Fair is foul, and foul is

fair.

Double, Double, toil and trouble;

fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Out, out brief candle! Life’s but a walking

shadow.

Stars, hide your fires, let not light see my

black and deep desires

Out, damn’d spot! Out I

say.

Based on these posters, what do you think we will see in the play Macbeth?

Five reasons why I LOVE Macbeth

1. Witches and Ghosts

2. Predestination versus self-fault

3. Blood, guts and murder

4. Shortest play

5. LADY MACBETH

Macbeth Macbeth A Tragedy William Shakespeare 1606 fact and fiction. Scotland: 1044 still performed

Drama TermsDramaDramatic Conventions

Dramatic ConventionsConcealment

Soliloquy

Conventions ContinuedAsideDramatic Irony

Return to Drama Terms Tragedy:

Emotional cleansing (catharsis) Tragic hero Tragic flaw

Drama Terms Tragic Hero- 5 factors

Mighty Figure Reversal of Fortune Uncommon Suffering Recognize Consequences Ennoble Us

More Drama TermsHamartia

Even More Drama Terms

HubrisFoil

SymbolismBlood = GuiltClothing = rising of status- later a physical manifestation of guilt

Hands = ambition and action

Sleep = dreams (or innocence)

No Sleep = reality crashing down (or guilt)

Motifs: A recurrent thematic element in an artistic or literary work. (Helps identify and support the major themes in a piece of literature)

HallucinationsNature and the Unnatural (nature as in human nature not outside- though this is used to reinforce this idea)

HandsSight, light, darkness and blindness

Prophecy

ThemesThe corruption of powerRelationship between cruelty

and masculinity.Fair is foul and foul is fair.Difference between kingship

and tyrannyThe inability to go around

fateLight vs. Dark

Interesting StuffThe play does not present

the real Macbeth to the audience.

The real Macbeth ruled for 17 peaceful years until he was murdered by Malcolm.

The real Duncan was NOT a good king, though he was portrayed as so in the play.

Curse of Macbeth Since the very first production, this

play has been plagued with misfortunes.

The curse is believed to come into effect when a person says “Macbeth” in a theater.

The origin of this curse is believed to stem from the three witches. The legend says that Shakespeare consulted actual witches for information and when those witches watched the production they were furious. They supposedly placed an everlasting curse upon the play.

MajorCharacters

Macbeth Thane of Glamis Macbeth is, basically, a good man

who is troubled by his conscience and loyalty; though, at the same time, he is ambitious and murderous.

He is led to evil initially by the witches' predictions and then by his wife's goading; he succumbs to her because he loves her.

Lady Macbeth Wife of Macbeth Lady Macbeth is a good wife who

loves her husband. She is also ambitious, but she

lacks the morals of her husband. To achieve her ambition, she rids

of herself of any kindness (womanliness) that might stand in the way of her ambitions.

Banquo A general in the King's army Banquo serves as a foil to Macbeth

by showing an alternate reaction to prophecy.

Banquo retains his morals and allegiances though he is also ambitious.

He is brave and ambitious, but these characteristics are tempered by his intelligence. –Macbeth is not tempered by anything!

MacduffMacduff shows early on a

distrust of Macbeth. He also represents fate as

when knocking on the door. He overestimates Macbeth.

Three Witches (Weird Sisters) They add an element of supernatural

to the play. They are commanded by Hecate, a

Greek goddess of the moon and later witchcraft.

The witches are based on a variety of ideas about witches at the time. They can use sieves as boats, and they can assume the shape of an animal, but with a defect, as with the tailless rat.

The witches were also thought to be able to control the winds. They are described as having beards but looking human.

MalcolmElder son of DuncanPotential to be a good king.

He is everything that Macbeth is not.

He only uses deception only to insure his personal safety.

Minor Characters Donalbain: second son to Duncan- no

major role Siward: ally to Malcolm and Macduff-

no major role Young Siward: Siward’s Son-

represents the ultimate corruption of Macbeth

Fleance: Banqou’s son- no major role The Porter: doorman- adds comedy

amid the tragedy Lady Macduff: Macduff’s wife-

represents innocent victims of the tragic actions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

Ross: Macduff’s cousin-a messenger

CreditsCharacter Bios: www.thinkquest.org

Curse Video: www.sciencechannel.org

Macbeth Basics: www.klvx.org

Real Macbeth: www.pbs.org