Macbeth
by William Shakespeare
“The Scottish Play”
Macbeth is often called the Scottish Play ,
a reference to its Scottish setting.
Why?
According to a theatrical superstition,
called the Scottish curse, speaking the
name Macbeth inside a theatre will cause
disaster.
The Macbeth Curse
Dating as far back as the premier of the
play, productions of Macbeth are said to
have been plagued with accidents, many
ending in death.
Video
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LKMk
tAN4hc&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_
mode=1&safe=active)
Tragedy
Macbeth is usually considered one of
Shakespeare’s mature tragedies....
It was written late in his career
It has a concise plot which moves
relentlessly from exposition through
climax to resolution.
Spoiler Alert !!!
Macbeth is a Shakespearean tragedy.
By definition, that means it is a five act play
ending in the death of most of the major
characters.
Macbeth:
Shakespeare’s most theatrical play
By employing ghosts and witches,
Shakespeare appeals to the Elizabethan
fascination with the supernatural powers
of darkness.
The use of various sounds – the thunder,
the bell, the owl’s shriek – to set the tone
of the action attests to Shakespeare’s
awareness of audience.
The Plot of Macbeth
About the Play ...
It is clear from the beginning that the
play focuses on Macbeth’s struggle of
conscience, his decision to choose evil
rather than good.
His decision – to choose evil rather than
good – is stoked by the fires of ambition,
the quality in Macbeth’s character that
many call his tragic flaw.
AMBITION !!
The fire of ambition is fanned by ...
the goading of Lady Macbeth
AND
and the prophecies of the witches.
Shakespeare’s use of contradiction – “fair
is foul, and foul is fair” – verbalizes the
internal struggle of Macbeth.
Macbeth’s Character Motivation
Character motivation is WHY a
character acts in the way he / she does.
A character may be motivated by both
inside and outside forces.
INSIDE FORCES:
Ambition (Macbeth’s fatal flaw)
OUTSIDE FORCES:
The witches; Lady Macbeth
Conflict
Internal Conflict
Deals with the forces that are fighting
within the main character (Macbeth) for
control – good vs. evil
He is basically a good man who happens
to have ambitions. These ambitions
eventually cause him to murder his king
(Duncan) and choose evil over good.
Interpersonal Conflict
Deals with Macbeth’s struggle to obtain
the throne of Scotland and keep it for
himself and his heirs (children).
Macbeth tries to assure himself of his
goal by murdering Duncan. Once he is
king he tries to secure his position by
more murders. Eventually Malcolm raises
an army and Macbeth is defeated. There
is triumph for Malcolm and Macduff.
Stages in the Tragedy:
Macbeth’s movement
throughout the play
The First Stage
The first stage is that of a hero, a man
seemingly without faults.
It is necessary to keep in mind that
Macbeth was a good man; he had been a
villain to begin with, there would be no
tragedy.
The Second Stage
This is the decision stage.
After a great internal conflict, he chooses
evil and murder.
The Third Stage
This stage describes him as “deep in
gore” – too deep to return.
He is consulting with the witches and his
ways are those of a desperate man.
The Fourth Stage
This stage shows the completeness of the
tragedy: When he hears of his wife’s
death, not when he is killed by Macduff.
His death comes as a relief to Macbeth
himself – and to the audience.
He is completely bankrupt: no love for
his wife, no respect for himself, no values
in life (Act 5, Scene 5)
From “hero” to “butcher” – such has been his
rapid descent.
List words / phrases
from the play that
show Macbeth’s
progression
throughout the play....
from “hero” to
“butcher”.
NOTE: different conditions may have led to
a different outcome.
IF he had not been tempted…. IF his wife
had been different…. etc.
THEN he might have lived his life as a
good man without any serious testing of
his ambition or moral cowardice.
Such is the nature of tragedy!
Shakespearean
Tragic Hero
Characteristics include….
Characters of High Birth (includes exceptional beings
/ high birth or office / military leaders)
Heroes cause their own downfall; their downfall is
because of the hero’s own actions, not fate.
Has a Tragic Flaw (an inclination towards one
particular action; the tragic flaw ultimately results in
the hero’s death)
Their downfall affects many people.
Macbeth’s tragic flaw:
AMBITION!
The witches do not MAKE him ambitious
BUT they tempt him further.
Remember the Aristotelian definition of a tragic hero?
Of high (noble) birth
Has a tragic flaw
Experiences suffering
Gains knowledge
SO …. does Macbeth gain knowledge through his suffering?
It can be said that he gains some knowledge.
