The Man That Would Be Shakespeare • Born April 23rd, 1564 • Started out performing with “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men” • Gave him a chance to write a play • Henry IV, Pt. 1- It stunk but they gave him another shot • Many playwrights with nowhere to “play” • Barn turned into theatre (Yeah!) • Puritans burn it down (Evil theatre! Boo!) • Globe built! (Yeah!) • Globe burns (sniff, darn cannon!) • Globe rebuilt! (Yeah!) Reconstructed in the 1990’s • Globe burns (Dang that Fire of London!) o Aristocrats o The Queen/King o The Groundlings! When in a play... • Only men were permitted to perform • Boys or effeminate men were used to play the women • Costumes were often the company’s most valuable asset • Costumes were made by the company, bought in London, or donated by courtiers The Cost of a Show • 1 shilling to stand • 2 shillings to sit in the balcony • 1 shilling was 10% of their weekly income • Broadway Today: – $85 Orchestra – $60 Balcony – 10% of a teacher’s weekly salary • Set in Scotland • Written for King James I (formerly of Scotland, now England) • Queen of Denmark (James’s sister) was visiting • Shakespeare researched The Chronicles - Banquo is an ancestor of King James I • King Duncan of Scotland – Murdered by cousin Macbeth – Honest and good • Malcolm & Donalbain – Sons of the King – Malcolm is the eldest son • Macbeth – Duncan’s most courageous general – Ambition to become king corrupts him causing him to murder Duncan • Banquo – General and Macbeth’s best friend – Suspects Macbeth in Duncan’s murder – An actual ancestor of King James I • Lady Macbeth – As ambitious as her husband – A dark force behind his evil deeds • Macduff – Scottish general, suspects Macbeth of murdering the king – Macbeth has his family murdered – Swears vengeance The Scottish Play • It is believed to be bad luck to even squeak the word ‘Macbeth’ in a theatre • Legend has it you will lose all your friends involved in the production--horribly • MORE ON THAT LATER... • 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. However, how could John Proctor also be one? So what really happens? • • • • • • • • • • Good guy goes bad Guy wants power Married to a pushy control freak She wants power Kills people- LOTS of people Gets power Gets paranoid (a.k.a. goes crazy) Ticks off a lot of people Want more power! Kill! Kill! Gets what’s coming to him in the end “Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And is heard of no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.” - Act V; s.5