William Shakespeare — Macbeth

Alternativer Bildtext:

of magic ■ ▪ provides a venue for the performance of plays + ▪ important cultural and social life of Elizabethan England ▪ attracted audiences from everywhere including royalty, nobility and commoners ▪ popular gathering place for entertainment of English drama and theatre ▪ relationship between the audience and the actors was highly interactive and collaborative Shakespearian English pronouns I singular plural you ye ■ subject thou object thee possesive thine yours relective thyself yourself signature characteristics experimenting with language ▪ wordsplays and puns making up new words and introducing them into English language verb endings: silent -e often added -st, -est, -'st →→ 2nd person singular ending -th→ 3rd person singular ending -t → after forms of be, shall, will -'d → -ed modifying existing words by changing their function (e.g. by adding prefixes and suffixes) verb endings: -e →- -es-s -'d → -ed (to) have hast hath (to) be art are Is't → is it? → has wert were wilt →will didst →→ you did/ did you? doth/ dost →→→ does/did you have/ have you? methinks →→ I think/ believe I pray thee → I beg you get thee done → go away I charge thee → I mandate you (to do smth) prepositions hence → thus thence there whence →→→ where → here hither thither → there whither where verbs ere → before verbs shalt → shall Elizabethan Time ▪ named after Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) ▪ affected by astronomy, witchery and other early modern changes ▪ historical term: Early Modern Period → refers to England's success: ▪ Seamen Sir Francis Drake and Sir Martin Frobisher contributed to England's navy becoming the world's number one sea power which defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588 ▪ The East India Company, founded in 1600, colonized large parts of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, which increased England's wealth and initiated the building of the British Empire Society: ▪ church: main factor in the city religious ▪ class oriented society > most people belonged to peasantry (lower class) ▪ contemporary beliefs: superstition & witchery; science was less common, limited knowledge → as a result, people started to question these beliefs but found no answers which led to chaos political background ▪ under Elizabeth I, England enjoyed a period of relative peace and prosperity ▪ her father (Henry VIII had broken with Rome and the Catholic Church and made himself Supreme Head of the Church in order to divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragon ▪ Elizabeth finalized this process and created the Church of England age considered to be the height of English Renaissance and English literature and poetry ▪ battles between Protestants and Catholics and battles between parliament and the monarchy ▪ Protestant Catholic divide was settled by the Elizabethan Religious Settlement and parliament was still not strong enough to challenge royal absolutism world view ÇIKI God Angels Menkind the microcosm existence, life, feelings, understanding → higher animals (having touch, memory, movement) animals like ants (having touch) plants existence and life vegetable class elements, liquids, metals mere existence inanimate class Shakespearean Motifs ambition & greed: ▪ Othello: lago's thirst for power; ▪ Macbeth: Macbeth's thirst for power; his ambition to become king Tempest: Prospero's will to be the Duke of Milan again ▪ Today: society's ambition & for e.g. money + financial/political power influence: ▪ Othello: lago influences many characters because of his ambition ▪ Macbeth: Lady Macbeth influences and controls Macbeth (→ intriguing plot through manipulation) ▪ Today: influence of social media, politics etc. on society love: ▪ Romeo & Juliet: are in love; symbols of light & darkness, sun & moon ▪ Midsummer Night's: many different love stories, reference to Romeo & Juliet (young love) ▪ Today: typical human emotion illusion vs. reality: (reality depends on perception & is open to interpretation > ambiguity) ▪ Othello: lago creates fictional stories for the characters, which become their personal reality ▪ Macbeth: "Fair is foul, foul is fair" Macbeth's hallucinations ▪ Midsummer Night's: love as a dream/illusion: absurd, irrational, delusional; disorientation of the lovers after waking ▪ Today: fake news, social media, government, supernatural + religion: ▪ Othello: the concept of devil (→ religion); lago controls the plot, influences the characters, creates es for the characters → godlike powers; Othello is Muslim (+ faces racism) Tempest: magician Prospero's magic and spells drive the plot; Ariel manipulates people ▪ Macbeth: three witches (+ number 3 as a symbol); the witches control the plot by influencing Macbeth hatred: ▪ Romeo & Juliet: hatred between the families Montague vs. Capulet; weapons and violence emphasizes the manifestation of hate ▪ Today: political opponents... treason: Tempest: Duke of Milan & Prospero gets deposed by his brother (political and brotherly betrayal) ▪ Macbeth: Macbeth's greed for ■ power envy & jealousy: ■ Othello: Othello envies Cassio because of Desdemona; lago envies Cassio because he wants his position Today: typical human emotion other plays Richard III Jealous and crippled, Richard of Gloucester wants to be King of England and uses manipulation and deceit to achieve his goal. He murders his brothers, nephews, and any opposition to become King Richard III. In the end, Henry of Richmond raises an army, kills Richard in battle and becomes King Henry VII. The Taming of the Shrew Lucentio loves Bianca but cannot court her until her shrewish older sister Katharina marries. The eccentric Petruccio marries the reluctant Katharina and uses a number of tactics to render her an obedient wife. Lucentio marries Bianca and in a contest at the end, Katharina proves to be the most obedient wife. Twelfth Night Viola; separated from her twin Sebastian, dressed as a boy and works four the Duke Orsino, whom she falls in love with. Orsino is in love with the Countess Olivia and sends Viola to court her for him, but Olivia falls for Viola instead. Sebastian arrives, causing a flood of mistaken identity and marries Olivia. Viola then reveals she is a girl and marries Orsino Hamlet The ghost of the king of Denmark tells his son Hamlet to avenge his murder by killing the new king, Hamlet's uncle. Hamlet feigns madness, contemplates life and death and seeks revenge. His uncle, fearing for his life, also devises plots to kill Hamlet. The play ends with a duel, during which the King, Queen, Hamlet's opponent and Hamlet himself are killed Richard III Jealous and crippled, Richard of Gloucester wants to be King of England and uses manipulation and deceit to achieve his goal. He murders his brothers, nephews, and any opposition to become King Richard Ill. In the end, Henry of Richmond raises an army, kills Richard in battle and becomes King Henry VII. Othello Othello is a tragedy play written by William Shakespeare in the early 17th century. The play tells the story of Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army who falls in love with Desdemona, a wealthy and beautiful woman. However, Othello's ensign, lago, becomes jealous of Othello's success and sets out to destroy him. lago manipulates Othello into believing that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him with his own lieutenant, Cassio. Consumed by jealousy and rage, Othello murders Desdemona and then takes his own life when he learns the truth about lago's deceit. Along with its exploration of jealousy, betrayal, and racism, the play also features complex characters, intricate plotting, and powerful language. Othello is one of Shakespeare's most famous and frequently performed plays, and it continues to be studied and adapted today. A Midsummer Night's Dream A Midsummer Night's Dream is a comedy play written by William Shakespeare in the late 16th century. The play follows the lives and loves of several characters, including the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and his bride-to-be, Hippolyta, as well as a group of amateur actors, a fairy king and queen, and a group of young lovers. The plot revolves around the various characters and their interactions with one another, which are often influenced by the magical intervention of the fairy king, Oberon, and his mischievous servant, Puck. The play features mistaken identities, misunderstandings, and romantic entanglements, as the characters fall in and out of love with each other. Eventually, everything is resolved in a joyful and humorous ending, as the various couples are reunited and the amateur actors perform a comical play to entertain the Duke and his guests. A Midsummer Night's Dream is known for its witty dialogue, whimsical plot, and memorable characters, including the mischievous Puck and the vain actor, Bottom. The play is one of Shakespeare's most popular and frequently performed works and is often studied for its exploration of love, fantasy, and the power of the imagination. Romeo & Juliet Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy play written by William Shakespeare in the late 16th century. The play tells the story of two young lovers from feuding families in Verona, Italy, who are desperate to be together. Romeo, a member of the Montague family, falls in love with Juliet, a member of the Capulet family, at a masquerade ball. Despite their families' hatred for each other, Romeo and Juliet secretly marry with the help of Friar Lawrence. As the play progresses, a series of misunderstandings and unfortunate events lead to the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Juliet's father insists that she marry the County Paris, causing her to seek out Friar Lawrence's help once again. The friar gives her a potion that will make her appear dead, so she can be reunited with Romeo once he comes to take her away. However, Romeo believes Juliet is truly dead and takes his own life, prompting Juliet to also take her own life upon waking to find him dead. The play is known for its exploration of love, fate, and the destructive nature of family feuds. Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's most popular and frequently performed plays, and it has been adapted into numerous films, ballets, and operas. The play's memorable characters, such as the tragic lovers Romeo and Juliet, their witty and loyal friends Mercutio and Benvolio, and the fiery Tybalt, continue to captivate audiences today. The Tempest The Tempest is a play written by William Shakespeare in the early 17th century. The play is set on a remote island, where Prospero, a sorcerer and the rightful Duke of Milan, has been stranded with his daughter, Miranda, for twelve years. Prospero has used his magical powers to control the island's spirits and creatures, including the spirit Ariel and the monstrous Caliban. The play follows the story of Prospero's plan to bring his enemies to the island and seek revenge on them. His enemies include his brother Antonio, who usurped his position as Duke of Milan, and Alonso, the King of Naples, who helped Antonio in his plot. With the help of Ariel, Prospero creates a storm that shipwrecks his enemies on the island. There, they encounter various magical creatures and spirits, including Caliban, who plots to kill Prospero and take control of the island. Throughout the play, Prospero manipulates events to bring his enemies to justice, while also teaching them lessons about forgiveness and redemption. In the end, Prospero forgives his enemies, gives up his magical powers, and returns to Milan with Miranda. The Tempest is known for its exploration of themes such as forgiveness, redemption, and the power of nature. It is also known for its memorable characters, including the wise and powerful Prospero, the mischievous Ariel, and the grotesque yet sympathetic Caliban. The play continues to be studied and performed today for its intricate plotting, poetic language, and timeless themes. "Macbeth" ■ ■ ■ drama created in 1606 rise and fall of Scottish general Macbeth devised in 5 acts Summary Macbeth is a tragedy play written by William Shakespeare that explores the corrupting influence of power and ambition. The play tells the story of Macbeth, a Scottish general, who is told by three witches that he will become king. Driven by his ambition and encouraged by his wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the throne. However, his guilt and paranoia lead him to commit more murders, including those of his friend Banquo and Macduff's family. As the play progresses, Macbeth becomes more ruthless and paranoid, and his rule becomes increasingly tyrannical. Eventually, Macbeth is defeated in battle by Macduff and is killed. The play is known for its themes of ambition, guilt, betrayal, and the supernatural, including the witches' prophesies and the appearance of Banquo's ghost. Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most famous plays and is widely studied and performed today. character constellation hears her confession Doctor Lady Macbeth allies three witches agents of fate encourages murder of Duncan prophecy prophecy Fleance Banquo's son father to later Scottish kings arranges murder of Macbeth arranges murder of Banquo loyal general to King Duncan Lady Macduff and son murders kills in final battle Duncan King of Scotland victims due to the prophecy opponents Macduff Thane of Fife join forces against macbeth Malcolm Duncan's son later King Donalbain Duncan's son support in final battle traitors to Macbeth Lennox, Ross, Menteth, Agnus, Caithness Thanes who eventually turn against Macbeth Summary Act 3 → climax ▪ Macbeth = King of Scotland ▪ Macbeth arranges for Banquo and his son to be killed → Banquo dies, son escapes ▪ Macbeth haunted by ghost of Banquo - ■ lady Macbeth dismisses court and tries calming him Act 2 → rise ▪ Macbeth returns to castle followed by King ▪ Macbeths plan King's murder Lady Macbeth drugs guards ▪ Macbeth kills King ▪ Macduff discovers murder ▪ Malcolm and Donalbain flee → fear for their lives →→ blamed for King's murder regret → reassurance of his wife Act 1 → exposition ▪ Macbeth and Banquo receive witches prophecy: ▪ Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scootland ▪ Banquo's descendants will be kings, but he himself won't King