The Renaissance Theater and

“Macbeth”

Ms. Eckman

Elements of Literature, Sixth Course. Literature of Britain. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. 2000. 282-288

The history of the theater….

• Where did drama come from?….from church ceremonies such as Morality Plays,

Miracle Plays and Mystery plays• Dramas are based on the 5 cycles of human

life (according to 13th & 14th century worker’s guilds):

1. Creation by God2. Fall to Satan3. Life in the Old Testament4. Redemption by Christ5. Final Judgement

The Beginning of Medieval Drama

The English had been writing and performing plays centuries before the Renaissance.

Medieval drama likely evolved from church ceremonies.

1300-1400s: Drama moved out of the churches and into the marketplaces of towns.

Workers’ Guild: A trade union combined with a club. Example: Carpenter Guild. Each trade

had its own guild.

Guilds cooperated in staging cycles of plays that dramatized stories from the bible.

Miracle and Mystery plays taught people stories from the bible and of the saints.

Morality plays taught people how to live good lives.

Guilds built large wheeled carts on which they would perform their plays throughout sections

of the town.

The guilds used elaborate costumes, props, and effects to gain attention and make the

plays as lifelike as possible.

Gradually, the plays became less religious and more comedic.

Representation of a Mystery Play by David Jee

History continued….

• The first public theater was built in 1576 by Richard and James Burbage. It was called “Theater” (no really- just “Theater”)

• In 1599, the Theater was torn town and its wood was used to build the Globe theater.

Introducing….The Globe Theater!

• The Globe is the most famous of the public theaters because the company that Shakespeare belonged to owned it.

• The Globe Theater burned down in 1613.• Though scholars are not certain what the Globe

looked like, stage directions from Shakespeare’s plays and historical documents have provided enough evidence for a modern reconstruction of the Globe theater.

The Globe Theater

The Globe Theater Today: Techniques used in the reconstruction of the theater were painstakingly accurate.Photo by Tom Green

•Wooden structure three stories high

•Held 3,000 people

•Inner yard open to the sky

•The stage jutted halfway out into the theatre allowing for the audience to be in much closer contact with the actors.

•The stage had trap doors in the walls and ceiling

•Scenery was kept to a minimum.

•Actors wore elaborate and expensive costumes.

•Music and lyrics were specifically written for every play.

Who attended the globe???The Audiences at the Globe theater had to use their imaginationsbecause…– The limited scenery and lighting techniques. – There were no actresses, so boys played female characters. – Instead of seeing a scene, audiences often heard it described in the

play.

• Who attended plays at the Globe theater?

1. Groundlings: The youth and poor could afford to watch the plays from the floor for one penny. •Groundlings were often “sardined” on the theater floor and were characteristically boisterous and rowdy. •“Groundlings were grimy, snaggle-toothed creatures who stood on the ground without seats, eating & picking pockets.” -from USA Today

2. Upper class and Patrons: Paid more money to sit in the upper stories of the theatre and have a better view of the stage.

3. Nobility and Very Wealthy: The most expensive seats were chairs set along the side of the stage.

So why did so many people go to The Globe?

• They loved to be entertained!

• They liked to be close to the stage because then they could see every nuance of the actor’s face/performance

• Loved to see witches & devils going to hell OR Gods & angels going to heaven

Music & Costumes

• Very important• The more elaborate

the better!• Used rich fabrics &

fake jewels• Were beautiful- set

fashion trends• All the music & songs

were written for EACH play

Where else did acting guilds perform???

1. In Great Halls of castles & Manor houses: but they needed to bring a portable stage because they didn’t have any (was primarily used for things like “Bear baiting”)

2. Indoor theaters around London

William Shakespeare 1564 - 1616

• Married Anne Hathaway when he was 18.

• Two daughters and one son; his son died at age 11.

• By 1592, Shakespeare was involved in London’s theaters as both an actor and writer.

• His wealth and popularity prospered by 1596 and Shakespeare moved up in social rank.

• Member and shareholder of the theatre company who owned the Globe.

• Six of his plays given command performances by Queen Elizabeth I.

Shakespeare: Complete Man of the Theater

• Shakespeare created his plays specifically for his own acting company and stage at The Globe Theater: • had to provide good parts in every play for the main

performers in the company.• limited number of female characters because there

were no female actresses during the time; boys often played the female characters.

• wrote lyrics for the music because audiences expected singing in every play.

• Arranged scenes carefully so that actors could have multiple roles in a play; there were a limited number of actors in a company!

Introducing……

“Macbeth”

Your Cast of Characters:

• King Duncan: King of Scotland• Malcolm: son to Duncan, named to be King• Donalbain: other son to Duncan• Macbeth: Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and future king of Scotland• Banquo: Macbeth’s best friend• Fleance: Banquo’s son• Lady Macbeth: wife to Macbeth• The 3 Weird Sisters/Witches: predict the future• Hecate: Queen of the witches• Macduff: former friend of Macbeth;loyal to Malcolm

Minor Characters:

• Ross: a nobleman, tells Macduff that his family is dead

• Lennox: a nobleman• Angus: a nobleman (with a fun name!)• Menteith & Caithness: noblemen• Siward & Young Siward: an English

general’ loyal to Malcolm and his son• Apparitions: 3 of them, predict Macbeth’s future

Background…..

• The setting is in Scotland and England• Shakespeare based this play on historical fact:

The Gunpowder Act of 1605• The Elizabethan audience considered this play a

“thriller” even though we know it as a tragedy.• This was Shakespeare’s shortest play- he hoped

that his patron, King James, would come and watch the play.

• The play is about real people and real emotions: greed, ambition, power and desire!

What is a TRAGEDY?

“….a kind of play in which human actions have inevitable consequences, in which the character’s bad deeds, errors, mistakes and crimes are never forgiven or rectified. “ (Elements of Literature 300)

“….in a tragedy an ill judged-action will remorselessly lead to a catastrophe….(to) death or multiple deaths.” (300)

The Prophecies…..

The 3 weird sisters (witches) give Macbeth and Banquo 3 prophesies:1. Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor2. Macbeth will be King3. Banquo won’t be king but his sons will

be Kings

…Then………

The Apparitions…..1. The Head wearing a Helmet: said Macbeth should beware of

Macduff

2. The Bloody Child: said that no one born of woman could harm Macbeth

3. The Crowned Child holding a tree branch: said that nothing would happen to Macbeth until the Great Birnam Woods moved to Dunsinane Hill

4. The ghost of Banquo followed by 8 Kings: still predicted that Banquo’s sons will be King (this really upset Macbeth!!)- the last king held a cup that showed more kings

The Themes:

• The corrupting power of AMBITION!

- Macbeth’s ambition

- Lady Macbeth’s ambition

• The relationship between Cruelty & Masculinity

-Lady Macbeth

Motifs and Symbols:

• Hallucinations: reminder of guilt; the unconscious mind

• Violence: even though most of the deaths occur offstage, you see the brutality/after effects (i.e the severed heads, bloody child)

• Prophecies: self-fulfilling vs. destiny or fate• Blood: symbolizes guilt• Weather: storms, thunder & lightening are all

present when unnatural things occur (murder and moral corruption)