Macbeth

WITCHES TREACHERY MURDER BLOOD FAITHLESSNESS DECEPTION AMBITION
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Macbeth
A tragedy By William Shakespeare

The Rise and Fall of a Great Man
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

The Scottish Play is based loosely on an episode from history, the death of King Duncan at the hands of his kinsman Macbeth.

Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Source of the play
Shakespeare's source for his story is Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (1577)
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Written in 1606 Performed at the Globe Theatre, London Published in the First Folio of 1623
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Notes
Genre: Tragedy Setting (time): 11th century Setting (place): Scotland, and briefly, England Protagonist: Macbeth Major Conflicts: Macbeth struggles with his conscience (before and after murder); evil (Macbeth and Lady Macbeth); struggles with good (Malcolm and Macduff)
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Historical Connection
Scotland at the time was a violent and troubled country The castle was the center of each rival aristocrat’s (thane) power Political murder and revenge were not unusual means to gain power Plundering Vikings and Norsemen attacked Scotland constantly
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

The play is the shortest of Shakespeare's tragedies, without diversions or subplots. It chronicles Macbeth's seizing of power and subsequent destruction. It is considered Shakespeare’s darkest work. His rise and fall are the result of blind ambition.
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Macbeth was intended to stir the interest of the new king, James I. The play's focus on regicide, a supreme crime in Shakespeare's day, tied into the November 1605 Gunpowder Plot where English Roman Catholic conspirators plotted to blow up Parliament, King James, his queen and oldest son.
Mrs. Moulton • British Literature

Importance of Patronage The play pays tribute to the interests and