MACBETH

By William Shakespeare

Shakespeare 101

The most influential writer in all of English literature, William Shakespeare was born in 1564 to a successful middle-class glove-maker in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.

In 1582 he married an older woman, Anne Hathaway, and had three children with her.

Around 1590 he left his family behind and traveled to London to work as an actor and playwright.

Public and critical acclaim quickly followed, and Shakespeare eventually became the most popular playwright in England and part-owner of the Globe Theater.

Wealthy and renowned, Shakespeare retired to Stratford and died in 1616 at the age of fifty-two.

KEY FACTS• full title  · Macbeth

• author  · William Shakespeare

• type of work  · Play

• genre  · Tragedy

• language  · English

• time and place written  · 1606, England

• tone  · Dark and ominous, suggestive of a world turned topsy-turvy by foul and unnatural crimes

• setting (time)  · The Middle Ages, specifically the eleventh century

• setting (place)  · Various locations in Scotland; also England, briefly

• protagonist  · Macbeth

Bloody Macbeth

Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest tragedy, Macbeth tells the story of a brave Scottish general (Macbeth) who receives a prophecy from a trio of sinister witches that one day he will become king of Scotland.

Consumed with ambitious thoughts and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and seizes the throne for himself.

He begins his reign wracked with guilt and fear and soon becomes a tyrannical ruler, as he is forced to commit more and more murders to protect himself from enmity and suspicion.

The bloodbath swiftly propels Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to arrogance, madness, and death.

Characters in Macbeth

1.Macbeth2.Lady Macbeth

3.The Three Witches4.Banquo

5.King Duncan

Characters in Macbeth

6. Macduff7. Malcolm8. Hecate9. Fleance10. Lennox

Other Characters in Macbeth11. Ross

12. Porter13. Lady Macduff

14. Donalbain

Content Terminology

1. Metaphor2. Simile3. Alliteration4. Personification5. Paradox6. Irony7. Motif8. Soliloquy

9. Aside10.Comedy11.Tragedy12.Comic Relief13.Tragic Hero14.Antagonist15.Blank Verse16.Meter

Act I, Scene 1

Thunder and lightning crash above a Scottish moor. Three haggard old women, the witches, appear out of the storm. In eerie, chanting tones, they make plans to meet again upon the heath, after the battle, to confront Macbeth. As quickly as they arrive, they disappear.

Act 1, Scene 2

At a military camp near his palace at Forres, King Duncan of Scotland asks a wounded captain for news about the Scots’ battle with the Irish invaders, who are led by the rebel Macdonald. The captain, who was wounded helping Duncan’s son Malcolm escape capture by the Irish, replies that the Scottish generals Macbeth and Banquo fought with great courage and violence. As the captain is carried off to have his wounds attended to, the thane of Ross, a Scottish nobleman, enters and tells the king that the traitorous thane of Cawdor has been defeated and the army of Norway repelled. Duncan decrees that the thane of Cawdor be put to death and that Macbeth, the hero of the victorious army, be given Cawdor’s title. Ross leaves to deliver the news to Macbeth.

Act 1, Scene 3

The Witches make a prophesy that Macbeth will become thane than king. Banquo’s children will be made king.

Macbeth is made Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth thinks about killing Banquo.

Act 1, Scene 4

King Duncan names his son, Malcolm as heir to the throne.

The King makes plans to visit Macbeth at Inverness as thanks for fighting for Scotland.

Act 1, Scene 5

Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband and makes plans to help him kill the king.

Act 2, Scene 1

Past midnight, Banquo is uneasy about the witches prophesy.

Macbeth waits for the bell to signal him to kill the king.

Act 2, Scene 2Macbeth murders the king. Lady Macbeth takes the bloody dagger back to the servants (who are passed out drunk).

Act 2, Scene 4

The king is found dead, Macbeth acts angry and kills the servants. Lady Macbeth faints. The kings sons flee the castle.

NO notes.

Act 2, Scene 3

Act 3, Scene 1

(Page 363)Banquo suspects Macbeth as

murderer. A banquet is held to honor Macbeth who is scared that Banquo will take his throne…plots to kill Banquo.

Act 3, Scene 2

Macbeth and Lady M. discuss their ill feelings about the murder of the king. Macbeth thinks something bad is going to happen.

Act 3, Scene 3Banquo is killed but his son Fleance

escapes.

Act 3, Scene 4

The ghost of Banquo visits only Macbeth at the banquet. He acts crazy. Lady M. says it is a childhood illness. The ghost leaves and returns causing M to act strange again. Macduff is suspicious. M wants to visit the witches.

Act 3, Scene 6

Lennox and Lord recall the deaths of Duncan and Banquo. They suspect Macbeth and discuss the plot by Duncan’s sons to wage war against the Scottish throne.

Act 4, Scene 1

The witches make a potion. Macbeth visits to know his future. He sees 3 ghosts:

G1- Beware MacduffG2- You will not be harmed by a man

born to a womanG3- ....harmed until the trees move to

DunsinaneBanquo’s children will be king one day.

Act 4, Scene 2

Lady Macduff is upset that Macduff is gone. Macbeth sends murderers to kill Lady Macduff and her son.

Act 4, Scene 3

Macduff rallies followers to fight Macbeth. Ross arrives and tells Macduff of his families death. Macduff vows to kill Macbeth.

Act 5, Scene 1

Lady Macbeth sleep walks and tries to wash imaginary blood from her hands. The doctor is concerned.

Act 5, Scene 3

The battle begins.

Act 5, Scene 4

Macbeth awaits battle and regrets his life. The doctor says that Lady Macbeth is mental!

Act 5, Scene 5

Macbeth mocks the enemy. News of Lady Macbeth comes but he is not upset. Macbeth goes to the battleground.

Act 5, Scene 7

On the battlefield, Macbeth kills the armies captain (Siward). Many of Macbeth’s men have surrendered.

Act 5, Scene 8

Macduff and Macbeth met in battle. Macbeth doesn’t want to kill another Macduff but decides to fight. Macbeth DIES! Banquo’s son is made king (as the prophesy said).