King JamesKing JamesShakespeareShakespeare

&&ScotlandScotland

Everything you need to know before you Everything you need to know before you start start

MacbethMacbeth

England - England - 16031603

*Queen Elizabeth I dies childless after a long and successful reign

*She chooses her cousin, King James VI of Scotland, as her successor

*James is proclaimed King James I

James VI James VI (of Scotland)(of Scotland)

Became King of Became King of Scotland at 13 Scotland at 13 monthsmonths

Raised as a Raised as a Protestant, even Protestant, even though his mother though his mother was a Catholicwas a Catholic

He was the last He was the last surviving relative of surviving relative of Elizabeth (she Elizabeth (she executed everyone executed everyone else, including else, including James’s mother, Mary James’s mother, Mary Queen of Scots) Queen of Scots)

James I James I (of England)(of England) Very intellectual Very intellectual

King, publishing King, publishing over 20 books over 20 books during his lifetimeduring his lifetime

Married a Protestant Married a Protestant Danish princessDanish princess

Ruled over a Ruled over a country torn by country torn by religious disputesreligious disputes

Interest in witchcraftInterest in witchcraftNorth Berwick Butt TrialNorth Berwick Butt Trial

–Several hundred men and women Several hundred men and women were accused and convicted of were accused and convicted of trying to sink the boat James trying to sink the boat James sailed on with his wife on their sailed on with his wife on their return from Denmarkreturn from Denmark

DaemonologyDaemonology– James’s own book on the signs James’s own book on the signs and punishments of witchcraftand punishments of witchcraft

King James BibleKing James BibleCommissioned by James to satisfy Commissioned by James to satisfy his Protestant subjectshis Protestant subjects

Replaced all other English versions Replaced all other English versions of the Bibleof the Bible

Very beautiful and poetic language Very beautiful and poetic language (some even by Shakespeare!)(some even by Shakespeare!)

Shakespeare’s connection Shakespeare’s connection to King Jamesto King James

Shakespeare belonged to the Shakespeare belonged to the “King’s Men” theatre company“King’s Men” theatre company

Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare wrote MacbethMacbeth to to honor James’s Scottish heritagehonor James’s Scottish heritage

Witches, Banquo, Gunpowder Witches, Banquo, Gunpowder PlotPlot

Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s TheatreTheatre

Before 1500s, the only kinds of Before 1500s, the only kinds of plays in England were based on plays in England were based on religion or moralityreligion or morality

Shakespeare, Marlowe, Johnson, Shakespeare, Marlowe, Johnson, and others were creating a new and others were creating a new kind of dramakind of drama

Interested in love, history, war, Interested in love, history, war, revenge – the human experiencerevenge – the human experience

Who went to the Who went to the theatre?theatre?

ScholarsScholarsNoblemen and womenNoblemen and womenMerchantsMerchantsPeasantsPeasantsEVERYONE!EVERYONE!

Globe TheatreGlobe TheatreShakespeare Shakespeare

was a part was a part ownerowner

Octagonal (or Octagonal (or 20-sided, 20-sided, depending on depending on your research)your research)

Open roofOpen roof3 levels and 3 levels and

ground spaceground space

The stageThe stageBalconiesBalconiesTrap door in Trap door in

stagestageSome special Some special

effects effects (explosions, (explosions, ghosts, flying?)ghosts, flying?)

Actors Actors veryvery close to close to audienceaudience

MacbethMacbethTheatre companies consider it Theatre companies consider it bad luck, so it’s called “the bad luck, so it’s called “the Scottish play”Scottish play”

One of Shakespeare’s great One of Shakespeare’s great tragediestragedies

Some characters are real Some characters are real historical figureshistorical figures

The Story of The Story of MacbethMacbethMacbeth was a real King of Scotland Macbeth was a real King of Scotland

1040-10571040-1057Other characters – Duncan, Malcolm, Other characters – Duncan, Malcolm,

MacDuff, Lady Macbeth are realMacDuff, Lady Macbeth are realA thriller for audiences in 1600sA thriller for audiences in 1600sDeals with timeless human experiences Deals with timeless human experiences

such as ambition, guilt, revenge, such as ambition, guilt, revenge, loyalty, and betrayalloyalty, and betrayal

Glamis Castle*most haunted castle in Scotland

*Grey lady

*Monster of Glamis

*Room of Skulls

*Devil’s poker game

*setting of Macbeth