Duncan names Macbeth Thane of Cawdor → promotion supports prophecy King wants to briefly visit Macbeth's castle Lady Macbeth is informed about prophecy and new title →vows to help him become King by whatever means are necessary → talks madly Act 4 → crisis ▪ Macbeth seeks witches prophecy ▪ no need to fear someone born by a woman Banquo's son will be his successor ▪ Macbeth's reign of terror: slaughtering many (Macduff's family) ▪ Macduff seeks Malcom and persuades him to lead an army against Macbeth Act 5- resolution ▪ Macbeth feels safe → hears that Birnam Wood is moving towards him ▪ Malcom's army, camuflaged with branches from the forest ▪ Lady Macbeth sleepwalks and tells her doctor secrets → commits suicide → during battle Macbeth mourns his wifes death ▪ Macduff challanges Macbeth → Macduff had an ceasarean birth → not born by a woman → realises his doom and submits to his enemy ▪ Macduff brings head of Macbeth to Malcom ▪ Malcolm declares peace and is to crowned king Motifs Banquo ▪ Macbeth is willing to kill a good friend of his, because becoming King is more important Banquo is like Macbeth (but a better version of him, that isn't two faced or has a dark side) → "Anti-Macbeth" ▪ brave soldier, very loyal, noble, trustworthy ▪ also got a prophecy from the witches (his prophecy is a threat to Macbeth) ▪ automatically realizes the danger of the prophecy ▪ is a constant reminder of what Macbeth could or should be ▪ able to resist the prophecy ▪ is Macbeth's conscience (reappears as a ghost and reminds him of the murder → makes him feel guilty) ▪ by killing him Macbeth kills his own conscience → becomes evil and mad ghost is covered in blood which represents the sins and guilt Macbeth feels because of the murder → shows brutality and violence → stands for death Relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth ▪ Unusal relationship (wife more dominant and manipulates her husband) ▪ most of the time: polite, respectful, loving Lady Macbeth is confident # Macbeth is quite ▪ Lady Macbeth uses her knowledge about her husband to manipulate him (questio his manhood, uses different ways of persuasion) Fair is foul and foul is fair ▪ what appears to be good could be bad (Lady Macbeth and Macbeth) and what appears to be bad could be good ▪ all is not what it seems ▪ looks can be deceiving → appearance vs. reality example: Macbeth seems heroic and loyal to the King, but is actually a traitor greedy for power Character: Macbeth Perception ▪ brave and heroic warrior ▪ noble and loyal to his kingdom by his wife: weak and afraid true self invested in his future → wants to increase his power very ▪inner conflict: wants the crown but is also afraid of being king ▪ ruthless and somewhat evil → plots murder in order to gain power ▪ fear for his afterlife → doesn't want to go to hell ▪ uncertainty about the murder ▪ reasons: king honoured him, was nice, doesn't want to lose his good status willing to commit more murders, even close friends, to succeed Development ▪ brave warrior and loyal subject to King Duncan ▪ falls victim the the witches prophecy plans to murder the king ▪ has doubts about murder ▪ fear of death and the afterlife ▪ feels his manhood threatened ■ "mans up" and kills the king ▪ increase of his fear →→ commits more murders to protect himself guilt haunts him ■ fight against the English troops → more or less heroic again ■ Macbeth ▪ Thane of Cawdor, later also Thane of Glamis and King of Scotland struggles with good and bad → can't distinguish between "fair and foul" ▪ believer fate is deceided by the witches →>> full of inner conflicts ▪ complex/ contradictory character struggeling to overcome his evil thoughts but is tempted by witches/ wife/ own ambitions ▪ loss of sense of fear ▪ haunted by guilt even before the King's murder ▪ one of the King's chief generals and closest military advisers god-like hero → brave, skilled, firm, loyal, "too full of the milk of human kindness" ▪tempted into regicide to fulfill the prophecy →wife questions his love and manhood deep desire for self-realisation and power ▪ by murdering the King he positions himself outside or even above God's given order → natural order disrupted → world turns upside down ▪ burdens himself with guilt, has moral doubts, begins to dispair and knows about consequences → absorbed by his thoughts/ vivid imagery →pangs of conscience ▪ conduct marked by fear (feels threatened) rising cruelty ▪ kills indiscriminately to ensure his throne ▪ casts suspicion on others ▪ obnoxious, dehumanised, murderous, bloodthirsty, dishonest, unscrupulous, tyrannical ▪ boldness and impression of personal invincibility marks him out for a tragic fall ▪ not deeply moved by Lady Macbeth's death, broods on absurdity of life tale of how ambition (surpressing his qualities) can