Fair is Foul & Foul is Fair: Macbeth

Intro to Shakespearean tragedy.

William Shakespeare’s Bio

Born circa 1564. Died 1616.

Shakespeare’s WorkAs the video states, Shakespeare wrote not only plays (drama), but also poetry.

In particular, he coined the form of English (or Shakespearean) sonnet. He wrote at least 154 of these poems.

A sonnet is a fourteen-line argumentative poem, meaning that it contains a point that the author is trying to get across to the reader.

Sonnets are written in iambic pentameter, which is a repeating pattern of two syllables at a time, repeated five times (hence penta- ).

For the pattern to be iambic, the first syllable of the pair is unstressed and the second syllable is stressed.

Iambic Pentameter Practice

Look at the following lines from Shakespearean sonnets and practice the iambic pentameter pronunciation:

“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” (Sonnet 18)

“When, in disgrace with fortune in men’s eyes….” (Sonnet 29)

“Take all my loves, my love, yea, take them all…” (Sonnet 40)

“My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun…” (Sonnet 130)

Other Sonnet FeaturesRemember, a sonnet must be an argument. Think of it as a five-paragraph essay in poem form.

English/Shakespearean sonnets have a dedicated rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

This means that there are three quatrains (four-lined stanzas) followed by a single couplet (two-lined stanza—remember Heroic couplets?).

Additionally, there is one essential feature to a Shakespearean sonnet: The last two stanzas must contain a volta, which is an ironic reversal in the speaker’s argument.

Remember: Even if we know Shakespeare is writing autobiographically, the narration of a poem is always attributed to the speaker, not the poet himself.

Sonnet Practice: Sonnet 130My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;

Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;

If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;

If hairs be wires, then black wires grow on her head.

I have seen roses damask’d, red and white,

But no such roses see I in her cheeks;

And in some perfumes is there more delight

Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.

I love to hear her speak, yet well I know

That music hath a far more pleasing sound;

I grant I never saw a goddess go;

My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:

And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare

As any she belied with false compare.

Macbeth, “The Scottish Play”

“Macbeth” by John Martin, 1820

“The Scottish Play”Macbeth was written by Shakespeare around 1606. It takes place in Scotland.

It was written early in the reign of King James I, who succeeded the throne after Elizabeth I died. As we know, Elizabeth I was “the virgin queen” who never married and bore no heirs. James was her second cousin, and former king of Scotland.

Elizabeth and James were both Protestant monarchs, meaning they rejected the supremacy and structural tenets of the Catholic Church.

Protestants believed that an individual could study the Bible and its teachings and be admitted into heaven (consider the contrast between this and the Catholic Church we learned about in Chaucer’s England).

“The Scottish Play”James I was the son of Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth’s cousin.

Mary was extremely Catholic and feuded with Elizabeth from her position in Scotland, attempting to topple Elizabeth’s power on more than one occasion.

Eventually, one of Mary’s assassination plots against her cousin Elizabeth was discovered. Mary was tried, convicted, and beheaded.

It is largely thought that Elizabeth named Mary’s son James as her heir not only in a political move to assuage the rift between the English and Scottish kingdoms, but to repent for her sin of having her cousin murdered.

Origins of MacbethMacbeth was an actual historical figure in Scotland in the 11th century (born around 1005).

He did kill the sitting king, Duncan I, in battle in 1040. In 1045, he also killed Duncan’s father in battle.

After this, he became king. This made him a usurper, which is a term for someone who seizes the throne away from someone currently ruling.

His rule was threatened in 1054 by another nobleman who was attempting to restore Duncan I’s son to the throne.

Macbeth was killed in 1054 and Malcolm III became king.

Macbeth in Shakespeare

In the 1500s, these chronicles of Scotland were recorded in Latin and translated into English.

The “history” that Shakespeare would have gotten this from would have already fictionalized.

For instance, Banquo, who was allegedly King James I’s ancestor, had a hand in the death of Duncan I.

Shakespeare portrays Banquo favorably in the play for obvious political reasons.

Also, because James I gave patronage to Shakespeare’s theater company and he would have wanted to flatter him.

Dramatis Personae: Major Characters

Macbeth, thane of Glamis

Lady Macbeth, his wife

Duncan, King of Scotland

Malcolm, his son

Donaldbain, his other son

Three Witches, the weird sisters

Banquo, a thane of Scotland

Macduff, thane of Fife

Lady Macbeth

Dame Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth, by John Singer Sargent, 1889

Drama TermsA soliloquy is when the character speaks at length alone onstage. The playwright does this so that we gain perspective into the character’s thoughts and actions.

An aside is when the character speaks to themselves or directly to the audience. The rest of the characters onstage are not supposed to hear the content of the aside.

Foreshadowing is a device when a writer hints towards events to come, whether explicitly or symbolically.

Dramatic irony is when the audience can predict what is about to happen to a character, either through information given in scenes the character wasn’t involved in, or foreshadowing, but the character is not aware of the circumstances.

Macbeth Vocabulary

Regicide is the killing of a king. It is considered extremely dishonorable. Unnatural murder is a theme throughout Macbeth.

A paradox is a statement that sounds or seems contradictory but it strangely true.

Equivocation is the act of using unclear language so as to deliberately deceive or mislead someone.

Infirmity is when someone is ill. In its older use, it indicated mental illness (madness).

A scruple is an ethical consideration or principle that prevents action.

Macbeth Themes & Motifs

The unnatural or the supernatural.

Internal conflict.

Ambition vs. Ethics.

Predetermination: Do we choose our paths in life?

Self-fulfilling prophecies.

Blood & darkness.

Hallucinations & ghosts.

Works Cited

Friedlander, Ed. “Enjoying "Macbeth” by William Shakespeare.” Enjoying "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.

“Macbeth.” BBC News. BBC, 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.

“Shakespeare Sonnet 130 - My Mistress’ Eyes Are Nothing like the Sun.” Shakespeare Sonnet 130 - My Mistress’ Eyes Are Nothing like the Sun. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.

“Themes in Macbeth.” SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.

“William Shakespeare.” Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.