I attended many Shakespeare play productions in Stratford CT as a child, but could hardly understand a word of what was being said, and could hardly glean anything of what was actually going on in those very great & talented productions in Stratford. It's fun to know more about Shakespeare and read an expert analysis.
Shakespeare was really Lord Edward de Vere, who traveled extensively in Europe, not Will Shakespeare who never left Stratford upon Avon, but it's too much of a money-making enterprise now. I went to Stratford in the 70s with my English class, to get the narrative fixed in my young brain...
A friend was giving a speech when his crew turned out the lights stopped her speech and turned up lights with Bill moving her aside to announce POTUS run. He later apologized and ask her out on a date. She declined (wisely) telling him no as he was married. He kept after her for a few month's.
John, I loved reading this! What great insights, as always. My dad's first role was actually as the Bloody Sergeant in a production of Macbeth that Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontanne helped create in New York. The response to his letter requesting an audition was "Dear John Ireland: Miss Fontanne has asked me to tell you never, never, never to call "Macbeth" "McBeth", which you apparently did in your last letter"! Coincidentally, one of his last stage roles was playing Duncan/Macbeth alternating with Charlton Heston in the roles, while Vanessa Redgrave was a riveting Lady Macbeth. (I'm sure you can imagine the political flyers that were slipped nightly under the dressing room doors between those two costars was never-ending!) :))
Happy travels, John. Your writing is exquisite as always. Thankfully, this old codger easily recognized your use of AI pictures within although sometimes this is a struggle for me. Typically, I get annoyed by AI-generated pictures, but in your case, I found it clever.
Lady Macbeth must have been a tough old boot rather than a pretty little flower because she survived. She clearly had had a child and presumably it died. She wanted more from life. I always though Macbeth was a bit thick - simply "the muscle" - which was why he was so easy to influence and then so easy to feel sorry for his actions. You're right though - the Macbeths are harder to explain than the other Shakespearean tragedies and possibly harder to sympathise with.
One of the best way of a Scottish experience..a thrilling camper/caravan adventure in Scotland by touring the breathtaking North Coast 500 (NC500) or exploring the rugged Highlands and Cairngorms. Scotland offers dramatic mountain trails, pristine lochside views, and world-class nature reserves right on your doorstep... Whilst it is still there...
Inspiring . I will put MacBeth on my list of read again. Reinforces what I already know, examine your thoughts. Do not buy into them. They are often not telling you the truth. Of course nothing of real value can be gained through treachery.
Thankfully John has not related (at least directly) how Macbeth is somehow related to today’s political happenings and their motivations. Human nature, more aptly labeled good or evil, exists and will exist, taking many forms and the author of many outcomes.
So, John Leake is psychologically astute Shakespearean scholar in addition to his many other talents. Fascinating post, thanks, and how fitting these thoughts are whilst wandering around the foggy highlands of Scotland. Yes, exercising the powers of state wisely is a difficult undertaking, perilous for all concerned. Which is why the American founders chose to slice and dice political power as finely as possible, knowing how dangerous it is when concentrated in the hands of a few.
“From here, Macbeth descends into regicide…” From here, you go off track. Macbeth “ascends” to regicide. He takes out the weak nepotistic king whose ineffective rule led the realm into internal conflict inviting foreign invasion. Lady Macbeth spurred him to do what needs to be done, guiding him with the “white hand of Rosalind” (As You Like It) to medicinally flush out the rot at the top. Macbeth goes tragically awry by craving risk/free security rather than trusting Lady Macbeth’s instincts. The bifurcation of the plot into tragedy occurs immediately after Macbeth lists seven functions of sleep. In each of seven late tragedies or near tragedies Shakespeare presents a list of seven at the bifurcation point. Lady Macbeth chides Macbeth for not resting and letting the fallout calm down (you lack the season of all natures, sleep) but he persists in killing in his fear of insurrection which ironically stokes intensity of resistance that otherwise would have dwindled.
Saying Macbeth is a cautionary tale against ambition is like saying Romeo and Juliet was against romance.
I attended many Shakespeare play productions in Stratford CT as a child, but could hardly understand a word of what was being said, and could hardly glean anything of what was actually going on in those very great & talented productions in Stratford. It's fun to know more about Shakespeare and read an expert analysis.
I could hardly understand the Shakespeare plays I had to read in high school :0)
So well said John and it seems to cover many people, especially now:
'This, it seems to me, is what is so disturbing about the play in which evil arises not from a clear desire, but from a feeling of emptiness.'
That picture of the Loch Ness Monster is amazing!
That's a conspiracy theory!
Shakespeare was really Lord Edward de Vere, who traveled extensively in Europe, not Will Shakespeare who never left Stratford upon Avon, but it's too much of a money-making enterprise now. I went to Stratford in the 70s with my English class, to get the narrative fixed in my young brain...
"All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone" - Blaise Pascal
Bill Clinton once said that the tragedy of Macbeth was that he did not have an ethically sufficient object for his ambition.
