THE PLAY “MACBETH” THE MAN MACBETH
* THE FACTS OF THE PLAY
WRITTEN: Shakespeare wrote the story of MACBETH in 1606. However, “it is probable that the surviving play is an abridged text for a Court performance in the summer of 1606 before King James I”, three years after the death of Queen Elizabeth I and the rise of James to the throne. It is important to note that James I of Great Britain and Ireland had been serving as James VI, King of Scotland when Elizabeth I died; he was her nearest surviving relative and thus rose to the throne. So fond of theater was James I that as soon as he was crowned in 1603 he became the patron of Shakespeare’s “Lord Chamberlain’s Men” appropriately changing the company’s name to “The King’s Men”. A play dealing with early Scottish history -- indeed the only one of Shakespeare’s plays to be devoted to that theme -- would have clearly been done in honor of James’s Scottish origins. Furthermore, James traced his ancestry to Macbeth’s fellow-thane Banquo and took an avid interest in witchcraft, having published a book on the topic in 1599.
Page 2 PUBLISHED: The play was first published as the sixth of the tragedies in the First Folio of 1623. Because the text is unusually short compared with the other tragedies, it is thought to have been cut for performance at some point between 1606 and 1623. The play also contains some passages which have long been held to be interpolations from another hand: the passages involving Hecate, Queen of the Witches, which are written mainly in octosyllabic couplets rather than in iambic pentameter. AGE: The Bard was 42 years old when he wrote the play. (Born 1564-Died 1616) CHRONO: “Macbeth” takes the 29th position in the canon of 39 plays immediately after “Othello” (1604) and “King Lear” (1605) but before “Antony and Cleopatra” (also 1606) GENRE: Adding “Hamlet” to the above list, “Macbeth” is always listed as one of the five “Great Tragedies”. SOURCE: Shakespeare’s principal source was the Scottish section of Raphael Holinshed’s “Chronicles” (1587). The accounts of the reigns of Duncan and Macbeth (covering the years 1034 to 1057) were used. TIMELINE: Of key importance is the fact that in Shakespeare’s play, time is compressed to move the action speedily along in this, one of his shortest and certainly most concentrated of plays. History points to the fact that Macbeth actually reigned for seventeen years from 1040 to 1057 rather than the exceptionally short time implied by the action of the play. FIRST PERFORMANCE: In 1589 James VI – then King of Scotland before becoming James I of England and Ireland – married Anne of Denmark, the daughter of Frederick II of Denmark who had died the year before. She was the elder sister of the new King, Christian IV, who came to visit his brother-in-law – now James I – in 1606 and it is thought that Shakespeare wrote the play in honor of this occasion. Page 3 SUPERSTITION: This play is the only play that has haunted Shakespeare over the years as oddly unlucky. “The Scottish play” is the standard reference to the play in the theater world and indeed it has grown into “legend status” where disasters are said to attend it. Undeniably its record IS strange. In a 1926 London revival, famous actors of the era, Sybil Thorndike and Lewis Casson, “sought to exorcize the spirits of evil by reading together the 90th Psalm before the curtain rose, ‘Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night.’” It is known that Shakespeare intended the play to be performed without an intermission. “The tragedy of vaulting ambition and overpowering conscience needs to move inexorably and swiftly from the salute on the heath to the last desperate defiance: “Lay on, Macduff; / And damn’d be he that first cries ‘Hold enough!’” Actors and directors have consistently felt that the pace and speed of the play are what catapult it into a danger zone and stage tragedy.
CRITICISM: Despite the fact that the play has always been popular on the stage it is curious that so few of the many performances in stage history are laurelled. Oddly, during the Restoration (1660-1666) English poet and playwright, Sir William Davenant’s weird “improvement” with its “divertissements” of dancing and singing Witches kept to the stage and indeed did so until 1744. ACTORS: As one would expect, the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are two of the most coveted roles in the canon of Shakespeare’s plays to tackle as a performer. (The Weird Sisters are almost as popular!) Actresses who have triumphed in the role of Lady Macbeth over the years include Sarah Siddons (innumerable times between 1785 and 1817), Ellen Terry (1888, 1895) and Judi Dench (1976, 1977-78) -- “So hypnotic in her opening speech that one Shakespearian scholar claimed to have SEEN the ‘spirits that tend on mortal thoughts.’” Page 4 Nearly every classically-trained actor of his day has tackled the role of the Thane of Glamis: Edmund Kean, John Gielgud, Charles Laughton, Laurence Olivier, Paul Scofield, Alec Guinness, Nicol Williamson and Albert Finney and Ian McKellen. FAMOUS QUOTES:
“Things without all remedy should be without regard: what’s done, is . done.”
“Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.”
“Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.”
“To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself.”
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”
MODERN: Perhaps the most highly-regarded staging of the play featured the talents of Patrick Stewart and Kate Fleetwood in 2007 which mesmerized audiences and proved successful both in the West End of London and on Broadway as well as eventually on film. OPERA: Verdi’s opera “Macbetto” was highly successful when it debuted in 1847. FILM: From 1948 to well into the 21st century film versions of the play have been frequent: Orson Welles (1948), Akira Kurosawa (1957), George Schaefer (1971), Roman Polanski (1971). More recent film productions which have greatly impressed audiences include the above referenced Patrick Stewart film in addition to 2013 film directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh and the thrilling 2015 film directed by Justin Kurzel starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard. Page 5 THE PLAY SETTING: The play begins on the battlefield in a conflict pitting Scotland against the combined forces of the Irish fortified by the “Norweyan” invaders; the action soon is redirected from the heath with the Weird Sisters to the King’s castle in Forres to Macbeth’s castle in Inverness; Macbeth is crowned King in Scone soon thereafter. Vital scenes with the Weird Sisters on the blasted heath continued to be interspersed. YEAR: 1040
SYNOPSIS: ACT I - On a bleak, Scottish moorland, Macbeth and Banquo, two of King Duncan's generals, discover three “Weird Sisters”. The witches prophesy that Macbeth will be promoted twice: to Thane of Cawdor (a rank of the aristocracy bestowed by grateful kings) and King of Scotland. Banquo's descendants will be kings, but Banquo isn't promised any kingdom himself. The generals want to hear more, but the "weird sisters" disappear. Soon afterwards, King Duncan names Macbeth Thane of Cawdor as a reward for his success in the recent battles. The promotion seems to support the prophecy. The King then proposes to make a brief visit that night to Macbeth's castle at Inverness. Lady Macbeth receives news from her husband about the prophecy and his new title. She vows to help him become king by whatever means are necessary.
ACT II - Macbeth returns to his castle, followed almost immediately by King Duncan. The Macbeths plot together to kill Duncan and wait until everyone is asleep. At the appointed time, Lady Macbeth gives the guards drugged wine so Macbeth can enter and kill the King. He regrets this almost immediately, but his wife reassures him. She leaves the bloody daggers by the dead king just before Macduff, a nobleman, arrives. When Macduff discovers the murder, Macbeth kills the drunken guards in a show of rage and retribution. Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, flee, fearing for their own lives; but they are, nevertheless, blamed for the murder.
ACT III - Macbeth becomes King of Scotland but is plagued by feelings of insecurity. He remembers the prophecy that Banquo's descendants will inherit the throne and arranges for Banquo and his son Fleance to be killed. In the darkness, Banquo is murdered, but his son escapes the assassins. At his state banquet that night, Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo and worries the courtiers Page 6
with his mad response. Lady Macbeth dismisses the court and unsuccessfully tries to calm her husband.
ACT IV - Macbeth seeks out the witches who say that he will be safe until a local wood, Birnam Wood, marches into battle against him. He also need not fear anyone born of woman (that sounds secure, no loop-holes here). They also prophesy that the Scottish succession will still come from Banquo's son. Macbeth embarks on a reign of terror, slaughtering many, including Macduff's family. Macduff had gone to seek Malcolm (one of Duncan's sons who fled) at the court of the English king. Malcolm is young and unsure of himself, but Macduff, pained with grief, persuades him to lead an army against Macbeth. ACT V - Macbeth feels safe in his remote castle at Dunsinane until he is told that Birnam Wood is moving towards him. Malcolm's army is carrying branches from the forest as camouflage for their assault on Macbeth's stronghold. Meanwhile, an overwrought and conscience-ridden Lady Macbeth walks in her sleep and tells her secrets to her doctor. She commits suicide. As the final battle commences, Macbeth hears of Lady Macbeth's suicide and mourns. Mcduff murders Macbeth; Malcolm is crowned the new King. KEY ROLES:
Duncan - the King of Scotland, an old, gracious, pious and gentle man, who resembles Lady Macbeth’s father in his sleep.
