Macbeth
How does Boromir fit the mold?
Character flaw?
Change of fortune?
Fall from grace?
Does he create sympathy?
An Intro to "The Scottish Play"
The Tragic Hero
- Has a major personality flaw (e.g. short temper, distrustful, easily tempted, etc)
- Dramatic change of fortune from good to bad
- Falls from grace (for Shakespeare, usually a royal figure)
- Allows the audience to identify (or empathize) with him/her
Terms & Themes
*Tragic Hero
Malleability
Predestination vs. Free Will
The Play
Synopsis
- Macbeth, a brave general is told a prophecy by three witches that he will one day be king of Scotland.
- Instead of waiting, he decides to kill the king and take his throne.
- He and his wife become caught up in plots to keep the throne by killing more and more people.
- Set in Scotland.
- Deals with regicide and power struggles
- Thought to be cursed (actors don't say its name)
- Based on the historical references to Hollinshed’s, Chronicles of Scottish History
- Parallels the Gunpowder Plot associated with King James I
Gunpowder Plot
An assassination attempt on King James I of England (also the king of Scotland at the time)
Conspirators sought to blow up Parliament on Nov 5, 1605 with the king in it, but they were unsuccessful
Shakespeare mentions these events to butter up King James
Background
Written by William Shakespeare between 1603-1607.
Shortest, darkest, and bloodiest play.
Written as an attempt to get a new patron
Considered a Tragedy (watch the body count).
*Catharsis