Edit: I found the exact quotation: “I think ‘Macbeth’ is a great play about someone whose immense ambition has an ethically inadequate object.”
interesting comment.
this kind of allows some inference into Slick Willies inner modus operandi on life!
Perhaps a bit more noble than his OWN wife.
Perhaps, but not!
Cut from same tree.
A friend was giving a speech when his crew turned out the lights stopped her speech and turned up lights with Bill moving her aside to announce POTUS run. He later apologized and ask her out on a date. She declined (wisely) telling him no as he was married. He kept after her for a few month's.
Holy Crapp. . .
I think Bill is a great poster child for Macbeth. We have Lady Clinton.
John, I loved reading this! What great insights, as always. My dad's first role was actually as the Bloody Sergeant in a production of Macbeth that Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontanne helped create in New York. The response to his letter requesting an audition was "Dear John Ireland: Miss Fontanne has asked me to tell you never, never, never to call "Macbeth" "McBeth", which you apparently did in your last letter"! Coincidentally, one of his last stage roles was playing Duncan/Macbeth alternating with Charlton Heston in the roles, while Vanessa Redgrave was a riveting Lady Macbeth. (I'm sure you can imagine the political flyers that were slipped nightly under the dressing room doors between those two costars was never-ending!) :))
John Ireland as Macbeth - fabulous.
Thank you, Sharon. I’m glad I have some great photos of it :)
Your dad was John Ireland! My regards, he was a fine actor
Oh, thank you— I’m so happy to hear that! He was a really wonderful dad, too :)
Happy travels, John. Your writing is exquisite as always. Thankfully, this old codger easily recognized your use of AI pictures within although sometimes this is a struggle for me. Typically, I get annoyed by AI-generated pictures, but in your case, I found it clever.
I have never read MacBeth John. THanks for the very interesting review. You are surely a talented writer. I appreciate your prose.
Lady Macbeth must have been a tough old boot rather than a pretty little flower because she survived. She clearly had had a child and presumably it died. She wanted more from life. I always though Macbeth was a bit thick - simply "the muscle" - which was why he was so easy to influence and then so easy to feel sorry for his actions. You're right though - the Macbeths are harder to explain than the other Shakespearean tragedies and possibly harder to sympathise with.
For those who would love a Shakespeare-related mystery (free to watch). Made headlines in Norway:
EP1: https://vimeo.com/94648237
EP2: https://vimeo.com/94648236
EP3: https://vimeo.com/94648239
EP4: https://vimeo.com/94648238
Checking it out.
Thank you John L for your interesting article written whilst in Scotland. Aye, this land is MacBeth's - land of tragedies, independence & solitaire.
And camper vans of dubious provenance
One of the best way of a Scottish experience..a thrilling camper/caravan adventure in Scotland by touring the breathtaking North Coast 500 (NC500) or exploring the rugged Highlands and Cairngorms. Scotland offers dramatic mountain trails, pristine lochside views, and world-class nature reserves right on your doorstep... Whilst it is still there...
Inspiring . I will put MacBeth on my list of read again. Reinforces what I already know, examine your thoughts. Do not buy into them. They are often not telling you the truth. Of course nothing of real value can be gained through treachery.
Thankfully John has not related (at least directly) how Macbeth is somehow related to today’s political happenings and their motivations. Human nature, more aptly labeled good or evil, exists and will exist, taking many forms and the author of many outcomes.
Robert Frederick's interpretation of the play as the embodiment of "the gnostic inversion of all values" is very compelling: https://robertfrederick.substack.com/p/ep-5-the-tragedy-of-macbeth-part
Lady Macbeth is the original
Alpha-Gal.
So, John Leake is psychologically astute Shakespearean scholar in addition to his many other talents. Fascinating post, thanks, and how fitting these thoughts are whilst wandering around the foggy highlands of Scotland. Yes, exercising the powers of state wisely is a difficult undertaking, perilous for all concerned. Which is why the American founders chose to slice and dice political power as finely as possible, knowing how dangerous it is when concentrated in the hands of a few.
“From here, Macbeth descends into regicide…” From here, you go off track. Macbeth “ascends” to regicide. He takes out the weak nepotistic king whose ineffective rule led the realm into internal conflict inviting foreign invasion. Lady Macbeth spurred him to do what needs to be done, guiding him with the “white hand of Rosalind” (As You Like It) to medicinally flush out the rot at the top. Macbeth goes tragically awry by craving risk/free security rather than trusting Lady Macbeth’s instincts. The bifurcation of the plot into tragedy occurs immediately after Macbeth lists seven functions of sleep. In each of seven late tragedies or near tragedies Shakespeare presents a list of seven at the bifurcation point. Lady Macbeth chides Macbeth for not resting and letting the fallout calm down (you lack the season of all natures, sleep) but he persists in killing in his fear of insurrection which ironically stokes intensity of resistance that otherwise would have dwindled.
Saying Macbeth is a cautionary tale against ambition is like saying Romeo and Juliet was against romance.