Introduction to Shakespeares

Macbeth

Macbeth and Banquo

Meeting the Witches
Introduction to William
Shakespeares Macbeth
4 The Meanings of
Macbeth

4 Brief examination of the

historical context of
Macbeth

4 Witches and Witchcraft

in Macbeth
The Many Meanings of Macbeth
A historical thriller
a fast-moving, action-packed
murder mystery demonstrating
that crime doesnt pay
A psychological study of
a murderers mind
A play of political and
social realism
how oppressive and
hierarchical society can corrupt
individuals
A play of illusions
the effect of the mysterious or
supernatural on humans
A play of ideas or themes
for example, appearance
versus reality
A play about gender
A tragedy
the fall of a great person
brought about by a fatal flaw in
their character
 Macbeth is another one of Shakespeares great
tragedies, based on Holinsheds Chronicles of
England, Scotland, and Ireland . It was written around
1605 but was not published in the first Folio until
1623. It tells about the fall of the ambitious couple,
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is the tragic
hero, a character who has a fatal (tragic)flaw within
himself that he cannot change. He is not a bad
person; he is just too ambitious. Macbeth is a story
about the murder of a king by his brother, the
revenge of a son (Macbeth), three witches who plot
against Macbeth, and Macbeths rise and fall.
Historical Context of Macbeth
Shakespeare was a Eleventh-Century (1000s)
playwright, not an Scotland was a violent and
troubled country.
historian. However,
Feuding families and clans
he knew that history
fought to control trade and
provided great territory.
material for plays: The castle was the power
war, conflict, base of each rival war-lord
ambition, the downfall (thane).
of great rulers. Political murder and
revenge killings were
commonplace.
 Macbeth is an interesting character to
follow. As you read, you can see how he
has changed. We first meet Macbeth as a
brave soldier and later find him as a
murderer who kills everyone who is in his
way of the throne. Lady Macbeth is also a
well-developed character. She is conniving
and ruthless, though she does seem to have
some humane qualities.
The Real Macbeth
The real Macbeth was
born in 1005, the son of a
ruling family.

Macbeths father was

murdered by his cousin.

Macbeth married the

granddaughter of the High
King of Scotland (Gruach)

Martin, Banquo and Macbeth on the Heath

The Real King Duncan and Macbeth
Duncan was the king of Macbeth ruled Scotland for 17
Scotland at the time the years, during which time
Scotland became comparatively
real Macbeth was born peaceful and stable.

Duncan was 38 at the time Duncans son, Malcolm,

of his murder - a murder invaded Scotland in 1054,
supported by Edward the
possibly committed by the
Confessor.
real Macbeth.
Macbeth was killed on August
Macbeth was elected High 15, 1057 and buried at Iona, the
King of Scotland in 1040. sacred burial place of the Kings
of Scotland.
Whats the take-away?
Shakespeare modeled his play after an
actual historical figure.
Some of the plot points are the same.

Butthe real Macbeth was (almost)

universally loved and respected;
Shakespeares Macbeth wasnt.
James I Comes to Power
Since there was no successor to the English
throne, Queen Elizabeth I selected James VI of
Scotland (a distant cousin) to succeed herhe
was already King of Scotland.
After Elizabeths death (1603), James VI of
Scotland also became James I of England,
unifying the two countries, though there was
still controversy between them.
Macbeth contains many echoes of King
James interests . . .
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605
A failed assassination attempt against King James!
Disgruntled Catholics planned to blow up the House
of Lords.
Guy Fawkes was discovered guarding their horde of
explosives in the basement of the House of Lords on
November 5, 1605. (Remember, remember the 5th
of November.)
The traitors were sentenced to death, and this day is
still celebrated in England as Guy Fawkes Day.
Shakespeare weaves references to the Gunpowder
Plot into Macbeth. Was this rebellious?
Back to the play
Before the Curtain Opens:
When the play begins, there are two
wars in progress:
1. Civil War in Scotland- King Duncan
vs. Macdonwalds (a thanes) rebels
2. National War - Scotland, led by King
Duncan, against invading Norway
Modern Associations with Witches?
A Macbeth for King James?
King James interest
in witchcraft was well
known
King James visited
Oxford in 1605 and
was greeted by three
witches who hailed
him as the descendent
of Banquo . . .
interesting.
Alexandre-Marie Colin, The Three Witches from
Macbeth
Witches & Witchcraft
Witch-mania inthe
Elizabethan era.
Most people believed in
witches!
Circulating pamphlets
containing tales of witches
and witchcraft were the
equivalent of todays
popular newspapers.

