Background Essay For Macbeth

Background Essay For Macbeth

Background Essay
Macbeth was born around 1005AD at Alba, Scotland.   Considered by many historians as the last of Gaelic kings of Scotland, Macbeth has become less of a historical figure and more a fictional character. Duncan ruled for six uneasy years. His thirst for power joined with lack of skill in the battlefield resulted in troubled times for Scotland. Macbeth murders his cousin King Duncan in 1040 where he took the thrown. In 1046 Siward, earl of Northumbria unsuccessfully attempted to dethrone Macbeth in favor of Malcolm. In 1054, Macbeth was apparently forced by Siward to yield part of southern Scotland to Malcolm. Three years later, Macbeth was killed in the battle by Malcolm, with assistance from the English.
Success or failure in the theater can be influenced by so many unpredictable factors, leading up to many superstitions in the theater. “Break a leg” is how you say “good luck” while in a theater because by saying “good luck” could cause the actor to get hurt or sick and by saying the opposite is actually good luck. Such superstitions like that float around Macbeth’s play setting. The first is that it’s bad luck to even say “Macbeth” except during rehearsal or performance. Some say this rule applies only when inside a theater so it would be okay to say it in a classroom setting. If someone were to say “Macbeth” when not suppose to the remedy is to leave the room, close the door, turn around three times, say a dirty word or spit, then knock on the door and ask to be let in. If you can’t do that, you simply quote from Hamlet, act 1, scene 4: “Angels and ministers of grace defend us!”

The second superstition is that the play itself brings ill luck to cast and crew, and many productions of Macbeth have, in fact encountered unfortunate circumstances. The story behind all this superstation madness is that Shakespeare used “authentic” witches chants in the play as punishment, real witches cast a curse on the play, condemning it for all time.