tarnish even the purest of souls (degeneration) ▪ ambitous, ruthless, murderer, despicable, tyrant, brutal, disloyal subject, usurper, obedient husband, impressionable, weak-willed, remorseful, fearful, two-faced, hypocritical ▪ his manhood is important to him ▪ ambition is his tragic flaw/ fatal weakness ▪ has finer feelings/ sensetive and reflective character ▪ evil not part of his nature → consequence of his ambition → never relishes the bloody role he plays ▪ thinks to much about his actions and the consequences of his actions Lady Macbeth ▪ Macbeth's wife → later King and Queen ▪ at the beginning: confident and dominant ▪ urges Macbeth to use deception to cover his evil intentions ▪ ridicules Macbeth's masculinity ▪ active acomplice ▪ appears isolated and drained of energy ▪ persuading personality ▪ cruelty comes after calling spirits for help ▪ love for husband royal title ▪ early instigator of the atroucius plans that lead to Macbeth becoming King → sees Macbeth's goodness as a flaw ▪ very emancipated, egoistic, dominant/ superior, naive, forceful, ambitious, power hungry → sees and seizes her change to become Queen ▪ calls upon evil spirits and implores them to rid her of femininity → would kill own child if she had to → cruel and relentless → mocks and demeans Macbeth's manliness (machinations = cold and vicious) ▪ abuses alcohol to make her bold/ feel at ease → incapable of bearing the weight of the deeds and soon falls victim to the weight of her guilt haunted by the memory of regicide ▪ loses significance for Macbeth's decision ▪ driven crazy by guilt and commits suicide ▪ rejects femininity ▪ cunning, sceming, domineering, masculine, unscrupulos, evil, haunted, practical, persuasive, resolute, determined, unpleasant ► Macbeth and Lady Macbeth progress differently throughout the play: partners in love partners in crime → apathy and reversed positions in the relationship Banquo ▪ second of Duncan's generals and brave commander ▪ noble, wise, far-seeing character, man of integrity ▪ believes in devine powers and absolute loyalty ▪witches foretell his descendants to inherit the throne → resist temptation of evil → content and let's destiny carve it's own path → counterpoint to how one deals with fate ▪ his ghost later haunts Macbeth accordingly for his murder, reminding him of the choices he made ▪ regal, wise, perspective, trusting, courageous Fleance survives murder of his father and his attempted assassination arranged by Macbeth Doctor ▪ reflects the fear of people living under a tyrans's regime develops imagery of sickness and healing ▪ nameless character and function as a chorus giving audience information and commenting Macduff ▪ nobleman who right away opposes Macbeth's ascension to the throne ▪ has personal reasons for revenge (wife and son murders were arranged by Macbeth) ▪ born unnaturally by caesarian birth Lady Macduff ▪ much more tranquil and less violent than Lady Macbeth ▪ contrast between normal emotions (love for her children/ sense of betrayal/ belief in justice) abnormal cruelty of Lady Macbeth → rejects any of those Malcolm ▪ eldest of Duncan's two sons ▪ chaste, lacking in envy, true to his word ▪ cautious politician immediately heads to England to built an army with Macduff's help Lennox brave survivor → until he has the opportunity to change sides functionn of chorus cautious about his true beliefs Siward ▪ professional soldier father is a general ▪ though military character ▪ gets killed by Macbeth in final battle Porter brave provides the only comic relief → story of murder and brutality provides commentary on themes → treason, ambition, damnation, equivocation Ross kind of person who survives by making sure he is on the winning side stayed with Macbeth until advantage in joining Maclom and Macduff Act 1 Scene 2 Ireland (West) Macdonwald (scottish rebel) → killed by Macbeth Scotland Captain (first messenger) Thane of Rosse (second messenger) Duncan (scotish king) Banquo Macbeth Norway (East) Thane Cawdor (scotish rebel) Sweno (norwegian king) Act 1 Scene 3 The witches' first prophecy Macbeth Banquo 1) Contradiction: ,,lesser but greater" 2) Contradiction: ,,much happier" 1) Thane of Glamis 2) Thane of Cawdor 3) King of Scotland fair → foul 3) Father of future scotish Monarchs conflict MACBETH [Aside] If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir. → won't act, but would accept the crown Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day. Macbeth and Banquo's relationship ▪ Act 1, Scene 3: comrades in arms, close friends → the witches' prophecy ▪ Act 1, Scene 4: ▪ Act 1, Scene 6: ▪ Act 2, Scene 1: ▪ Act 2, Scene 3: Duncan's body is found while they're around ▪ Act 3, Scene 1: ▪ Act 3, Scene 3: Macbeth orders Banquo's death ■ Act 3, Scene 4: Banquo's ghost haunts Macbeth