Macbeth

   

Macbeth is also a Scottish clan.
Scene from Macbeth by William Rimmer, depicting the witches' conjuring of an apparition in Act IV, Scene I
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Scene from Macbeth by William Rimmer, depicting the witches' conjuring of an apparition in Act IV, Scene I

Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, based loosely on the historical King Macbeth of Scotland. Scholars think it an archetypal Jacobean play with plenty of references to the reign of James I, and place its composition around 1608.

There is considerable evidence that the text of the play as we have it incorporates later revisions by Thomas Middleton, which insert popular passages (notably extra scenes involving the witches, for such scenes proved highly popular with audiences) from his own play The Witch (1615).

Actors often consider this play to be 'unlucky', and usually refer to it as 'the Scottish play' rather than by name. To say the name of the play inside a theatre is considered to doom the production to failure.

On the stage Lady Macbeth is seen by many as one of the most challenging roles in Western theater for women. She is driven mad for her part in the king's crimes and dies off stage in the final act.

The play is one of Shakespeare's most popular works - as well as his shortest - and is frequently performed at professional and community theatres around the world. It is seen as an archetypal tale of dangers of the lust for power and betrayal of friends.

Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.

Macbeth, Thane of Glamis and a general of the army of Duncan, King of Scotland, has gained great renown after defeating an invasion by the forces of Norway and Ireland, led by the rebel Macdonwald. Duncan grants Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor and the honor of an official visit to Macbeth's home at Inverness. Macbeth, inspired by the witches' prediction that he would become king and by both his and his wife's lust for power, murders the king. After the murder, Macbeth hears a voice inside his head, proclaiming "Sleep no more... Glamis hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor / Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more." The rightful heir, Malcolm, along with his brother Donalbain, flee to England, where they are joined by Macduff, the loyal Thane of Fife. Macbeth is proclaimed king.

Macbeth's friend Banquo, who, the witches have predicted, will "get kings, though [he] be none," (that is, be progenitor of the kings of Scotland, thereby jeopardizing Macbeth's rule) begins to suspect Macbeth. Macbeth, becoming more paranoid, evil, and suffering from insomnia, orders Banquo's murder in order to prevent the prediction from coming true. However, Banquo's son, Fleance, escapes the assassins. Macbeth is haunted by Banquo's ghost, whilst Lady Macbeth also suffers pangs of remorse, and constantly sleep-walks.

Urged on by Macbeth, the witches conjure spirits which tell him that he will not "vanquish'd be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him" and that "none of woman born shall harm Macbeth," but also to "fear Macduff". Since Macduff is in exile, Macbeth orders the murder of his wife and children. The stabbing of Macduff's childish son by the nameless "first murderer" is graphically depicted onstage.

Macduff, spurred into seeking revenge, cries "Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself / Within my sword's length set him; if he 'scape / Heaven forgive him..." and leads a camouflaged army with Malcom and the English Earl of Siward (the Elder) against Dunsinane castle. Macbeth delivers a nihilistic soliloquy upon learning of Lady Macbeth's death (the text does not explain how she died) but is interrupted by a messenger declaring that he "look'd toward Birnam, and anon, methought / The wood began to move....Within this three mile may you see it coming;/ I say, a moving grove." A furious Macbeth responds in typical form: "At least we'll die with harness on our back." Meanwhile, the army is advancing on the castle. Malcolm appoints Siward and Macduff to lead the assault.

A battle ensues, culminating in Macduff's confrontation of Macbeth. Macbeth boasts that he has no reason to fear Macduff, as he cannot be killed by any man born of woman. Macduff declares that he "was from his mother's womb / Untimely ripp'd"—that is, born by Caesarean section—and was therefore was not "of woman born." The two fight, ending with Macduff beheading Macbeth offstage, thereby fulfilling the last of the witches' prophecies.

In the final scene of the play, Malcolm promises to be crowned as rightful king of Scotland, and peace is restored to the kingdom.

Recurring motifs

Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that help develop and relate to major themes. One of the motifs in Macbeth are the visions Macbeth sees. Macbeth sees an imaginary bloody knife in the air pointing to King Duncan’s resting chamber “Is this not a dagger which I see before me, the hand toward my hand” (Act II Scene I). Macbeth knows what he is doing will change his life. Committing regicide is a sin that can’t be forgiven. Macbeth also may have seen this vision through the supernatural powers of the three witches or maybe just a hallucination from drinking too much wine. Lady Macbeth believes there is blood on her hands that won’t come off “Out damned spot! Out I say!” (Act 5 Scene 1). Lady Macbeth here is sleep walking and spot is being referred to as blood stained hands. Lady Macbeth can’t cleanse herself of the guilt of plotting King Duncan’s murder.

Blood and the shed of it is a recurring symbol that runs from the beginning of the play to the end of the play. The beginning of the play Macbeth’s army has just defeated Norwegian invaders in a gruesome battle. A captain in mortally wounded and the king remarks on it “What bloody man is that? He can report, as seemeth by his plight”( Act I Scene II). The shedding of blood continues throughout the play until the very end when Macbeth is slain by Macduff “Hail King! For so thou art: behold, where stands Th’ usurpers cursed head”. Macduff then shows Malcom, the new king, Macbeth’s head dripping with blood. Blood can also be shown as representing guilt. When Macbeth kills King Duncan blood on his hand symbolizes guilt. Latter in the play Lady Macbeth will remark of the blood on her hands.

Macbeth is filled with literary devices more so than the three aforementioned. There are also different possibilities and other for the themes, motifs, and symbolism. All of the literary devices help the readers see deeper into subtle meanings. For example, the theme that ambition can be a morally corrupting agent is never out right stated; instead, it is only implied.

Shakespeare's sources

  • Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, based on Hector Boece's 1527 Scotorum Historiae.
  • Reginald Scot's Discovery of Witchcraft
  • King James I of England's 1599 Daemonologie
  • Macbeth's words on dogs and men in Act 3, scene 1, (91-100), likely came from Erasmus' Colloquia

Film versions

Opera versions

Adaptations

External links
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
The Tragedy of Macbeth



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