Climax: point at which the primary conflicts are greatest; moment of highest tension.

11. Literary Elements of Importance • Dramatic Irony: When the words or actions of a character take on a meaning for the audience or readers different from the one the character intends. • Archetypes: images that relate to ideas or emotions expressed by people in many cultures. • In Act IV, look for images of a fallen world.