Shakespeare's Macbeth

a.k.a. "that Scottish play"

• The "real" Macbeth ascended the throne of Scotland after defeating King Duncan in battle, not by murdering him in his sleep as depicted in the drama. The historic Duncan is not the wise and gentle aging ruler Shakespeare portrays but a weak king, whose youthful arrogance causes him to violate the laws of succession by naming his young son to the throne without first consulting the nobles or thanes. Furthermore, Lady Macbeth, who is a formidable character in the drama, is barely mentioned in Holinshed's Chronicles, Shakespeare's source for this work as well as many of his historical plays. Indeed, even Shakespeare's noble Banquo deviates from Holinshed's portrayal of the Scottish thane, who is presented in the Chronicles as a co-conspirator along with Macbeth in Duncan's murder. Finally, the historical Macbeth ruled Scotland for seventeen years and was apparently a capable monarch.
• Certainly, some of Shakespeare's changes, such as the role of Lady Macbeth and the appearance of Banquo's ghost, were made for dramatic effect. However, other changes were made to flatter the new English King, James VI of Scotland, who becomes James I of England after Elizabeth I dies. As a Stuart, he claimed Banquo as an ancestor, so Shakespeare's favorable portrayal of Banquo shows political savvy.

In the Presence of Witches

• Accusations against women suspected of practicing witchcraft were common during this time. In fact, thousands of women were burned as witches between 1560 and 1660 in Britain. King James himself not only believed in the existence of witches but also wrote a book on witchcraft entitled Demonologie. Boxes were even placed beneath church pews to hold anonymous accusations against women, who were generally guilty of nothing more that offending a neighbor or of committing a social indiscretion. Still, once accused, these women became social pariahs and often died an agonizing death at the stake.
• Although witches were blamed for everything from crop failure and bad weather to corrupting man's spirit, witches had no actual power over the human soul. They could tempt a man to sin, but the victim always maintained the free will to choose good over evil.

Dramatic Structure

• Generally, dramas fall into two broad classes: tragedy, which deals with the disruption of the moral order, chronicles the destruction of the hero and comedy, which concerns social matters shows the hero's ultimate triumph.
• Stages of plot development in a five-act tragedy:

1. Introduction or exposition presents the pertinent information from which the essential conflict rises. (Act I)
2. Rising action scenes show the conflict gaining force, increasing the hero's fortune. (Act II)
3. The climax presents a moment of crisis, in which the hero's fortune turns for the worse. (ACT III)
4. The falling action scenes show circumstances moving against the hero. (ACT IV)
5. Catastrophe and conclusion portray to defeat of the hero and the closing developments that complete the plot. (ACT V)

Shakespeare's Stage: The Globe Theater

The Globe, one of the most famous theaters in history, opened in 1599. The theater accommodated an audience of several thousand. While the lower classes, known as "groundlings", paid their penny admission price to stand around the raised stage, the more prosperous patrons sat or stood in the tiered galleries. While the stage and galleries were sheltered from the weather, the theater's center was open, exposed to the elements. The stage, which was about 40 feet long and 27 feet wide, held very little scenery, and productions, which typically ran two hours, relied on natural lighting.

Terms

The Globe

First Folio

Comic Relief

Soliloquy

Aside

Blank Verse

The Four Genres of Shakespearean Drama:

Comedy

Tragedy

History

Romances/Tragicomedies

Imagery

Discussion Questions

• Discuss the five prevailing images in the play and how they enhance the atmosphere of drama and violence.
• Discuss several of the drama's possible themes.
• Analyze the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as well as their relationship.
• Discuss Macbeth as a morality play.
• Discuss the role of witchcraft and the supernatural in the drama.
• Discuss Banquo as a foil to Macbeth.

• Compare this tragedy to Marlowe's Dr. Faustus.