e
considered to be in the same class with vagrants and criminals.
In 1603, Shakespeare's theatrical company was taken under the patronage of King James I, and became
known as the King's Company. In 1608, the company aquired the Blackfriars Theatre. Around this time,
Shakespeare joined the group of the now-famous writers who gathered at Mermaid Tavern, located on
Bread Street in Cheapside. Among others, some of the writers who frequented the Tavern were Sir Walter
Raleigh (the founder), and Ben Jonson.
Shakespeare retired from theatre in 1610 and returned to Stratford. He lost much money in 1613 when the
Globe Theatre burned, but remained quite wealthy and contributed to the building of the . Shakespeare died
on April 23, 1616 (Old Style Calendar--May 3, 1616 Gregorian) and was buried in the chancel of the
Church of the Holy Trinity in Stratford. A monument to Shakespeare was set up on the north wall of the
chancel, with a bust of Shakespeare. (Note: the bust and the engraving by Droeshout that prefixed the First
Folio are the only renderings of Shakeshpeare that are considered to be accurate.) Shakespeare's will left
most of his property to Susanna and her daughter, except for his "second-best bed," which he left to his
The scene opens with three witches entering an open plain. surround them, as the first witch asks of the
other witches, "When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?" (lines 1-2). The second
witch replies that they will meet "when the hurlyburly's done, when the battle's lost and won." (lines 3-4),
and the third witch says that "that will be ere the set of the sun"(line 5). The witches proceed to discuss
where they will meet, and decide that they will meet "upon the " (line 7). The third witch then prophesies
that they will meet Macbeth there. They leave with one final chorus: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair Hover
through the fog and filthy air," symbolizin...