“I have done the deed.” (Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 2)
Macbeth, Shakespeare’s darkest play, takes us on a journey of astonishing intensity and great psychological insight from “horrible imaginings”, to the acting of deeds too dreadful to be named, and on through the inexorable chain of their dire consequences, mocking human pretensions to self-awareness and self-determination, and exposing a fearful abyss that lurks beneath the conscious mind and its attempts to rationalise the world.
Through a close sequential reading of the play, we will explore together what sets its notorious protagonists, Lord and Lady Macbeth, so far apart from more conventional villains. We will follow in detail the way in which Shakespeare represents them as relentlessly making the choices that will destroy their own peace and the peace of their kingdom, asking, how is this manifestly self-destructive course made to seem believable and even compelling?
Overtly supernatural elements, including witchcraft, ghosts, and demonic prophecy, figure more prominently in Macbeth than in any other Shakespeare play. But so too do the darker and more uncontrollable products of the imagination, such as hallucinations, nightmares, somnambulism, compulsive criminal thoughts, and the inescapable horror associated with blood-guiltiness. We will examine how the play powerfully depicts the murky, undecided region where experiences of the subconscious and of the supernatural bleed into one another ― and how, by such means, it raises deep questions about human agency and moral responsibility. We will see how Macbeth asks, from its particularly dark angle, dramatically engaging questions about the very meaning of life and the possibility of living in a fulfilled way. We will also consider how the play’s notoriously dense and sometimes obscure language contributes to its dramatic treatment of such themes.
The course will involve extensive close reading of the set text, so students must bring a copy to every class, and should also become as familiar as possible with the play in advance.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes for this course are:
- To develop a greater critical understanding of the ways in which human deeds and their consequences are represented and explored in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
- To gain an appreciation of how themes of supernatural and psychological horror are used in the play and how they contribute to its tragic effect.
- To be able to discuss the reading in class and to contribute usefully to general debate about the issues of the course.
Classes
1. Macbeth, Act One
2. Macbeth, Act Two
3. Macbeth, Act Three
4. Macbeth, Act Four
5. Macbeth, Act Five
Required reading
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Edited by A R Braunmuller. Cambridge University Press, 2008.
Students should read the play in full before arriving, and bring a copy to every class, including the first. The use of other scholarly editions is acceptable, but be aware that there will be some variations in text and line numbering which could make it harder to follow the class discussion.
Typical week: Monday to Friday
For each week of study you select a morning (Am) and an afternoon (Pm) course, each course has five sessions, one each day Monday to Friday. The maximum class size is 25 students. Your weekly courses are complemented by a series of two daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.
| c.8.00am-9.00am |
Breakfast in College (for residents) |
| 9.00am-10.30am |
Am Course |
| 11.15am-12.30pm |
Plenary Lecture |
| 12.30pm-1.45pm |
Lunch |
| 1.45pm-3.15pm |
Pm Course |
| 4.00pm-5.15pm |
Plenary Lecture |
| c.6.00/6.15pm-7.15/7.30pm |
Dinner in College (for residents) |
| c.7.30pm onwards |
Evening talk/event |
Evaluation and Academic Credit
If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.
Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £65 per essay.
For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.
Certificate of attendance
A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically within a week of your courses finishing.
