by william shakespeare abridged by martin...

© Shakespeare Schools Foundation Copyright of the abridged scripts rests with Shakespeare Schools Foundation ( SSF).

By William Shakespeare

Abridged by Martin Lamb

Macbeth Character Notes Page 1

Created by www.shakespeareschools.org

Character Notes DUNCAN The good king of Scotland murdered by Macbeth. Duncan is the model of a virtuous, benevolent and farsighted ruler.

MALCOLM Duncan's eldest son, who flees in fear with his brother Donalbain after their father's murder. Malcolm becomes a serious challenge to Macbeth with Macduff’s aid (and the support of England). We can presume he would rule fairly like his father and end Macbeth's tyranny.

DONALBAIN Duncan’s son and Malcolm’s younger brother.

MACBETH Macbeth is a brave and powerful general, and the thane of Glamis, whose ambition for the crown drives him to commit murder. Macbeth is more at home on the battlefield than in politics because his response to every problem is violence and murder. However, Macbeth is never comfortable in his role as a criminal. He is unable to bear the psychological consequences of his atrocities, especially after the death of his beloved wife. LADY MACBETH Macbeth’s wife, a deeply ambitious woman who lusts for power and position. Early in the play she seems to be the stronger and more ruthless of the two, as she urges her husband to kill Duncan and seize the crown. However, after the bloodshed begins Lady Macbeth's guilt leads to madness. Her conscience affects her to such an extent that she eventually commits suicide. She and Macbeth are deeply in love and their partnership in crime seems to strengthen the attachment that they feel to each other.

BANQUO The brave and noble general who does not let his ambition lead to treason and violence. According to the witches’ prophecy Banquo's children will inherit the Scottish throne but he does not act upon it, unlike Macbeth. Banquo's ghost haunts Macbeth reminding him of his guilt.

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MACDUFF A Scottish nobleman who opposes Macbeth's kingship and becomes a leader of the crusade to unseat Macbeth. The crusade’s mission is to place the rightful king, Malcolm, on the throne, but Macduff also desires vengeance for Macbeth’s murder of his wife and young son whilst he was in England drumming up an army. He never forgives himself for leaving his family and servants unprotected. All were killed.

FLEANCE Banquo’s son, who survives Macbeth’s attempt to murder him. At the end of the play, Fleance’s whereabouts are unknown. He may return to rule Scotland, fulfilling the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s sons will sit on the Scottish throne.

SIWARD Earl of Northumberland, an Englishman who supports the crusade to replace Macbeth with Malcolm as king of Scotland.

A PORTER The drunken doorman of Macbeth’s castle.

SETON Macbeth's manservant

THREE MURDERERS A group of ruffians conscripted by Macbeth to murder Banquo, Fleance (whom they fail to kill), and Macduff’s wife and children.

THREE WITCHES Three mystical beings who plot mischief against Macbeth using charms, spells, and prophecies. Their predictions prompt him to murder Duncan, to order the deaths of Banquo and his son, and to blindly believe in his own immortality. They clearly take a perverse delight in using their knowledge of the future to toy with and destroy human beings. They acknowledge that they themselves have masters who sanction the apparitions. APPARITIONS Three visions conjured by the witches for Macbeth. The first Apparition is an armed head and tells Macbeth that he should fear Macduff. The Second Apparition appears as a bloody child and reassures Macbeth that "none of woman born” can harm him. The Third Apparition is a child wearing a crown with a tree in his hand and tells Macbeth he has nothing to fear until “Great Birnam wood” moves to “high Dunsinane hill” near his castle.




Scottish Noblemen LENNOX ROSS Scottish noblemen who join Macduff's crusade against Macbeth. ANGUS MENTIETH


Macbeth 10 Events Page 1


10 Events

1. In the realm of King Duncan of Scotland two royal Thanes – Macbeth and Banquo - are returning from war. They meet three Witches who predict that Macbeth will become King and Banquo’s heirs will be Kings.

2. Macbeth writes to his wife telling her of the prediction, which she takes to

mean they must kill Duncan, the current King.

3. Duncan and his train arrive at Macbeth’s Castle as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth wrangle over whether to kill him or not.

4. Macbeth kills Duncan as he sleeps.

5. Duncan’s sons are initially blamed for his murder and flee in fear, leaving

Macbeth to be crowned King.

6. Macbeth has Banquo killed. He fears he is haunted by Banquo’s ghost and returns to the witches. They reassure him with more predictions of his power.

7. His friend Macduff flees to England to ask Duncan’s son – Malcolm – to return and fight Macbeth as Scotland is collapsing under his rule. Macbeth has Macduff’s wife and children killed for this disloyalty.

