Macbeth, Drama by William Shakespeare: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:39, 22 July 2009

Play by William Shakespeare first performed in 1606. It is set in Scotland and England in the 11th century. The plot is not only based on Shakespeare's fantasy, but takes up some pieces of Scottish history (with occasional nods towards the new Stuart king James I). In this tragedy Shakespeare created an atmosphere of evil and cruelty.

In the Restoration (in 1663 to be precise), the play was turned into a semi-opera by William Davenant with music, flying witches and spectacular scenes.

There is a persistent superstition in English-speaking countries that using the name "Macbeth" (except when you are in a performance of the play proper) in the theatre brings bad luck. One is supposed to use the term "Scottish play" instead. In Germany, however, this superstition is not known. It is replaced by the unorthodox belief that giving away the full plot of the play (or even worse: reading the play) brings on spontaneous nosebleeds and headaches.

Literature: Shakespeare, William: Macbeth. Edited by Rex Gibson. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1993.

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+Play by William Shakespeare first performed in 1606. It is set in Scotland and England in the 11th century.
+The plot is not only based on Shakespeare's fantasy, but takes up some pieces of Scottish history (with occasional nods towards the new Stuart king [[James I]]).
+In this tragedy Shakespeare created an atmosphere of evil and cruelty.
-== Shakespeare: Macbeth ==
+In the Restoration (in 1663 to be precise), the play was turned into a semi-opera by William Davenant with music, flying witches and spectacular scenes.
-Shakespeares tragedy "Macbeth" was first played 1606. It plays in Scottland and England in the 11.century.
-The plot is not only based on Shakespeares fantasy. It also deals with some historical facts about the kings Macbeth and James the first.
-Besides Shakespeare put in the themes superstition and mythology. The people to that time believed in heaven and hell.
-In this tragedy Shakespeare created an atmosphere of badness and cruelty.
-The lower characters say the most important things. Because of that the witches show at the beginning the disorder of the play and refer to the following plot. The witches are a symbol of the fall.
+There is a persistent superstition in English-speaking countries that using the name "Macbeth" (except when you are in a performance of the play proper) in the theatre brings bad luck. One is supposed to use the term "Scottish play" instead. In Germany, however, this superstition is not known. It is replaced by the unorthodox belief that giving away the full plot of the play (or even worse: reading the play) brings on spontaneous nosebleeds and headaches.
 Literature:
-Shakespeare, William: Macbeth. Edited by Rex Gibson. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1993.
+Shakespeare, William: ''Macbeth''. Edited by Rex Gibson. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1993.