Re-Entry.mp3
The Classic Tragedy
Macbeth is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in 1603 (although the first Folio wasnt published until 1623). The play covers the issue of regicide and the aftermath of such an event. It happens to be Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been first performed at the Globe Theatre in 1611.
Its Influences and Origins
It is believed that the source Shakespeare used were the accounts of King Macbeth of Scotland, Macduff and Duncan in Holinshed's Chronicles ( a collaborative work published in several volimes in 1577). Macbeth is commonly being compared to Shakespeare's other work of Antony and Cleopatra as the plots are quite similar. The other versions of the story are quite different than Shakespeare's. In other versions, Banquo is a co-conspirator with Macbeth to murder Duncan who is inept and a bad ruler. Also in other versions, Macbeth does no kill Duncan in his castle. Many say that Shakespeare added a much darker side to the tale by making the changes that he did.
Plot
The play opens with the Three Witches deciding that their next meeting shall be with Macbeth. In the following scene we see the end of the war as a wounded soldier reports victory to King Duncan that his armies have won the war against Norway and Ireland who were lead by the traitor Macdonwald. As the play goes on we see Banquo and Macbeth encounter the three witches and they reveal to them a prophecy that Banquo will father a line of Kings and that Macbeth will be named the thane of Cawdor and then king in the near future. Suddenly a messanger from the king arrives and tells Macbeth that he has been bestowed the title: Thane of Cawdor. Immediately we see a change in Macbeth as he begins to harbour ambitions of becoming king and fulfilling the rest of the prophecy.
Macbeth writes his wife about the witches prophecies. King Duncan tells Macbeth that he is going to stay at Macbeth's castle and Macbeth's wife begins to set in motion a plan to murder him in order to make Macbeth king. Macbeth is reluctant to do the deed until Lady Macbeth challenges his manhood and calls him a coward if he does not go through with her plan.
When Duncan arrives, Macbeth begins to hallucinate, seeing a bloody dagger. When he returns to his wife later on, his hands are covered in blood and he has murdered the king. However, he is quite traumatized because of the event and Lady Macbeth has to take charge. She plants the murder weapon on the sleeping servants and the following morning when Macduff and Lenox discover the body of Duncan, Macbeth in a rage kills the servants before they can protest to their innocence. Macduff is suspicious of Macbeth and flees to England. Duncans sons fearing for their lives flee as well to England and Ireland, thus making them suspect in the murder as well. With only Macbeth left as the rightful heir, he is named king of Scotland. Banquo too at this point has grown suspicious of the Macbeth having been present at the witches first prophecy.
Macbeth remembering Banquos part of prophecy grows paranoid and has him murdered while he and his son are on the road. The same night of the murder Macbeth is holding a banquet with the other lords and generals of scotland and he begins to see Banquos ghost where he himself should be sitting. Maddened by this vision he bursts into a rage that scares the other lords off. Disturbed at the events that took place at his banquet, Macbeth visits the three witches once more. There they reveal the rest of the prophecy that he should beware Macduff and that none of woman born can harm Macbeth. They also tell him that he cannot be vanquished until Birnam Wood rises against him.
Believing to be safe, Macbeth puts to death every person in Macduffs castle, including his wife and son. Lady Macbeth begins to go insane with the guilt of her crimes as she begins to sleepwalk and speak in her sleep of the terrible horrors she and Macbeth have committed.
Macduff is informed of the deaths of his wife and children and with Malcom and Siward the Earl of Northumberland he takes an army to march against Macbeth to overthrow him. This army is joined by many of Macbeths previously loyal thanes, after they learn of his deeds and see him no longer as their king but as a tyrant. While they are encamped in Birnam Wood they cut down tree limbs and carry them to hide their numbers, thus fulfilling another part of the prophecy.
At this point Lady Macbeth commits suicide and the battle ensues within Macbeths own castle. Siward is slain during the battle and Macduff reveals to Macbeth that he was not born naturally but was born by C-section. Macbeth realizes too late that he is doomed and Macduff beheads him and fulfills yet another part of the prohpecy. Later on we come to learn that Banquo's son Fleance would have children that would eventually become Kings thus fulfilling the final part of the prophecy.
The Curse of Macbeth
Many theatrical practicioners of every kind believe the play to be cursed because Shakespeare was believed to have used the spells of real witches in his text which caused them to curse the play. To say the name in the theatre is thought to doom the production to fail and even perhaps cause physical harm or even death to cast members. There are many stories of accidents and even deaths taking place during runs of the show or by people who said the name of Macbeth in the theatre. One of the most famous is the Astor Place Riot because the riots occured over two different productions of Macbeth. There are many superstitious ways to reverse the curse should you slip up and say the name of the play in the theatre as well.
Our Thoughts
Overall we enjoyed the play and feel that it is by far one of Shakespeare's greatest plays even though it is one of his shortest in comparison to his other tragedies. Macbeth portrays how the natural order of life is thrown out of whack when one takes action to prevent or fulfill a prophecy. We see so many similar stories even today such as Star Wars and Anakin Skywalkers avoidable fall to the dark side. Macbeth too could have avoided his fate had he clung to what his instincts told him was right. The play was a good read and is an excellent and exciting show to watch when it is done right.
