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Macbeth by William Shakespeare/ Author Introduction / Historical Context / About the Work / Themes / Characters/ Summary & Analysis

 Macbeth

by William Shakespeare



Brief Biography of William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's father was a glove-maker, and Shakespeare received no more than a grammar school education. He married Anne Hathaway in 1582, but left his family behind around 1590 and moved to London, where he became an actor and playwright. He was an immediate success: Shakespeare soon became the most popular playwright of the day as well as a part-owner of the Globe Theater. His theater troupe was adopted by King James as the King's Men in 1603. Shakespeare retired as a rich and prominent man to Stratford-upon-Avon in 1613, and died three years later.

Historical Context of Macbeth

When Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, King James of Scotland became King of England. James almost immediately gave his patronage to Shakespeare's company, making them the King's Men. In many ways, Macbeth can be seen as a show of gratitude from Shakespeare to his new King and benefactor. For instance, King James actually traced his ancestry back to the real-life Banquo. Shakespeare's transformation of the Banquo in Holinshed's Chronicles who helped murder Duncan to the noble man in Macbeth who refused to help kill Duncan is therefore a kind of compliment given to King James' ancestor.

Other Books Related to Macbeth

Shakespeare's source for Macbeth was Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, though in writing Macbeth Shakespeare changed numerous details for dramatic and thematic reasons, and even for political reasons (see Related Historical Events). For instance, in Holinshed's version, Duncan was a weak and ineffectual King, and Banquo actually helped Macbeth commit the murder. Shakespeare's changes to the story emphasize Macbeth's fall from nobility to man ruled by ambition and destroyed by guilt.

Key Facts about Macbeth

Full Title: The Tragedy of Macbeth

When Written: 1606

Where Written: England

When Published: 1623

Literary Period: The Renaissance (1500 - 1660)

Genre: Tragic drama

Setting: Scotland and, briefly, England during the eleventh century

Climax: Some argue that the murder of Banquo is the play's climax, based on the logic that it is at this point that Macbeth reaches the height of his power and things begin to fall apart from there. However, it is probably more accurate to say that the climax of the play is Macbeth's fight with Macduff, as it is at this moment that the threads of the play come together, the secret behind the prophecy becomes evident, and Macbeth's doom is sealed.

THEME 

Ambition and Power

1. The corrupting influence of power: Macbeth's desire for power and prestige leads him to commit heinous crimes.

2. Ambition vs. morality: Macbeth's ambition conflicts with his moral values, ultimately leading to his downfall.


Guilt and Conscience

1. Guilt and paranoia: Macbeth's guilt over his crimes leads to paranoia and a breakdown of his mental state.

2. Conscience and remorse: Lady Macbeth's conscience eventually catches up with her, leading to her downfall.


Fate and Free Will

1. The role of fate: The witches' prophecies and the concept of fate raise questions about the nature of free will.

2. Free will and personal responsibility: Macbeth's choices and actions ultimately lead to his downfall, highlighting the importance of personal responsibility.


Appearance vs. Reality

1. Deception and illusion: Characters like Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and the witches use deception and illusion to achieve their goals.

2. Appearance vs. reality: The play highlights the tension between appearance and reality, as characters struggle to reconcile their outward appearances with their inner truths.


Mortality and the Human Condition

1. Mortality and the fleeting nature of life: The play's exploration of mortality and the transience of human life serves as a reminder of the impermanence of human achievements.

2. The human condition: Macbeth's struggles with ambition, guilt, and mortality serve as a commentary on the human condition, highlighting the complexities and flaws of human nature.


Loyalty and Betrayal

1. Loyalty and duty: Characters like Macduff and Malcolm embody loyalty and duty, while Macbeth's actions represent a betrayal of these values.

2. Betrayal and its consequences: The play explores the consequences of betrayal, as Macbeth's actions lead to chaos, destruction, and ultimately, his own downfall.

Major Characters:

1. Macbeth: The tragic protagonist, a Scottish general whose ambition leads him to murder and tyranny.  

2. Lady Macbeth:Macbeth’s wife, driven by ambition and power, but later consumed by guilt.  

3. King Duncan:The benevolent and trusting King of Scotland, murdered by Macbeth.  

4. Banquo:Macbeth’s friend and fellow general, whose descendants are prophesied to inherit the throne.  

5. Fleance: Banquo’s son, who escapes assassination.  

6. Macduff: A Scottish nobleman who opposes Macbeth and ultimately kills him.  

7. Lady Macduff: Macduff's wife, murdered along with her children.  

8. Malcolm: Duncan’s son and rightful heir to the throne.  

9. Donalbain: Duncan’s younger son.  


Supernatural Characters:

10. The Three Witches (Weird Sisters): Mysterious figures who prophesy Macbeth's rise and fall, representing fate and destiny.  

