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Overview
Synopsis
Heroic Macbeth has just won two victorious battles for Scotland, when he encounters three weird sisters who tell him this is only the beginning of his path to glory. They foresee that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor, and then, ultimately, the King of all Scotland. At first, the honest and upright Macbeth ignores the predictions, but when he is bestowed with the first of those two titles, he starts to yearn for the second. Drunk on his own success, Macbeth feels invincible, and--with the encouragement of his ambitious wife--he takes the realization of his predicted fate into his own hands. After murdering his friend and sovereign, King Duncan, Macbeth disappears further down the path toward destruction and despair, even as he is tortured by questions of conscience. He has always been a masterful warrior, but applying the rules of war to life at home becomes much more complex. Shakespeare’s Macbeth reveals to us the danger of ambition, crafting a terrifying parable in which great people are destroyed by the power of their own success.
Show Information
- Book
- William Shakespeare
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1606
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- scotland, medieval britain
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Large Cast, Mature Audiences, High School, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Star Vehicle Female, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Early Teen, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters
Context
Macbeth was written in 1606, in a period of political and religious uncertainty. The gunpowder plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament had been foiled just one year previously and Shakespeare’s next offering certainly seems to reflect the period in which it was written. James I of England (James VI of Scotland) had recently inherited the throne from Elizabeth I and Macbeth reads as a cautionary tale to any who might harbor intentions of killing and overthrowing the new King.
Since its
to read the context for Macbeth and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
With a crash of lightning, the play opens with the three witches gathered together upon the heath. They are planning to come together again after the ongoing battle to confront Macbeth. Meanwhile, the King of Scotland, Duncan, asks a wounded captain for news from the battlefield where the Scots have been fighting off the Irish invaders. The captain reports that Macbeth and Banquo--two of Duncan’s best generals--fought bravely on the battlefield. Ross, a nobleman, enters with
to read the plot for Macbeth and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Farewell
A sound in battle, often used in stage directions to indicate a fight happening offstage
A reference, usually implied, to a literary or historical person, place, event, or idea.
Weapons
A London playhouse built in 1599 by the Lord Chamberlain's Men, Shakespeare's playing company.
Listen
A type of verse with ten syllables per line and syllables alternating between unstressed and stressed beats.
Referring to life in England under the reign of King James I, 1603-1625.
A form of government in which the head of state stays in power for life
A prediction, often used in classical theatre to foreshadow tragic events.
Description of material not protected by copyright law.
Trumpet call, used in stage directions to indicate a procession (especially of royalty)
A speech given by a character that reveals inner thoughts only shared with the audience.
A play that centers around the downfall of the main character through tragic actions and events.
The protagonist, generally someone who is noble or royal, and is brought to a downfall by their own hubris.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher