Macbeth - About the Play

This presentation is on the key facts about 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' written by William Shakespeare. It discusses characters, plot and Act-scene wise summary of the play

1. Macbeth (1606/07) William Shakespeare (1564-1616) About the Play

2. Macbeth: Who was he? Macbeth, King of Scotland Macbeth  ( Medieval Gaelic :  Mac Bethad mac Findlaích ; Modern  Scottish Gaelic :  MacBheatha mac Fhionnlaigh ;  English :  Macbeth son of Findlay ,  nicknamed Rí Deircc , "the Red King";[1] c. 1005 – 15 August 1057) was King of Scots from 1040 until his death. He ruled over the Kingdom of Alba. In 1040, Duncan I launched an attack into Moray and was killed in action by Macbeth's troops. Macbeth succeeded him as King of Alba, apparently with little opposition. His 17-year reign was mostly peaceful, although in 1054 he was faced with an English invasion, led by Siward, Earl of Northumbria , on behalf of Edward the Confessor. Macbeth was killed at the Battle of Lumphanan in 1057 by forces loyal to the future Malcolm III. He was buried on Iona, the traditional resting place of Scottish kings.

3. Shakespearean Macbeth! Macbeth is today best known as  the main character  of  William Shakespeare 's tragedy  Macbeth  and the many works that it has inspired. However, Shakespeare's Macbeth is based on  Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles  (published in 1577) and is not historically accurate. Macbeth and Banquo encounter the witches. Illustration from  Holinshed's Chronicles  (1577)

4. A Tour of Macbeth's Scotland in 13 Places https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/scotland/articles/a-tour-of-macbeths-scotland-in-13-places/

5. Shakespeare’s ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ A brave Scottish general named  Macbeth  receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become  King of Scotland . Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the Scottish throne for himself. He is then wracked with guilt and paranoia. Forced to commit more and more murders to protect himself from enmity and suspicion, he soon becomes a tyrannical ruler. The bloodbath and consequent civil war swiftly take Macbeth and  Lady Macbeth  into the realms of madness and death.

6. Key Facts: ‘Macbeth’ Full Title:   The Tragedy of Macbeth | Author:   William Shakespeare Type Of Work:   Play | Genre:   Tragedy | Language:   English Time And Place Written:   1606, England | Date Of First Publication:    First Folio edition, 1623 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 Major Conflicts:  The struggle within Macbeth between his ambition and his sense of right and wrong; the struggle between the murderous evil represented by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and the best interests of the nation, represented by Malcolm and Macduff Themes:  The corrupting nature of unchecked ambition; the relationship between cruelty and masculinity; the difference between kingship and tyranny

7. Characters in ‘Macbeth’ Macbeth Lady Macbeth The Three Witches Banquo & his son, Fleance King Duncan Macduff, Lady Macduff and their son Malcolm & Donalbain Porter The Murderers Ross and Lennox Hecate – Goddess of Witchcraft

8. Plot of the Play – ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ Is there any difference between plot and story? Act I, Sc ( i ) to (vii) Act II, Sc ( i ) to (iv) Act III, Sc ( i ) to (vi) Act IV, Sc ( i ) to (iii) Act V, Sc ( i ) to (viii)

9. Act I, Sc ( i ) to (vii) Scene i: Thunder and lightning crash above a Scottish moor .  Three haggard old women, the witches,  appear out of the storm. ‘When shall we three meet again?’. Scene ii: 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, - the Scottish generals Macbeth and  Banquo  fought with great courage and violence - slew the traitorous Macdonwald . Scene iii : Macbeth and his fellow Captain, Banquo, encounter the three witches , who hail Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, of Cawdor and as ‘King hereafter’. Banquo, they promise, will father kings but will never be one himself. Scene iv: At Duncan’s palace in Forres - Macbeth and Banquo are heartily thanked for their victories on the battlefield. Duncan’s eldest son, Malcolm, is named the Prince Scene v: Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband - Castle Scene vi: Duncan and his attendants arrive at the Macbeth’s castle , greeted by a hospitable Lady Macbeth Scene vii: He tells his wife about his change of heart, but she persuades him back into their murderous plot. - ‘If we should fail?’ ’

10. Act II, Sc ( i ) to (iv) Scene i: ‘Is this a dagger, which I see before me?’ - Later that evening, Macbeth meets with Banquo and his son, Fleance. Banquo tells of how he dreamt of the witches, but Macbeth lies that he has not given them much thought. After his guests exit, Macbeth sees an imaginary dagger hovering in the air. Scene ii: ‘I have done the deed’ - Lady Macbeth and Macbeth meet in the darkness of the castle. Macbeth, with the daggers in hand, announces he has murdered Duncan. Scene iii: ‘Knock, knock’ - The castle’s drunken porter is awoken by a knocking at the gate. Scene iv: Ross, Macduff, and an Old Man discuss the murder, considering whether it was committed by the guards or the King’s sons who have fled. It is announced that the title of King will fall upon Macbeth.

11. Act III, Sc ( i ) to (vi) Scene i: Macbeth, now King, invites Banquo to a feast Scene ii: Macbeth reveals to his wife that he is working on securing their position by removing all potential risks that stand in the way - ‘Full of scorpions is my mind’ Scene iii: The murderers ambush Banquo and Fleance on their way to the castle. They kill Banquo, but his son manages to run away. Scene iv: Banquo’s ghost Scene v: Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft Scene vi: Lennox talks with another Lord about Banquo’s murder, for which Fleance is suspected. The Lord notes that Macduff has joined Malcolm at court in England, and the pair is gathering troops to attack Macbeth. - ‘Our suffering country’ ’

12. Act IV, Sc ( i ) to (iii) Scene i: ‘Double, double toil and trouble’ - Macbeth visits the witches and demands they answer his questions. The witches conjure apparitions to do so. The first, an armed head, tells him to beware Macduff. The second, a bloody child, tells him no-one born of a woman can harm him. The third, a crowned child, tells him that he will never be conquered until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. Finally, a pageant of eight Kings appears, followed by the spirit of Banquo.  Scene ii: Macduff’s family attacked Scene iii: In England, Malcolm – Macduff.

13. Act V, Sc ( i ) to (viii) Scene i: Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking Scene ii: Four Scottish Lords, including Lennox, discuss the progress of the English army led by Malcolm, his uncle Siward, and Macduff. Scene iii: Macbeth orders his servant, Seyton , to arm him, while the Doctor gives an unhopeful report of Lady Macbeth’s health. Scene iv: The English forces arrive at Birnam wood, and Malcolm instructs the troops to use its greenery as a disguise to approach the castle. Scene v: Queen has died, and a servant tells Macbeth that he has witnessed Birnam wood moving towards the castle Scene vi: Malcolm orders his soldiers to leave their disguises and storm the castle. Scene vii: Macbeth comes across a young member of the English forces, Young Siward, and kills him instantly. He leaves just as Macduff enters, searching for the tyrant. Scene viii: Macduff succeeds in hunting down Macbeth. The King is initially unafraid: assured that he cannot be harmed by anyone born by a woman. But Macduff reveals he was not born naturally, but delivered by caesarean. The pair fights and Macbeth is slain.

14. The End