Life in William Shakespeare’s England
Renaissance – begins 1485 Shakespeare – 1564 – 1616 proud nation with a strong sense of national
identity still largely rural – pre-industrialization decline of feudalism rise of capitalism large gap between rich and poor
The Renaissance
Renaissance means “rebirth.” Rebirth of classics (Roman and Greek) Intellectually, the discovery, translation, and printing of
Greek and Roman classics were making available a set of works and worldviews that interacted with Christian texts and beliefs
The result was a questioning, a vital intellectual climate, that provided energy for the period’s amazing dramatic and literary output
Also, period of much discovery and expansion (geographically, scientifically, economically) leading to modern age
William Shakespeare
born in April 1564 died in April 1616 world’s greatest dramatist poet, actor, playwright quintessential “Renaissance Man” well-versed voracious reader – classics, the
Bible, Latin, Greek, History, Mythology (Virgil, Ovid, Plutarch, Holinshed’s Chronicles)
Social Change
rapid economic advancement much more contact with other nations more cosmopolitan culture sources of social change as well as much
conflict and fracturing
Religious Conflict
England under the Tudor kings Battle over religion affected almost every
area of life. Read background article.
Queen Elizabeth and Tudor Absolutism
The divine right of kings king = God’s appointed deputy on earth The divine right of kings is a political and religious
doctrine of royal absolutism. It asserts that a monarch is subject to no earthly authority, deriving his right to rule directly from the will of God The king is thus not subject to the will of his people, the aristocracy, or any other estate of the realm, including the church. The doctrine implies that any attempt to depose the king or to restrict his powers runs contrary to the will of God and may constitute heresy.
Shakespeare’s Theater
The actors of Shakespeare’s time are known to have performed plays in a great variety of locations:
court halls of universities of Oxford and Cambridge Inns of Court (residences of London of the legal
societies) theaters – (open-air playhouses) – held vast
audiences of two or three thousand
Background to Macbeth
1603 – new monarch ascended the throne after Elizabeth I
James VI of Scotland, who was to become James I of England
Interest in all things Scottish Raphael Holinshed – History of Scotland –
material for a tragedy In Scottish history of the 11th century,
Shakespeare found a spectacle of violence Macbeth – first published1623
Background to Macbeth
Macbeth is the last of the four “great tragedies,” and perhaps the darkest.
Intensive study of evil at work in the individual and in the world at large
Celebrates the establishment of the first Stuart king of England
Holinshed’s account of the reigns of Duncan and Macbeth (1034 – 57)
“All Things Scottish”
In Scottish history of the eleventh century, Shakespeare found a spectacle of violence
the slaughter of whole armies and of innocent families the assassination of kings the ambush of nobles by murderers the brutal execution of traitors stories of witches and wizards providing advice to
traitors Shakespeare appealing to the new interests in
London brought about by James’s kingship
Macbeth Act I
Foreshadowing the weather thunder and lightning witches – their presence, stories, and prophecies
– witches represent fate and foreknowledge Witches know Macbeth’s fatal weakness and
know they can manipulate his hunger for power Physical manifestation of the powers of darkness
within Macbeth’s character.
Characters
Macbeth – “vaulting ambition” – perversely ambitious, weak, vulnerable, insecure tragic hero
Lady Macbeth – wicked, ambitious, and manipulative (perhaps the fourth witch)
Banquo – general in Duncan’s army; Macbeth’s closest friend – literary foil for Macbeth in the play
Duncan – the king of Scotland
Paradox
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” Reversals – unnaturalness – mirrors the
unnaturalness in Scotland Physical appearance of the witches Lady Macbeth’s desire for a gender
transformation – sexual inversions disharmony in nature and in man
Major Imagery
Blood imagery – not only a literal sign of disorder but an metaphor for Macbeth’s evil
Seeds and plants imagery – sowing the seeds of new power
Instruments of darkness – witches Baby imagery – birth of Macbeth’s ascendancy to
power Illness imagery – illness in the body politic and
mental illness Night, colors, weather, sleep
Literary Foils
Macbeth and Banquo established as literary foils
Macbeth – attracted to temptations and predictions of witches
Banquo – suspicious of witches
Major Questions
Why do people do evil knowing that it is evil???
Why does Macbeth commit evil? (due to fate, his wife, his ambition)
Why does Macbeth fall?
The Tragic Hero
Macbeth established as the tragic hero noble and esteemed but flawed character doomed from birth Notice behavior and character parallels
between Macbeth and other tragic heroes: Oedipus, Creon, Caesar