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Macbeth
Probably written in late 1606 or early 1607, Macbeth is the last of
Shakespeare’s four great tragedies. It is a relatively short play without a
major sub-plot. It is considered by many scholars to be Shakespeare’s
darkest work. King Lear is an absolute tragedy in which the natural
world cares nothing about the mankind, but in Macbeth, Shakespeare
adds a supernatural element that is especially against Macbeth and his
kingdom.
The play begins with the brief appearance of a song of
witches and then moves to a military camp, where the Scottish King Duncan
hears the news that his generals, Macbeth and Banquo, have defeated the
enemies—one from Ireland, led by the rebel Macdonald, and one from Norway.
Macbeth and Banquo encounter the witches as they cross a land. The witches
say that Macbeth will be made thane (a rank of Scottish nobility) of Cawdor
and finally become king of Scotland. They also prophesy that Macbeth’s
companion, Banquo, will be the father of many Scottish kings, although
Banquo will never be king himself. Here is the scene at the heath:
MACBETH: [Aside.] Two truths are told, As
happy prologues to the swelling act
Of the imperial theme.—I thank you, gentlemen.—
[Aside.] This supernatural soliciting
Cannot be ill; cannot be good:—if ill,
Why hath it given me earnest of success,
Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor:
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair,
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings:
My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man, that function
Is smother'd in surmise; and nothing is
But what is not.
BANQUO: Look, how our partner's rapt.
MACBETH: [Aside.] If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me Without my stir.
BANQUO: New honors come upon him,
Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould
But with the aid of use.
MACBETH: [Aside.] Come what come may,
Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.
BANQUO: Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure.
MACBETH: Give me your favor:—my dull brain was wrought
With things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains
Are register'd where every day I turn
The leaf to read them.—Let us toward the king.—
Think upon what hath chanc'd; and, at more time,
The interim having weigh'd it, let us speak Our free hearts each to other.
(Act I, Scene iii)
The witches vanish, and Macbeth and Banquo don’t trust
their prophecies until some of King Duncan’s men come to thank the two
generals for their victories in battle and to tell Macbeth that he has
indeed been named thane of Cawdor. The older thane betrayed Scotland by
fighting for the Norwegians and Duncan has put him to death. Macbeth is
excited by the possibility—that he will be the king—might be true, but he is
uncertain what to expect. He visits with King Duncan, and they plan to dine
together at Inverness, Macbeth’s castle, that night. Macbeth writes ahead to
his wife, Lady Macbeth, telling her all that has happened.
Lady Macbeth asks her husband to kill the king Duncan. The
plot is that they kill the king and king’s servants. When the body of the
king is discovered, they say that the king is murdered by the servants. In
this way Macbeth does kill the king and becomes a new king.
Duncan’s sons Malcolm and Donalbain go to England and
Ireland, respectively, fearing that whoever killed Duncan wants to kill them
as well.
Macbeth is frightened that Banquo’s children may get
the throne like the prophecy told by the witches. So he sends the men to
kill Banquo’s children. Banquo’s son Fleance escapes into the night. Macbeth
becomes angry: as long as Fleance is alive, he fears that his power remains
insecure. Later ghost of Banquo visits Macbeth, and Macbeth fears very much.
So he visits the witches, they tell Macbeth that he should be careful of
Macduff, a Scottish nobleman who thinks it is wrong for Macbeth to be the
king. Macbeth is told that he cannot be harmed by any man born of woman.
When he learns that Macduff has gone to England to join Malcolm, Macbeth
kills Lady Macduff and her children.
When Macduff in England knows his wife and children are dead,
he wants to revenge. Prince Malcolm, Duncan's son, has succeeded in raising
an army in England, and Macduff joins him as he rides to Scotland to
challenge Macbeth’s forces. They have the support of the Scottish nobles, In
the battle, Macbeth encounters the vengeful Macduff, who declares that he
was not “of woman born” but was instead “untimely ripped” from his mother’s
womb. Though he realizes that he is doomed, Macbeth continues to fight until
Macduff kills and beheads him. Malcolm, now the king of Scotland, declares
his benevolent intentions for the country and invites all to see him
crowned.
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