MacbethBackgroundNotes麦克白背景知识

TheTragedyofMacbeth

byWilliamShakespeareEnglish12Ms.WymesSettingsTheactionoftheplaytakesplaceinnorthernScotlandandEngland.InScotland,theplayissetatornearthefollowinglocations:KingDuncan’scastleatForres,Macbeth’scastleatInverness,Macduff’scastleatFife,BirnamWood,orDunsinaneHillinthecountryside.AsceneisalsosetatacastleinEngland.CharacterList1.Macbeth:protagonist;ambitiousarmygeneralinScotland;viewedasaheroattheonsetoftheplayforhissuccessinbattle2.LadyMacbeth:WifeofMacbeth;verypersuasiveandaggressiveinhermarriage3.KingDuncan:KingofScotland4.Malcolm:OldestsonofKingDuncan;PrinceofCumberland5.Donalbain:YoungestsonofKingDuncanCharacterList(Continued)6.Banquo:Armygeneral;good,loyalfriendofMacbeth7.ThreeWitches:HagswhocanpredictthefutureforMacbeth;alsocalledtheweirdsisters;WeirdisderivedfromtheAnglo-Saxonwordwyrd,meaningfate.Thethreewitchesarealsoareferencetothethreegoddessesoffate(Hesiod).8.Hecate(Witch4):Mistressofthewitches’charmsandqueenofHades;referredtoastheQueenofthewitchesCharacterList(Continued)9.Macduff:ScottishnoblemanandLordofFife;knownforhiswisdomandintegrity10.LadyMacduff:WifeofMacduff11.SonofMacduff12.Lennox,Ross,Menteith,Angus,Caithness:Scottishnoblemen13.Fleance:SonofBanquo14.Siward:EarlofNorthumberland;generaloftheEnglishforces15.YoungSiward:SonofSiwardCharacterList(FinalList)!16.Seyton:OfficerattendingMacbeth17.Soldier18.Porter19.Doctor20.OldMan21.ThreeApparitions:ThreeghostsofgreatsignificanceforMacbeth;symbolicTheRealMacbethMacbethwasan11thCenturyScotwhotookthethronein1040afterkillingKingDuncanI,hiscousin,inabattle.TherealMacbethwasbelievedtobeawisemonarchwhoreignedoverScotlandforseventeenprosperousyears.In1057,KingDuncan’soldestson,Malcolm,endedMacbeth’sreignbykillinghiminbattleandassumingtheroleasKingMalcolmIII.Shakespeare’sInspirationShakespearegothisideaforMacbethfromRaphaelHolinshed’sChronicles,whichtellsadifferenttaleusingsimilarcharactersandreferencestohusband-wiferelationships,murder,deceit,andmutiny.ShakespearewasalsoinfluencedbytheRomandramatistSeneca(4-65A.D.),whowrotehorrificplaysaboutrevengeandmurder.ShakespeareappearstobeinspiredbysomeofthesamethemesasSeneca.WitchcraftinShakespeare’sDayManypeoplebelievedinthepowerofwitchesinShakespeare’sday,especiallyKingJamesI.In1591,whenhewasKingofScotland,KingJameswasalmostmurderedbyagroupofwitchesandsorcerers.TheirtrialandtestimonyconvincedKingJamesthattheyweresourcesofevil(witches).KingJamesbecametheKingofEnglandin1603.ShakespeareknewverywellofKingJames’ssuperstition,andhealsoknewthataplayaboutwitchcraftwouldcauseastirandmakeaquickbuck.Therefore,hewroteMacbeth,aplayfullofelementsofevil!FascinatingFactThewordsbloodandnight(orformsofthem,suchasbloodyandtonight)occurmorethan40timeseachinMacbeth.Othercommonlyoccurringwordsthathelpmaintainthemoodofth