MACBETH - CONTEXT

MACBETH

PROMOTIONAL POSTER

THIS SPRING

The play was written in 1606 by visionary playwright William Shakespeare. It is Shakespeare's 29th play. It was also first performed in 1606. It's a tragedy. Shakespeare's influence extends from theatre and literature to present-day movies, Western philosophy, and the English language itself. William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the history of the English language, and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. The play was written during the reign of James, who was patron pf Shakespeare's acting company, who had been James VI of Scotland before he succeeded to the throne in 1603.

I have been cast as the Thane of Fife, Lord Macduff. I have read the entire script and it was magnificent. I wasn't extremely excited because everyone already knows this story but I could be excited because my older sister Yanique Prentice used to do this course in the college. She was Lady Macbeth. I guess I could see this as a remake of the 2008 school production of the same name.

ACT 1

On a bleak Scottish moorland, Macbeth and Banquo, two of King Duncan's generals, discover three strange women, who reveal themselves as WITCHES. The witches prophesise 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 witches disappeared. 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 2

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 3

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 with his mad response. Lady Macbeth dismisses the court and unsuccessfully tries to calm her husband. 

ACT 4

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.

I've said it once and I'll say it again. I love doing period projects because it feels like time traveling and experiencing that life and learning how life was back then. I went to 1800s USA in The Crucible and it wasn't fun. I went to the 1950s and 1960s in Grease and Hairspray. I went 430 BC in King Oedipus. I went to 1900s Russia in The Cherry Orchard and now I'm in 11th century Scotland in Macbeth. This is really fun. I don't mind doing theatre or bigger.

Macbeth is a tragedy that tells the story of a soldier whose overriding ambition and thirst for power cause him to abandon his morals and bring about the near destruction of the kingdom, he seeks to rule. At first, the conflict is between Macbeth and himself, as he debates whether or not he will violently seize power and between Macbeth and his wife, as Lady Macbeth urges her husband towards a course of action, he is hesitant to take. Once Macbeth stops struggling against his ambition, the conflict shifts. It then primarily exists between Macbeth and the other characters, in particular Banquo and Macduff, who challenge his authority. Macbeth is the protagonist in the sense that he is the main focus of the narrative and that makes the audience frequently gain access to his perspective. However, as he often acts against his own best interests, as well as the best interests of the other characters and his country, he is also the antagonist. The characters who oppose Macbeth and eventually defeat him do so in order to restore order and justice.

This play does have some themes in it.

• The Corrupting Power of Unchecked Ambition
• The Relationship Between Cruelty and Masculinity - Violence
• The Difference Between Kingship and Tyranny - Good vs. Evil
• Prophecy
• Guilt and Remorse
• Dichotomy and Equivocation
• Salvation and Damnation