Malcolm - Duncan’s eldest son. Almost captured in the battle that rages at the beginning of the play, he is rescued by the captain.
Donalbain - Duncan’s second son. After his father’s murder, he suggests to Malcolm that they quickly leave.
Macbeth – the Thane of Glamis. A superb general, he is a physically powerful man, able in a fight to eviscerate a man with an upward stroke.
Banquo - a Scottish Thane, Macbeth’s co-general in the wars.
Macduff - the Thane of Fife. Commanded by Duncan to visit him early in the morning at Macbeth’s castle, he discovers the King’s body.
Lennox - a young Thane attending on Duncan.
Page 7 Rosse - the Thane who brings Duncan news of the Norwegian invasion and of Cawdor’s complicity in it.
Menteth - one of the four Thanes who desert Macbeth when Malcolm invades, bringing reinforcements to Malcolm’s arms.
Angus - a Thane who accompanies Ross in bringing Duncan news of the victory over Norway, and later bringing Macbeth the announcement of his accession to the rank of Thane of Cawdor.
Cathness - one of the four Thanes who desert Macbeth when Malcolm invades, bringing reinforcements to Malcolm’s army.
Fleance - Banquo’s son who flees the fatal ambush on his father and joins forces with Macduff and Siward in the fateful battle against Macbeth.
Siward - Earl of Northumberland, a veteran soldier of the English kings and Malcolm’s uncle.
Young Siward - Siward’s son; during the battle at Macbeth’s castle, he encounters and fights with Macbeth who kills him.
OTHERS: See the additional document with visual groupings of characters: “The Nobles”, “The Generals” and “The Women”.
* Note that resource information for the above has been gleaned from Isaac Asimov’s Asimov’s Guide to Shakespeare (1970), Harold Bloom’s Shakespeare – The Invention of the Human (1998), The Arden Shakespeare’s Shakespeare Complete Works (Revised Edition 2011) and J.C. Trewin’s The Simon and Schuster Pocket Companion to Shakespeare’s Plays (1981.)
FOR OPTIONAL VIEWING or LISTENING……
YOUTUBE - FREE
SPECIAL SCENES PBS Film, 2010 Patrick Stewart in the Title Role Page 8
“Is this a dagger which I see before me?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pusU90ov8pQ The Death of Macbeth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_-w5vlK8H8&list=PL74w- dltpq4HjGRIjDjolmM7uQUokWePh&index=1
FULL PLAY
The Royal Shakespeare Company, 1979 Television performance of original stage production Ian McKellen in the Title Role; with Judy Dench https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7skhaOegpLA
A Mercury Production, 1948 Orson Welles in the Title Role https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6YMGm9s_Qc
FULL AMATEUR PRODUCTION (Filmed Live)
Fredericton, Canada Shakespeare Theater, 2011 Outstanding Amateur Production (Canadian-American accents https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tggW1_MqmWo
AUDIO RECORDING
BBC Radio Production, 1966 Paul Scofield in the Title Role https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljZrf_0_CcQ
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KANOPY- FREE through many Maine Public Libraries with Library card
FULL PLAY
PBS Film, 2010 Patrick Stewart in the Title Role; with Kate Fleetwood “Shot on location in the mysterious underground labyrinth of Welbeck Abbey in Nottinghamshire, this is a contemporary presentation of Shakespeare’s intense, claustrophobic and bloody drama.”
BBC Production, 1983 Nicol Williamson in the Title Role; with Jane Lapotaire AMAZON PRIME VIDEO FULL PLAY
Stratford Festival, Ontario, Canada 2017 Ian Lake in the Title Role
Royal Shakespeare Company, 2010 David Tennant in the Title Role
From the producers of “The King’s Speech”; Justin Kurzel, Director, 2015 With Michael Fassbender in the Title Role; with Marion Cotillard
NETFLIX – MEMBERSHIP RENT
FULL PLAY
Along with the productions starring Ian McKellen/Judy Dench, Patrick Stewart/Kate Fleetwood & Michael Fassbender/Marion Cotillard…..
Roman Polanski Film Production, 1971 With Jon Finch in the Title Role; with Francesca Annis
Page 10 IMDb ONLINE DATABASE
FULL PLAY
Along with the productions starring Ian McKellen/Judy Dench, Patrick Stewart/Kate Fleetwood & Michael Fassbender/Marion Cotillard…..
National Theater, London, 2013 With Kenneth Branagh in the Title Role; with Alex Kingston