William Shakespeare's World

William Shakespeare's World

To be, or not to be, that is the question...

This above all, to thine own self be true...

The Man That Would Be Shakespeare

William

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

The Globe

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!) Globe burns (Dang that Fire of London!)

Reconstructed in the 1990’s

Aristocrats The Queen/King 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

The tragedy of

Macbeth

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

The Characters

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 Curse

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...

The Tragic Hero

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

Best Line

“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