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William Shakespeare’s MACBETH
A chilling tale of vaulting ambition, betrayal, murder, and insanity.
Why did Shakespeare write
Macbeth?
• Written for King James I who was fascinated with
“witch-ology”, who wrote a book about witches and
whose life (as king) was threatened many times!!!
• King James was an actual descendant of Banquo,
who was not as good as he is presented to be in the
play. King James, as a child, was fascinated with
King Macbeth.
• The real Macbeth took the throne of Scotland in
1040, after killing his cousin King Duncan I in a
battle in Scotland.
• Duncan's eldest son, Malcolm, ended Macbeth's
reign in 1057 by killing him in battle and later
assuming the throne as Malcolm III.
• The real Lady Macbeth's first name was Gruoch,
although this is not mentioned in the play, and he
was her second husband.
Duncan, King of Scotland
Scotland vs. Norway
Duncan vs. Sweno
Malcolm & Donalbain,
Sons of Duncan
Macbeth the “Man”
• Thane of Glamis
• No children
• Married to a
psychotic loon
• Captain in Battle
• Loyal Servant of
King….initially
• Defeated
Macdonwald in
Battle
• Raw like Rambo
• A tragic hero!!!!
Think….Russell Crowe’s gladiator skills
and Joaquin Phoenix’s personality…..
What is a tragic hero?????
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born of noble birth
responsible for own fate
has a tragic flaw
doomed to make a serious error in judgment
meets a tragic death
realizes he/she has made an irreversible
mistake
• faces and accepts death with honor
• falls from great heights or from high esteem
Bloody Sergeant reports on 1st Battle
• Macbeth vs. Macdonwald
• Macbeth “unseamed him from the nave
to the chops” and “fixed his head upon
[their] battlements.”
• Although many of Sweno’s men
retreated, Sweno sent in a fresh new
troop of men.
• Macbeth & Banquo gave them a “beat
down.”
• THESE BOYS ROCK!!! Duncan is so
proud!!!
Ross Reports on 2nd Battle
• Second battle scene was in Fife
• Bellona’s Bridegroom vs. Thane of
Cawdor
• Thane of Cawdor was a traitor
• Bellona’s Bridegroom was most likely
Macduff
• However, King Duncan rewards Macbeth
with the title of Thane of Cawdor
Macduff
• Thane of Fife
• Bellona’s Bridegroom who
captured the Thane of
Cawdor??
• Loyal Servant of Duncan
• Married with Children
• True Hero???
Banquo
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Captain in Battle
Loyal Servant of Duncan
Friend of Macbeth
Thane of “Nothing”???
Father of Fleance
Based on a relative of
King James I
They had planned
to meet with
Macbeth from the
very beginning….
Hmmmmm.......
Why do the
witches do
what they do?
Why do they
cast a spell
that will
destroy
Macbeth, a
hero in battle?
The Witches
&
Their leader is
Hecate
There are THREE
witches. THREE is
such a spiritual
number….
Think about it!!!!!!!!!!!!
What allows
Macbeth to
believe in the
witches’
prophecy while
Banquo is aware
that their
predictions will
eventually be a
betrayal!!!