The

Renaissance
Macbeth

Edjay Suarez
Romena Grace Maglios
Sharmine Generalao
01
History of Renaissance
History of Renaissance

 The renaissance started during the 14th century and ended

during 16th century.

 The Renaissance was a period in European history which formed

a bridge between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

 The Renaissance arrived at different countries at varying times-

Italy was the first to experience this movement beginning in the
14th century.
Events that led to the emergence of Renaissance

 The fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Ottoman Turks which marks the end
of the Byzantine Empire.

 The discovery of the New World in 1492 ushering in the age of exploration.

 The Protestant Reformation.

 The invention of printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440.

 The revival of classical Greek learning.

The Renaissance era in England.

 Also known as the Early Modern Period, from about 1485-

1660.

 Famous writers Spenser, Marlowe, Jonson, Milton, Donne,

and the incomparable William Shakespeare are just a few
names that appear on the Renaissance Writer Roll of Honor.

 Scholars began to focus less on Christian-related writings and

more on pre-Christian art and thought.
Renaissance Wonder and Love of Beauty

 Both writers and readers of the Renaissance marveled at the

world, which seemed to be designed by a master artist or
craftsman. Writers strove to be as creative as the creator of
the world.

 People of the Renaissance loved design and valued beauty

and elaboration.
Men and women of the Renaisance Era

MEN
 The idea that all men should exercise and develop as many human abilities as
possible, leading to the ideal of the “Renaissance or Universal Man.”

Michael Ray of Encyclopedia Britannica explains that;

“The ideal [of the Renaissance Man] embodied the basic tenets of Renaissance
humanism, which considered man the centre of the universe, limitless in his
capacities for development, and led to the notion that men should try to embrace
all knowledge and develop their own capacities as fully as possible.
Men and women of the Renaisance Era

MEN

 “Thus the gifted men of the Renaissance sought to develop skills in all areas
of knowledge, in physical development, in social accomplishments, and in
the arts.”

 It is also said that courtiers had to look well, dress well, speak well, apply
rhetoric to debate questions, fight well, dance well, sing well, and if
possible, even to write well.
Men and women of the Renaisance Era

WOMEN

 Castiglione offers advice to women as well, enjoining them to dress beautifully but
pretend not to care about it, to avoid praising oneself or talking too much, and not to
appear more in love than a suitor.

 Women were relegated to the background of Renaissance society.

 Women of the upper and new middle classes did learn to read and write, they were not
allowed to become as educated as their peers who were male.

 Women were enjoined to play a graceful though background role at court, and to focus
their efforts on home and children
Historical Background: What was going on in the Renaissance/Early Modern
Era?

 The reign of the Tudors–Henry VIII, Mary, and Elizabeth–followed by the reign
of James Stuart were years of rising nationalism and pride in England as a world
power.

 Years full of voyages and discoveries.

 Queen Elizabeth began challenging the world dominance of Portugal and Spain.
Pride in England as a national power grew when England defeated the Spanish
Armada in 1588.

 People Love Drama.

The Writer’s Life

 Being a writer during renaissance period is not easy.

 Besides writing poetry, writers were soldiers, courtiers, noblemen (and in some cases,
noblewomen), administrators, or priests, who wrote literature on the side to exhibit just
one more accomplishment of a well-rounded Renaissance person.

 Shakespeare made good money from literature, enough to buy an estate in his old home
town of Stratford and retire when he was 47 years old. However, he did it not by selling
books of his plays or poems, but by investing in the theater company that produced his
plays. He also had a side business of money-lending.

 Characteristics of Renaissance poetry were wit, beauty, and truth.

02
Macbeth by William
Shakespeare
MAJOR CHARACTERS

King Duncan Macbeth

The good king of Scotland. Duncan Scottish general. Brave soldier and powerful
is the Model of virtuous, man and the thane of glamis who is led to
benevolent, and farsighted ruler. wicked thoughts by the prophecies of the
three witches.

Banquo Lady Macbeth

The brave, noble general. Macbeth’s wife, a deeply ambitious woman
According to the witches’ who lusts for power and position. A stronger
prophecy, his descendants will and ruthless, as she urges her husband to
inherit the Scottish throne. “fulfill his destiny.”
MAJOR CHARACTERS

Three Witches Macduff

Three “black and midnight hags” A Scottish nobleman hostile to Macbeth’s
who plot mischief against Macbeth kingship from the start. He eventually
using charms, spells, and becomes a leader of the crusade to unseat
prophecies. Macbeth.

Malcolm
The son of Duncan, whose
restoration to the throne signals
Scotland’s return to order
following Macbeth’s reign of
terror.
MacBeth – King of
Scotland 1040 – 57
The Actual Macbeth
 William Shakespeare Version

The house of Stuart James the first

claimed Banquo among its ancestor
Inclusion of Witches
BLOOD
Ghost
Storm
THEMES:

 Ambition
 Gender Roles
 Destiny vs. Free will
References:

Booklover, M. (2021, April 11). Reading the Renaissance:

English Literature from 1485-1660. Read Great Literature.
https://readgreatliterature.com/reading-renaissance-english-
literature-1485-1660/
Thanks