William Shakespeare’s “ The Scottish Play ”

1. WilliamShakespeare’s “The Scottish Play” Background Information and Introduction ELA 3201

2. Life of William Shakespeare Shakespeare was born into what is now termed the “Elizabethan Era” (1558-1603) Not much is known about his life, especially before he moved to London and became well-known. Born April.23, 1564 in small town called Stratford-upon-Avon (died: April.23, 1616) Small town 100 miles north of London Father was an alderman, leather - merchant, bailiff (like a mayor) Believed to have attended the King’s school in Strattford learning reading, writing, and the classics, but there is no record of him attending university

3. It is believed that he was well-educated, especially in Greek and Latin tragedies and English history. 1582 – age 18, marries Anne Hathaway. Has 3 children: Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet (died: age 11) By 1592, he had become well-known in London as an actor, playwright, and poet. Belonged to a group called the LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MEN (eventually changing to the KING’S MEN)

4. LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MEN • Traveling acting company, sponsored by Lord Chamberlain, an English nobleman • Performed at royal events, private homes, universities, festivals • Shakespeare was a writer, actor, and part-owner of the company. Replica of Elizabethan-era theater stage

5. 1599 – The Lord Chamberlain’s Men build themselves a permanent open air theater named THE GLOBE. - Has to be located across the river in the town of SOUTHWARK, not in the city of London Why? Due to lack of sanitary conditions, theaters were considered the source of wide spreading of plague. Also, considered ‘unsavoury’ places where gambling and bear baiting took place

6. Conditions in the Theaters • Crowded – especially in front of stage • Open-air theatre (diseases: typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, the plague outbreak in1592 closed the theatres…as a result Shakespeare wrote a lot of his poetry during this time instead) • One penny admission for “GROUNDLINGS” who stood in the pit • Bathroom conditions: none (difficult when plays could last 3 hours!) • Class separation • 2 pennies = bench seat • 3 pennies = cushioned seat • Upper class = upper balconies above the stage so the poor could see their status

8. Shakespearean Theater • No curtains or separations from audience • “BARE STAGE” • Trap door to hell, heaven painted on ceiling • Establish setting through DIALOGUE • “This castle has a pleasant seat.” –Duncan (I:6.1) • “What wood is this before us?” –Siward. “The wood of Birnam.” –Menteith. (V:4.4-5)

9. Major difference: NO FEMALE ACTORS Roles of women are played by young boys. (Improper for women to be on stage.) Therefore, these kinds of scenes were a problem and always drew laughs from the audience: Hamlet (with Ophelia) As You Like It Romeo and Juliet

10. The JACOBEAN Period • Queen Elizabeth dies in 1603 – ends Elizabethan period • Succeeded by her nephew, JAMES I • Son of Mary, Queen of Scots • Had already been JAMES VI of Scotland • Unites kingdoms of England and Scotland • Shakespeare’s plays written during the rule of James I were called his Jacobean works

11. King James was a fan of Lord Chamberlain’s Men and sponsored them (i.e. funded their work) As a result they became known as the KING JAMES MEN Understandably, Shakespeare’s fame and popularity increased OTHELLO - 1603 KING LEAR - 1606 MACBETH - 1606

12. Later in Life • Sometime around 1611, he retired to Stratford-upon-Avon as a wealthy man. • Died April 23, 1616 – age 52. • Final tally: 37 plays, 154 sonnets, several narrative poems as well Bust of William Shakespeare at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon

13. SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYSHistory, Comedy, Tragedy HISTORY: The true story of an English king COMEDY: Happy ending, usually wedding TRAGEDY: Title character dies due to tragic flaw EXAMPLES: Richard II Richard III Henry IV Part 1 Henry IV Part 2 Henry V Henry VI Parts 1, 2, 3 Henry VIII King John EXAMPLES: The Tempest Midsummer Night’s Dream Love’s Labour’s Lost As You Like It The Merchant of Venice Twelfth Night EXAMPLES: King Lear Romeo and Juliet Othello Julius Caesar Macbeth Hamlet Antony and Cleopatra

14. SHAKESPEARE IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN CULTURE • Band of Brothers (Stephen Ambrose, HBO miniseries) • Borrows heavily on themes from Henry V. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,Or close the wall up with our English dead!In peace there's nothing so becomes a manAs modest stillness and humility;But when the blast of war blows in our ears,Then imitate the action of the tiger:Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood.Henry V(V:3.44-51)

