Macbeth
This drama is one of the great tragedies by William Shakespeare. It is the story of a man who suffered disaster because of too much ambition. The other themes are fate, deception and treachery. The great Scottish general Macbeth on his return from a successful campaign in the north, accompanied by a another general called Banquo, meets three witches who predict that he will one day become king. The seeds of ambitious design are planted and he decides to kill King Duncan. Macbeth's wife agrees to this plan. He then murders Duncan and his wife smears the blood of Duncan on the daggers of the sleeping guards.
A nobleman called Macduff discovers the body. Macbeth kills the guards insisting that their daggers smeared with Duncan's blood are proof that they committed the murder. Macbeth is crowned king, he hires assassins to murder Banquo and his son but the bloodied ghost of Banquo appears to him. The witches tell him that he must "beware Mcduff" but assure him that "none of woman born" can harm him and that he need no fear until Birnam Wood shall come to Duncinane Castle. Lady Macbeth's conscience begins to torture her. She imagines to see her hands covered with blood and commits suicide. Macduff (born by Caesarean section) advances towards the castle with a large army screened by branches, he kills Macbeth and becomes king of Scotland.
http://www.globe-theatre.org.uk/summary-of-macbeth-and-characters.htm
Act 5, Scene 5
Macbeth is waiting on the castle walls and is sure that Macduff and Malcolm will die of famine before penetrating his defence. Suddenly a cry is heard from within the castle. Macbeth’s wife is dead. With the news that he has lost his beloved lady, Macbeth resigns himself to the futility of life. A messenger enters and reports that he has seen an amazing sight -- the woods are moving toward the castle. Macbeth at first doesn’t believe and calls the messenger a 'liar and slave!'. But Macbeth cannot deceive himself any longer and he vows that, if he must die, he will die a soldier in battle.
MACBETH's soliloquy : Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
MACBETH:
I have almost forgot the taste of fears:
The time has been, my senses would have cool'd
To hear a night-shriek, and my fell of hair
Would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir
As life were in't: I have supp'd full with horrors;
Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts,
Cannot once start me.
Wherefore was that cry?
SEYTON:
The Queen, my lord, is dead.
MACBETH:
She should have died hereafter;
There would have been a time for such a word.
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. 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. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Learn more:
Mabillard, Amanda. Macbeth Plot Summary. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2000. (accessed 1 June 2011).
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/macbeth/macbethps.html
The film
In 1971 Roman Polanski directed the film Macbeth based on William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth, about the lord who becomes King of Scotland through treachery and murder. It features Jon Finch as Macbeth and Francesca Annis as Lady Macbeth (The photo under the title is from the film).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NehH-K42Y38 |
