Macbeth &

Elizabethan England Background Information

GREAT CHAIN OF BEING

Ptolomeric conception of universe (as opposed to Copernican)

MAN IS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE His physical position parallels his moral position GOD Angels HEAVEN Man Microcosm Animals EARTH Plants

Satan HELL

Balance Existence depended on order and degree

*harmony = the highest virtue

Violation or disruption of order leads to CHAOS

Believed in freedom under law

BALANCE = GOODNESS

Chief sin: LACK OF CONTROL

Belief in duality of man's nature - REASON vs. passion

Elements of man - reason, will, understanding

appetites = enemy (passions)

PATHETIC FALLACY

Nature (the forces of nature; the lower levels of being on earth- animals/plants) reflect/echo the world of men in terms of harmony vs. chaos

When the moral order becomes violated or unbalanced, the natural work is disturbed -> unusual or weird things happen

TWO CLASSIC THEORIES OF TRAGEDY

Tragic Flaw: When some personal characteristic or trait* of the protagonist leads to disorder and contributes to the downfall of this person.

*trait can be good or bad

Romeo – undying love for Juliet

Tragic reconciliation: When the affairs of men threaten the order and goodness of being, or of the cosmos; only the destruction of the protagonist can restore harmony

Neo -undying need to “free” humanity from the machines causes him to attempt to destroy the matrix which results in chaos and more suffering for all involved, esp. in Zion. Neo must be destroyed - literally or by downfall – to restore the peace/harmony between the entities

Language in Shakespearean Plays

Plays written in blank verse - unrhymed iambic pentameter ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / I think / our coun / try sinks / ben eath / the yoke

Approximates the naturalness of spoken language Often uses a rhyming couplet to denote the end of scene/act . . . Receive what cheer you may. The night is long that never finds the day. (End of Act IV)

CONVENTIONS OF ELIZABETHAN THEATRE

Globe Theatre - shaped like an octagon

open air - 3 levels - only the areas where the rich sat were covered

The pit around the stage is where the poor would crowd in - general admission seated. Cramped and packed.

Very Different Conventions

1) No women actors; man or young boys took female parts

2) No curtain - exits from the stage were written into the play

3) Minimal props & costumes - audience had to use their imagination

4) Open air - performances held in spring or summer during the day

5) Stratification of audience - different parts of the play written to appeal to different segments of the audience NOBILITY/MIDDLE CLASS/GROUNDLINGS

The Globe

Theatre

Issues with Macbeth

King Malcolm II of Scotland died without a direct heir.

He had 2 daughters who each had sons – Duncan (older) & Thorfin (younger)

Duncan being the older, and supported by more nobility, became King

Malcolm II also had a neice – Gruoch (his father’s, King Kenneth III’s, granddaughter)

Gruoch married to Macbeth

Issues with Macbeth - continued

Crowning of Kings

Not necessarily the oldest son

Monarch would announce his intended heir

Nobility would have to back that heir at time of ascension

If no announcement, apparent heirs would make their cases to “court”/nobility

Nobility would back whomever they thought most fit