Henry Fuseli, The Three Witches

Witches and Witchcraft
Witches were said to have diabolical powers. They could:
predict the future
bring on night in the daytime
cause fogs and tempests
kill animals
curse enemies with fatal, wasting diseases
cause nightmares and sterility
take demonic possession of any individual
raise evil spirits by concocting a brew

It was believed that witches allowed the devil to suck their blood.
Accused witches were examined for the Devils Mark - a red
mark on their body from which the devil had sucked blood.
Witches and Witchcraft - Misogyny?
Between 1560 and 1603, hundreds
of people, nearly all of them
women, were convicted as witches
and executed

In 1604 an official Act of

Parliament decreed that anyone
found guilty of practicing
witchcraft should be executed

Those who confessed to being

witches did so under torture or
because they were in the grip of
delusions recognized today as
psychiatric disorders.
The Story
The play opens in Scotland. Macbeth and Banquo have
defeated their enemies in battle, leading King Duncan to
give the title of thane of Cawdor to Macbeth (who doesnt
know this yet). While Macbeth and Banquo are walking,
they encounter three chanting witches. The witches speak
to Macbeth as thane of Glamis, thane of Cawdor, and king
hereafter. They also tell Banquo that though we will not be
king, he will beget kings (i.e., his sons will be kings).
Macbeth wonders about this prediction as the kings
messenger arrives. He tells him that he has been appointed
thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is momentarily tempted to kill
the king in order to fulfill the prophesy, but decides not to.
 Lady Macbeth, however, urges her husband to kill the
king. Since the king is staying at their castle overnight, that
must be when they kill him. She plans the whole thing,
making the kings guards drunk. By using their daggers to
kill the king and putting the kings blood on them, Lady
Macbeth will frame the guards. It is now time for Macbeth
to stab the king. Though he has bad visions and feelings,
Macbeth kills the king. Afterwards, he is troubled. "I
am afraid to think what I have done; Look on t again I
dare not," he says.
 The next morning, the murder is blamed on the guards.
Macbeth kills them before they can protest, explaining that
he killed them out of rage. The kings sons, however, are
still fearful for their lives and runaway. Macbeth is
crowned king. Macbeth knows that Banquo is suspicious
of him. When Macbeth learns that Banquo and his son are
riding, he sends men out to kill them. They are only half
successful in their job, and Banquos son escapes.
Meanwhile, at Macbeths ball, the seat for Banquo is
empty (because hes dead). In the empty seat, the ghost of
Banquo appears, frightening Macbeth to death.
 Macbeth also learns that King Duncans son Malcolm and
Lord Macduff are attempting to kill him. Unsure of what to
do, Macbeth visits the three witches again. The witches,
along with the moon goddess Hecate, have planned what
they will tell Macbeth in order to destroy him. They prepare
a brew, singing "Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire
burn and cauldron bubble." When Macbeth arrives,
they give him a false hope, telling him three things. First,
beware of Macduff. Second, "none of woman born
shall harm Macbeth." Third, Macbeth will not be
conquered until Birnam wood comes to the hill of
Dunsinane. They also tell Macbeth that Banquos
descendents will become kings.
 Macduff has left for England, so Macbeth sends
people to kill his wife and children. In England,
Macduff befriends the dead kings son, after they
are sure of the others loyalty. Lady Macbeth has
begun sleepwalking because her conscience
weighs too heavily on herself. She tells about her
crimes and the murder of the king, unaware that
her doctor and waiting woman are watching her.
She later dies, possibly from suicide.
 The invaders from England have come to defeat Macbeth.
The soldiers carry boughs from Birnam Wood in order to
camouflage themselves. So, the witchs prophesy of defeat
when "Birnam forest come to Dunsinane"
starts to become true. Macbeth then faces Macduff, but
isnt really scared. He has been told that he will not die
from anyone woman born. But then Macduff tells him that
he was not woman born; he was "from his mothers
womb untimely rippd" (C-section). When Macbeth
realizes that he has been tricked, he gives up and is killed.
Macduff decapitates him and King Duncans son becomes
the new king of Scotland.
Characters
Macbeth: brave general under Duncan who becomes too ambitious after three
witches prophesy that he will be King of Scotland. He turns to evil, killing the
King, the guards, Banquo, and others. Macbeth dies at the hands of Macduff.
Lady Macbeth: vicious wife of Macbeth, even more ambitious than Macbeth.
She convinces Macbeth to murder the King. Later, she becomes insane from
her wrongdoings and sleepwalks. She dies. Macduff: general, believes that
Macbeth killed the King. His family is murdered by Macbeth; he later kills
Macbeth. Banquo: Macbeths friend and general, suspected Macbeth of killing
the King. He is killed by murderers sent by Macbeth, though his son escapes.
King Duncan: King of Scotland, murdered by Macbeth who was one of his
generals whom he had just promoted. Malcolm: Duncans eldest son, runs
away to England after he learns of his fathers murder in order to escape the
same fate. Becomes King of Scotland at the end of the play. The three
witches: They tell Macbeth that he is to become King, leading him to evil.
They also tell him that he will be defeated, but they disguise it in a way as to
give him false confidence.
 Hecate: moon goddess and goddess of the witches, directs
supernatural occurrences. Makes plan to give Macbeth false security.
Donalbain: Duncans youngest son, runs away to Ireland after he
learns of his fathers murder in order to escape the same fate. Ross:
Macduffs cousin, messenger who carries news to people like Macbeth
and Macduff throughout the play. Lennox: nobleman, suspicious of
the murder of the king Seyton: Macbeths lieutenant. Porter: watches
Macbeths castle; when drunk, thought that he was the keeper of Hells
Gates and that sinners were knocking at the door to be admitted. Old
Siward: Earl of Northumberland, ally of Malcolm and Macduff
against Macbeth. Young Siward: Old Siwards son, killed by Macbeth
in an encounter at the end of the play.