15. And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,From this day to the ending of the world,But we in it shall be remember'd;We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;For he to-day that sheds his blood with meShall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,This day shall gentle his condition:And gentlemen in England now a-bedShall think themselves accursed they were not here,And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaksThat fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day. (Henry V, V:3)

16. Other Movie References 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) Adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew She’s the Man (2006) Based on Twelfth Night West Side Story (1961) Adaptation of Romeo and Juliet

17. Macbeth: An Introduction • Macbeth is among the best-known of William Shakespeare’s plays. • Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy. • Believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606. • Play first appeared in print in 1623. • Speculation that the witches/Hecate’s scenes were added into the original play by Thomas Middleton

18. The play’s popularity stems from… • Being the shortest of the Shakespearean tragedies (2,107 lines long) • Extremely violent – over 100 references to bloodshed in the play • Elements of the supernatural • During the Elizabethan era, also known as the Renaissance (rebirth – new ideas (i.e. capitalism), scientific exploration, astrology, technology, etc.), increased interest in witchcraft and the supernatural came to the forefront in explaining strange occurrences. Therefore, the ‘weird sisters’ included in Macbeth are particularly appropriate characters.

19. The Real Macbeth(Shakespeare uses little more than the names of the characters and some very basic elements of historical plot) • king of Scotland (1040–1057) • Believed to be a decent King (i.e. passed progressive laws) • He succeeded his father as governor of the province of Moray c.1031 • was a military commander for Duncan I • In the play Duncan is an older, kindly king while in reality he was a young, soft-willed man and a poor ruler. • Macbeth on the other hand was a valiant leader who ruled competently, and was not the tyrant Macbeth portrayed him as. • The real Duncan was also killed in battle…not as depicted in the play.

20. The Real Macbeth • In 1040, Macbeth killed Duncan in battle and seized the throne. • Possibly of royal descent himself, he acquired a direct claim to the throne through his wife, Gruoch; she was a granddaughter of Kenneth III, who had been overthrown by Duncan's ancestor Malcolm II. (Right: portrait of Duncan I)

21. Opening Background of MACBETH • First performed in 1606 – King James himself is in the audience • One of James’ ancestors is a character (Banquo) • How do you think that character will be portrayed? Why include this connection? • Known as “the Scottish play” • Considered to be cursed • Actor playing Lady Macbeth died on first night • Cause thought to be the CAULDRON SCENE (it is thought that Shakespeare took real spells from an authentic black-magic ritual which angered those individuals who held these incantations sacred).

22. Setting and Characters • Scotland, roughly 1040 • Almost 600 years before it was written • Civil war • Forces of KING DUNCAN vs. • The rebels MACDONWALD (Scottish ‘Western’ Isles) AND • the THANE OF CAWDOR • Macbeth and Banquo • Generals in the army of King Duncan

25. Major Themes • POWER • AMBITION • GENDER ROLES • DECEPTION

26. More Themes • TRUST and LOYALTY • GUILT and CONSEQUENCES • FATE and DESTINY

27. “THE SCOTTISH PLAY” "It will have blood, they say: blood will have blood"

28. The Tragic Hero

29. Def. “Man of high standard who falls from that high because of a flaw that has affected many” - Aristotle • Macbeth is one of the most famous examples of the tragic hero. • Macbeth, the man, is a study in self-damnation. • Macbeth as Wheel • The play opens with a restoration of order – the defeat of the Thane of Cawdor, along with his Scandinavian and Scottish rebel allies by King Duncan’s forces. • Yet, Macbeth himself proceeds to plunge Scotland into disorder by Duncan’s murder. • Order can only be restored if the usurper, Macbeth, is taken from power, and the rightful successor to the throne, Malcolm, reclaims his throne. • The play Macbeth does not condemn society. Instead, it sees the disorder in society as stemming from the choices/actions of disorderly individuals.

30. The Wheel of Fortune • The Elizabethans strongly believed in the metaphor of the WHEEL OF FORTUNE. To them, fortune did not follow Divine Law – fortune (luck) was a lawless process – bending only to its own whims. The man who rose through luck, who stayed on the wheel and rode it to the top of its arc, would also fall through bad luck and remain on the wheel as it proceeded downward. • As the ply proceeds, we see its protagonist as a compulsive gambler, increasing the stakes as he chances all on successive turns of fortune’s wheel.