8. Lady Macbeth dies.

9. Macbeth comes under attack as the witch’s predictions come true one by one.

10. Macbeth is slain by Macduff and Malcolm is crowned King.


Macbeth Secondary Script Page 1


List of Roles

Duncan

King of Scotland

Malcolm Donalbain

Duncan’s son Duncan’s son

Macbeth Lady Macbeth

A general in the King’s army, later King

Banquo

A general

Macduff

Nobleman of Scotland

Lennox


Ross


Angus


Mentieth


Fleance

Banquo’s son

Siward

Earl of Northumberland, an Englishman

A porter

Seton

Macbeth’s manservant

1st Murderer

2nd Murderer 1st Witch

2nd Witch

3rd Witch




1st Apparition 2nd Apparition 3rd Apparition

Lords, Ladies, Gentlemen, Officers, Soldiers, Attendants, Messengers

One Lord has a small speaking part in Scene 15




Scene 1 A Deserted Place1 Enter WITCHES. 1ST WITCH When shall we three meet again

In thunder, lightning, or in rain? 2ND WITCH When the hurlyburly’s done,

When the battle’s lost and won. 3RD WITCH That will be ere the set of sun. 1ST WITCH Where the place? 2ND WITCH

Upon the heath.

3RD WITCH There to meet with Macbeth. ALL Fair is foul, and foul is fair:

Hover through the fog and filthy air. Exit WITCHES.

Scene 3 A Heath Enter WITCHES. A drum sounds.

3RD WITCH A drum, a drum! Macbeth doth come.

Enter MACBETH and BANQUO.

MACBETH So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

BANQUO What are these, So withered, and so wild in their attire, That look not like th’inhabitants o’the earth, And yet are on’t? Live you? Or are you aught

1 In Scotland.




That man may question?

MACBETH Speak, if you can: what are you?

1ST WITCH All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!2 2ND WITCH All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!

3RD WITCH All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter.

BANQUO If you can look into the seeds of time,

And say which grain will grow and which will not, Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear Your favours nor your hate.

1ST WITCH Hail!

2ND WITCH Hail!

3RD WITCH Hail!

1ST WITCH Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.

2ND WITCH Not so happy yet much happier.

3RD WITCH Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none:

So all hail Macbeth and Banquo!

MACBETH I know I am thane of Glamis; But how of Cawdor? The thane of Cawdor lives; And to be king Stands not within the prospect of belief, No more than Cawdor. Speak I charge you

The WITCHES vanish.

BANQUO Whither are they vanished?

MACBETH Your children shall be kings.

2 This is Macbeth’s current title.




BANQUO You shall be king.

MACBETH And thane of Cawdor too: went it not so? Enter ROSS and ANGUS.

ROSS The king hath happily received, Macbeth, The news of thy success3. He bade me, from him,call thee thane of Cawdor.

BANQUO [aside] What, can the devil speak true?

MACBETH The thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me

In borrowed robes?

ANGUS Treasons capital, confessed, and proved; Have overthrown him.

MACBETH [aside] Glamis, and thane of Cawdor:

The greatest is behind.

BANQUO [to MACBETH] Oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s In deepest consequence.4

Exeunt.

Scene 7 Macbeth’s Castle, Forres Enter MACBETH. MACBETH If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well

It were done quickly.5 He’s here in double trust:

3 King Duncan has heard of Macbeth’s victory. 4 Banquo warns Macbeth that the devil lulls people into a false sense of security. This is what happens to Macbeth who ultimately believes he is invincible but discovers he’s been tricked (in Act 5). 5 It’ll be better to get Duncan’s murder over and done with.




First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed: then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself.

Enter LADY MACBETH.

How now! what news? LADY MACBETH He has almost supped: why have you left the chamber? MACBETH We will proceed no further in this business.

LADY MACBETH Art thou afeard

To be the same in thine own act and valour As thou art in desire?

MACBETH I dare do all that may become a man;

Who dares do more is none. LADY MACBETH When you durst do it, then you were a man;

And, to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man. I have given suck, and know How tender’ tis to love the babe that milks me- I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this.

MACBETH If we should fail? LADY MACBETH We fail.

But screw your courage to the sticking place, And we’ll not fail. What cannot you and I perform upon Th’unguarded Duncan? what not put upon His spongy officers6, who shall bear the guilt Of our great quell?

6 They plan to frame his drunken guards for the murder.




MACBETH Bring forth men-children only! For thy undaunted mettle should compose Nothing but males. Away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide what the false heart doth know

Exeunt.

Scene 8 Same, a few hours later MACBETH Is this a dagger which I see before me,

The handle toward my hand? or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain? Thou marshall’st me the way that I was going, And such an instrument I was to use!

I see thee still; It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes.

A bell rings.7

I go, and it is done: the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven, or to hell.

Exit MACBETH.

7 A signal from Lady Macbeth? A clock chiming the hour?


by william shakespeare abridged by martin...

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