11. Hecate:The goddess of witchcraft, who influences the witches' actions.  


Minor Characters:

12. Lennox, Ross, Angus, Menteith, and Caithness: Scottish nobles loyal to Duncan and later to Malcolm.  

13. The Porter: A comic relief character who opens the gate to Macbeth’s castle after Duncan’s murder.  

14. Siward: The English Earl of Northumberland, whose forces help overthrow Macbeth.  

15. Young Siward: Siward’s son, killed by Macbeth in battle.  

SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS

Norwegians, aided by Scottish rebels, have invaded Scotland. The Scots successfully defend their country and their beloved king, Duncan. One Scotsman in particular, Macbeth, Thane of Glamis, distinguishes himself in fighting off the invaders. After the battle, Macbeth and his friend Banquo come upon the weird sisters, three witches who prophesy that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor, and one day King. They further prophesy that Banquo's descendants will be kings. The men don't at first believe the witches, but then learn that the old Thane of Cawdor was actually a traitor helping the Norwegians, and that Duncan has rewarded Macbeth's bravery on the battlefield by making him Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth immediately fantasizes about murdering Duncan and becoming king, but pushes the thought away. Later that day, Duncan announces that his eldest son, Malcolm, will be heir to his throne. As Macbeth begins to succumb to his ambition, Duncan decides to spend the night in celebration at Macbeth's castle of Inverness.


Lady Macbeth receives a letter from her husband about the prophecy and Duncan's imminent arrival. She decides her husband is too kind to follow his ambitions, and vows to push him to murder Duncan and take the crown that very night. Macbeth at first resists his wife's plan, but his ambition and her constant questioning of his courage and manhood win him over. That night they murder Duncan and frame the men guarding Duncan's room. The next morning, Macduff, another Scottish thane, discovers Duncan dead and raises the alarm. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth pretend to be shocked and outraged. Macbeth murders the guardsmen of Duncan's room to keep them silent, but says he did it out of a furious rage that they killed the king. Duncan's sons think they may be the next target, and flee. Macbeth is made king, and because they ran, Duncan's sons become the prime suspects in their father's murder.

Because he knows the witches' prophecy, Banquo is suspicious of Macbeth. And because of the prophecy that Banquo's line will reign as kings, Macbeth sees Banquo as a threat. Macbeth gives a feast, inviting many thanes, including Banquo. Macbeth hires two murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance as they ride to attend the feast. The men kill Banquo, but Fleance escapes. At the feast, Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost, though no one else does. Macbeth's behavior and the death of Banquo make all the thanes suspicious. They begin to think of Macbeth as a tyrant. Macduff refuses to appear at the royal court at all, and goes to England to support Malcolm in his effort to raise an army against Macbeth.


Macbeth visits the three witches to learn more about his fate. They show him three apparitions who tell Macbeth to beware Macduff, but also that no "man born of woman" can defeat him and that he will rule until Birnam Wood marches to Dunsinane (a castle). Since all men are born of women and trees can't move, Macbeth takes this to mean he's invincible. Yet the witches also confirm the prophecy that Banquo's line will one day rule Scotland. To strengthen his hold on the crown, Macbeth sends men to Macduff's castle to murder Macduff's family. Meanwhile, in England, Macduff and Malcolm prepare to invade Scotland. When news comes to England of the murder of Macduff's family, Macduff, weeping, vows revenge.


While the English and Scottish under Malcolm march toward Dunsinane, Lady Macbeth begins sleepwalking and imagining blood on her hands that can't be washed off. Macbeth has become manic, cruel, and haughty—many of his men desert to Malcolm's side. In Birnam Wood, Malcolm and his generals devise a strategy to hide their numbers—they cut branches to hold up in front of them. As Macbeth prepares for the siege, Lady Macbeth dies, perhaps of suicide. Macbeth can barely feel anything anymore, and her death only makes him give a speech about the meaninglessness of life. Then Malcolm's forces appear looking like a forest marching toward the castle. Malcolm's forces quickly capture Dunsinane, but Macbeth himself fights on, mocking all who dare to face him as "men born of woman." But Macduff reveals that he was "untimely ripped" from his mother's womb (a caesarean section). Macduff kills Macbeth, and Malcolm is crowned as King of Scotland.


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