Building Background

Shakespeare’s SourceFor the plot of Macbeth, Shakespeare turned to Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland. In this collection of historical essays, Shakespeare read about the real-life Macbeth, who reigned as king of Scotland from 1040 to 1057. The real Macbeth gained the throne with the help of other noblemen who were dissatisfied with King Duncan, a young and ineffective ruler. Shakespeare also read about King Duff, who was murdered by a young couple in whom he trusted.

Scholars believe Shakespeare may have been drawn to the story of King Duff because of similar events that were happening in his own time—specifically, the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in which extremist supporters of the Catholic Church planned to blow up England’s King James and his Protestant Parliament. This notorious incident was the subject of much discussion during the time in which Shakespeare is believed to have written Macbeth. To the first audiences to

view the play, which probably premiered in 1606, the story of a threat on the life of a rightful king would have cut very close to home.

Shakespeare’s ArtShakespeare, always more interested in psychological truth than historical fact, took great liberties with the material in Holinshed’s Chronicles, altering it to suit his dramatic purposes. In Shakespeare’s hands, the historical Macbeth became a tragic hero—a character, usually of high status, who suffers a downfall as a result of a fatal character flaw, errors in judgment, or forces beyond human control. Shakespeare also transformed the character of Banquo, who is portrayed in Holinshed’s Chronicles as a traitor to his country. Because King James claimed Banquo as his Scottish ancestor, Shakespeare prudently portrayed the character as a man above reproach.

Did You Know?During the 1500s and 1600s, belief in the existence of witches and witchcraft was widespread. King James even wrote a book on the subject, titled Demonologie, in which he argued that witchcraft and other forms of sorcery were a threat to society. Some scholars see the inclusion of witchcraft and the treatment of Banquo as evidence that Shakespeare used Macbeth to seek favor with King James.

Literary analysis: Shakespearean tragedy

As you’ve learned, a Shakespearean tragedypresents a superior figure—the tragic hero—who comes to ruin because of an error in judgment or a weakness in character—a tragic flaw.One or more antagonists,or opposing characters, also work against the tragic hero, and the action builds to a catastrophe,a disastrous end involving deaths. As you read Macbeth, be aware of these dramatic conventions:

• The play is written in blank verse,or unrhymed iambic pentameter,in which the normal line has five stressed syllables, each preceded by an unstressed syllable.

• Characters often reveal their private thoughts through soliloquiesand asides,which other characters cannot hear.

• Enjoyment of the play’s action is sometimes enhanced through the use of foreshadowing—hints about what may happen later—and dramatic irony—the contrast created when the audience knows more about a situation than a character knows.

Reading strategy: reading Shakespearean drama

For centuries, Shakespeare has been celebrated for his powerful poetic language. Nonetheless, the Bard can present a challenge for modern readers. Here are some suggestions for taking the fear out of reading Shakespeare:

• Study the plot summary at the beginning of each scene.

• Read important speeches aloud, focusing on the clues they contain about the characters and themes.

• Be aware of grammatical formstypical of Elizabethan English, including the pronouns thou, thee, thy, thine, and thyself in place of forms of you. Also note Shakespeare’s unusual word orderthat often puts verbs before subjects and objects before verbs.

• Take notes about Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as you read the play. Use a chart like the one shown.

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 824