Macbeth

What you must know about Shakespeare.

Date of birth: 1564, Stratford upon Avon – Son of a wealthy merchant. Studies latin literature.
1582: marries Anne Hathaway
1592: First production of Henry VI part I at the Rose Theatre in London.
1593: The Plague: theatres closed.
1594-97: actor, writer and investor in the Lord Chamberlain’s men.
1598-1603: death of Queen Elizabeth 1st, James 1st ascends the throne – he was from the house of Stuarts James of Scotland. He became the patron of Shakespeare’s company now called the King’s men. Shakespeare writes darker plays in his mature years – of which Macbeth.
1608- the king’s men begin using a 2nd theatre Blackfriars – Shakespeare has become prosperous and so no longer acts in his plays.
1609 – publication of Shakespeare’s sonnets.
1616 – death.

What you must know about Macbeth.

It’s a tragedy – one of the darkest plays he ever wrote. Very gory.
It is set in Scotland in the 11th century.
The major source is R. Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (commonly called Holinshed’s Chronicles) which he followed most of the time but midified some elements.
Holinshed related the reign of 11th century King Duncan of Scotland killed in a conspiracy led by the usurper Macbeth who later became a cruel tyrant.

Act 1 scene 1

1. Read the stage directions. What can you say?

The characters are 3 witches, which creates an unusual atmosphere.
There is reference to the natural elements with thunder and lightning.
Even before we start reading the play, the atmosphere is {strange / bizarre / weird {Dark {Frightening {Threatening
We can imagine that it announces the mood of the play.

2. Read the scene as you listen. Pick out the characters that are mentioned by the witches.

Macbeth / Grey-malkin / Padock
Grey-malkin and Padock are the witches’familiars usually identified as a cat and a toad (nothing is