MacbethMacbethBy William ShakespeareBy William Shakespeare

ChronologyChronology750 AD 750 AD BeowulfBeowulf Old EnglishOld English

1400 AD1400 AD Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales Middle EnglishMiddle English

1600 AD1600 AD MacbethMacbeth Modern Modern EnglishEnglish

What’s going on in England?What’s going on in England?

Population increasesPopulation increases

End of feudalismEnd of feudalism

Rising educational levels / printing Rising educational levels / printing presspress

New literature = Sonnets (perfected New literature = Sonnets (perfected by Italy’s Francis Petrarch)by Italy’s Francis Petrarch)

Renaissance (1500-1660)Renaissance (1500-1660)

Advances in science, art, literature, Advances in science, art, literature, religion, philosophy, invention, etc.religion, philosophy, invention, etc.– Art – Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Art – Michelangelo, Rembrandt,

DaVinciDaVinci– Religion – Protestant Reformation, Religion – Protestant Reformation,

Lutheran ChurchLutheran Church– Science – Copernicus, GalileoScience – Copernicus, Galileo– Discovery – Balboa, Drake, Cortes, Discovery – Balboa, Drake, Cortes,

Cartier, colonies in North AmericaCartier, colonies in North America

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

1564-16161564-1616

Born in Stratford-on-AvonBorn in Stratford-on-Avon

No collegeNo college

Married Anne Hathaway at 18Married Anne Hathaway at 18

Worked as actor and playwrightWorked as actor and playwright

Builds Globe TheaterBuilds Globe Theater

Writes 37 plays, poems, sonnetsWrites 37 plays, poems, sonnets

MacbethMacbethHuman drama of ambition, desire, Human drama of ambition, desire, temptation, morality, & guilttemptation, morality, & guiltBased on history, but some things Based on history, but some things fictionalized/fabricatedfictionalized/fabricatedIt’s a tragedy because of its It’s a tragedy because of its universalityuniversalityFundamental moral issue is that Fundamental moral issue is that evil is made possible because of evil is made possible because of man’s free willman’s free will

SettingSettingNorthern Scotland & EnglandNorthern Scotland & England

Scotland:Scotland:– King Duncan’s castle in ForresKing Duncan’s castle in Forres– Macbeth’s castle in InvernessMacbeth’s castle in Inverness– Macduff’s castle in FifeMacduff’s castle in Fife– Birnham Wood & Dunsinane Hill in the Birnham Wood & Dunsinane Hill in the

countrysidecountryside

EnglandEngland– King Edward’s court/castle in EnglandKing Edward’s court/castle in England