English Lit- Macbeth

[Snowy81]

Sorry I’m posting in The Staff, as I’m no longer a teacher (Primary), but I thought this would be the best place to ask.

Ds14 is studying Macbeth, as his brother done 4 years ago, and I done 22 years ago (along with the Tempest at uni) I got nothing from it, I don’t know any child that has, or has enjoyed it.

Why do students have to do Shakespeare? Why is it on the curriculum? I can understand plays, novels etc. But not this. I would much prefer my ds was spending time on something that is going to be useful. But if there are good reason I don’t know about, maybe I can get a little more enthusiastic about it (I’m hoping!).

I 'did' Macbeth and now my Dd is doing it. I love discussing it with her, the roles of men and women, the supernatural, evil, relates to witches and James I was very into the supernatural. So it puts the play into an historical context, whilst still remaining contemporary.

I think the point is to show them that something which seems really impenetrable at first can become familiar and accessible. So it's teaching them how to be patient with and decode complex language which can be incredibly useful later in life.

Also, Shakespeare is very good on psychology of characters. the power play and manipulation between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, or between Malcolm and Macduff helps you see how some people operate. Never a bad idea to get some insight into psychopathic behaviour.

I enjoyed Shakespeare at school and that has stayed with me. I always go to see any Shakespeare that is on at the theatre near me. Macbeth is very accessible, I think with, as the PP said, themes around the relationship women have with power, guilt, and ambition. The language is rich and rewarding. I think that you do need to see the plays performed, our whole year group went to see Polanski's Macbeth at a special showing in the local cinema. Our English teacher was also a talented actor and really brought out the drama of the plays when we read them in class.

I "did" Macbeth, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, the Tempest and Merchant of Venice and at least parts of some others at school and we went three times to Stratford upon Avon for a week at a time over three years (from Scotland).

I loved Shakespeare at school and particularly loved Macbeth. It gave me an enduring love of the English language and the theatre. I got a lot out of it and really enjoyed applying different interpretations. I hope my kids love it as much as I did.

Macbeth is brilliant. I’ve genuinely never known a child not like it (the plot at least, if not always the language).

A ‘brave hero’ who turns into a ‘tyrant’? A Jacobean woman fighting the patriarchy? Ambition, love, friendship? Good triumphing over evil? What’s not to like?!

MacBeth is the only Shakespeare I have ever studied. I “did” it for O’Level 30 odd years ago with an extremely passionate and knowledgeable teacher. I bloody loved it and still do.
It teaches many lessons in life and it’s truly gripping story.

Could it be that everyone likes different things? Wouldn’t it be a boring world if we were all the same, etc.

I loved Shakespeare at school, and we did one every year up to and including English A Level (including Macbeth). Amazing use of language and as a kid finding their were so many layers to something you thought you’d understood was a revelation. Definitely one of the reasons i went on to an English degree and master’s.

Also, i can still recite the first witch scene in Macbeth off by heart - i’ve no idea why, it wasn’t part of our school work, it just seems to have stuck. Shakespeare must have been doing something right...

Polanski's Macbeth was released in the same year I "did" Macbeth. It was an interesting take on the play and showed how the written word can be interpreted. Great play.

If you only wanted your DC to do stuff at school which you consider to be “useful”, about 80% of the current curriculum would disappear.

Shakespeare is brilliant. It’s our literary heritage. The language is brilliant - let kids enjoy it, play with it, revel in it. It’s magical.

Obviously it has to be taught as a play and not a “book” and by a teacher who gets it, but the “why do we have to do Shakespeare?” thing really irritates me.

Even I like Macbeth and I don't even like Shakespeare.

of course it hasn’t managed to stop me mistyping “there” when i’m rushing.

Did it in 2017

Think they want if mix of modern/classic/US/UK literature rather than all the same genre.

Some people might prefer one thing and others another, so it means everyone has an area they're good at - I personally hated Macbeth it was boring and so hard. It brought my grade down, I think.

Talking to Dd the essential quotes now have changed, whereas it used to be 'boil, boil' , 'out damned spot' and ' Dunstain wood comes to Dunblain'. It is Lady McB 'Unsex me now'

I love Macbeth (and in fact all Shakespeare) and I know many, many children who have absolutely loved studying it. It sounds like maybe you didn't have a great teacher and that has understandably affected your perception of it. I'd agree with others - go and see a production of it if you can or at least watch a film version. If done well it can be spooky and thrilling and terrifying and exciting! If you can grow to like it then hopefully your children will, too.

But if you really find that you cannot like it, and neither can your children, then I think it's not the end of the world. An important lesson for students is learning that sometimes we have to do stuff we don't like and don't see the point of - it happens all the time when you're employed. So, maybe you could look on this as an important life lesson for them?

I didn't really like Macbeth to be honest. I think that was because we did it along with with The Crucible and Lord of the Flies. Oliver Twist was practically comic relief!

I'm probably unfairly biased, because I've enjoyed lots of his other plays! He didn't really write for it to be studied, it was designed to be watched and enjoyed.

I think if you don't know at least some Shakespeare, you miss out on a lot of cultural references too.

Why not find a good abridged version, or even with it re-written as a short story? He might find it easier if he's already familiar with the story.

Shakespeare is the most famous playwright in the world ever. Full Stop. His contribution to our heritage, our culture , his significance in other cultures, and impact on the English language cannot be emphasised enough. He the man.

I fink Dd done alright in her mock. She read the the 'Shakespeare's Stories on the way to work and picked up on the theme of 'Evil' Go girl.

*Macbeth

I agree with PPs that you really need to see it performed as live theatre. It’s a brilliant play. I’ve seen various versions, but one that I think would have been a bit more accessible to modern teenagers had a contemporary setting, with Macbeth as a presidential candidate and his wife as a scheming would-be First Lady.
It needs presented by an
enthusiastic teacher who can bring it alive for the class, and explain the archaic language to reveal the poetry and beauty of it. It’s well worth persevering with it, and even prisoners and kids from deprived backgrounds have performed and enjoyed it in the past. Try to encourage your DC to stick with it - it’s very rewarding.