Assignment Number One

THOMAS JOHNSTONE:

o    In both the Shakespeare and Raphael Holinshed versions, Macbeth is considered a strong and brave man. Both characters are introduced similarly but Shakespeare made a point of making him seem more gallant because he not only has Macdonwald betray the kingdom, but also has Macbeth find and kill him.

o   Although Shakespeare drew heavy influences from the Holinshed version, he also contrasted him by making Macbeth’s personality less cruel and malicious. Where there is no direct mention of guilt in the Chronicles, Shakespeare has Macbeth describing his own feelings in a monologue where he comes off as compassionate person.

o   Holinshed had Macbeth seem barbarous and almost savage like. This made the other characters act accordingly as Banquo too was violent tempered. Shakespeare made Macbeth a savage, but also an empathetic person, so Shakespeare made his surrounding influences, such as Banquo, kinder as well. This is not always good because Macbeth is an ever changing man with almost split personalities. 

http://www.shakespeare-online.com/sources/macbethsources.html 

ANGELA HE:

·    Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicle of Scotland, England and Ireland was another story with a very similar storyline to Macbeth. It was written before Macbeth and Shakespeare in fact used it as a reference for writing his play Macbeth. (A.H.)

·    One difference between Holinshed’s chronicles and Shakespeare’s Macbeth is that Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth himself actually defeated Macdonald (Act 1 Scene 2). Shakespeare made this change to make Macbeth seem more courageous and heroic. However in Holinshed’s chronicles, Macdonald killed his wife and children and then committed suicide, and Macbeth merely stumbled upon his body. (A.H.)
·    Another difference was that in Holinshed’s chronicles, Duncan is a weak and ineffectual king, and Banquo helps Macbeth commit his murder. Shakespeare changed this to emphasize Macbeth’s fall from nobility to man ruled by ambition and destroyed by guilt. (A.H.)

·    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth (unreliable?)
·    http://www.shakespeare-online.com/sources/macbethsources.html
·    http://www.litcharts.com/lit/macbeth/backgroundinfo
·    http://www.folger.edu/eduPrimSrcDtl.cfm?psid=139

Clement Wan:
Macbeth portrayed by Holinshed is a military man, more directly by description than by example. This is done by contrasting King Macbeth with King Duncan. “Duncane was so soft and gentle of nature, [… and had]too much of clemencie, and the other of crueltie, […]so should Duncane haue proued a worthy king, and Makbeth an excellent capteine.”(Holinshed 265) On the contrary, Shakespeare reveals Macbeth’s character by making him the hero of a battle.
Contrasting Shakespeare’s display of Macbeth as a madman, Holinshed shows his virtuous side. “This was the end of Makbeth, after he had reigned 17 yeeres ouer the Scotishmen. In the beginning of his reigne he accomplished manie woorthie acts, verie profitable to the common-wealth [.]”(Holinshed 277)

http://www.shakespeare-navigators.com/macbeth/Holinshed/Holin265.html

Emma Miloff:
Shakespears main reference source for Macbeth the Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (1577) by Raphael Holinshed.
In holishned's version Macbeth is a valiant leader but in Shakespears, Macbeth is an indecisive young man you does not rule as well

The chronicles had the same general storyline as Macbeth:  In Chronicles, Macbeth is portrayed as struggling to support the kingdom in the face of King Duncan's ineptitude. He and Banquo meet the three witches, who make exactly the same prophecies as in Shakespeare's version. Macbeth and Banquo then together plot the murder of Duncan, at Lady Macbeth's urging. Macbeth has a long, ten-year reign before eventually being overthrown by Macduff and Malcolm. In fact, Shakespeare got the main idea for his play from Raphael Holinshed's Chronicle of Scotland, England and Ireland. 

http://www.gradesaver.com/macbeth/study-guide/about/