In A5,S5 we see that he acknowledges the consequences of
his actions. Life no longer has any meaning for him.
In A5,S7 Macbeth gives some indication that he actually
regrets the murder of Macduff’s family. In his
confrontation with Macduff he realizes that by trusting the
witches he has thrown away his honor, his dignity, his life,
and his soul!
“Out, out, brief candle
Life’s but a walking shadow”
(disillusionment)
Atmosphere
In Macbeth, the atmosphere is of unusual strength.
There is a dark, gloomy atmosphere of great evil.
The following details help to develop this atmosphere:
Darkness: the most memorable scenes take place at night
or in some dark spot; the darkness of night becomes a thing
of fear and horror
Violence: violent images of battle; even nature is full of
violence, with numerous storms that are quite destructive
Blood: many references to blood in both the violent battles
mentioned above and in other events.
The witches: add the element of the supernatural; their
appearance, words, and charms are ugly and sickening
All of these elements combine to make the atmosphere of
Macbeth a chilly and foreboding one, dark and violent –
just the sort of environment for witches and the
supernatural, for evil and murder, and for the man who
chooses evil over good.
Symbolism
Major symbols in Macbeth include:
Darkness
Symbolic of evil and death
Support:
It is a dark play
Duncan is killed at night
The sun does not shine after Duncan’s death,
show that his death is related to evil
Light
Symbolizes goodness, life and
virtue
Support:
We see Duncan in the daytime
There is an absence of light (sun) after Duncan is
killed, showing that goodness and light has been
destroyed.
Note also: sleep is also symbolic of goodness and peace of mind.
Witches
Symbolic of Evil
Support:
They are evil from the beginning of the play
(A1,S1)
They are the ones who seem to be able to
predict the future
they are the ones who tempt Macbeth
Disease
Symbolic of sin and corruption
Support:
Lady Macbeth’s disease (a mental condition)
shows her guilt at sins she has helped
commit (such as Duncan’s murder)
Blood
Blood is always closely linked to violence
BUT it comes to symbolize guilt
Support:
Death and killing happen in an
instant (example: Duncan’s murder)
At the times they feel most guilty,
both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
fear they will never be able to wash
the blood (ie. Guilt) from their
hands.
Topics for Theme
Themes are the fundamental and
often universal ideas explored in a
literary work.
Topics for Theme to consider
for Macbeth include …
Ambition (specifically the corrupting influence of
unchecked ambition)
Good vs. Evil
Equivocation
Appearance vs. Reality
Honor and Loyalty
Fate and Destiny
Ambition
Definition: an earnest desire for some type of achievement or
distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the
willingness to strive for its attainment
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ambition)
This play explores the corrupting power of unchecked
ambition: Macbeth’s downfall is caused by his ambition. For his
desire to become king, he is willing to turn his back on what he
knows to be right.
Lady Macbeth has ambition for her husband also.
Unlike the Macbeth’s, Banquo will not compromise his honour
for anything (ex. The exchange between Macbeth and Banquo
A2,S1)
Good vs. Evil
Macbeth begins the play as a noble and courageous man who falls
under the force of evil (the witches) and is destroyed by it
It is evident that evil has taken hold of him by his murder of
Duncan and the series of cruel acts that follow.
While evil defeats any good that existed in Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth, it does not triumph. Malcolm (representing the force of
good) triumphs over the evil of Macbeth by claiming his rightful
title of King of Scotland
We re left with the feeling that overall good triumphs though
individuals are susceptible to evil
Equivocation
Definition: to use equivocal language (language that is subject to
two or more interpretations) with the intent to deceive
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equivocation)
This double-dealing is evident in the witches prophecies at the
beginning of the play and in the prophecies of the apparitions.
Appearance vs. Reality
Practically nothing in this play is what it appears
Ex. The witches’ predictions sound like good news;
actually they lead to death and destruction
Ex. Macbeth and his wife seem like gracious hosts;
actually they are plotting murder.
Honor and Loyalty
Men of honor obey certain rules. When honor is lost
(ex. Macbeth’s honor), turmoil is the result (ex. turmoil
in Scotland once Duncan is murdered).
In A5, it is made clear that the few followers that
Macbeth has left are being forced to stay with him.
They feel no sense of loyalty to him. When it comes
time to fight, they will give up.
Fate and Destiny
The play seems to suggest that you should trust in
destiny or a higher power. Taking fate into your own
hands brings our title character nothing but grief.
Other topics to consider for theme include:
o
Choices
o
Violence
o
Manhood