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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
A poetic or formal farewell often used in classical and period drama to underscore emotion or finality.
An 'alarum' is a stage direction or sound cue, typically indicating a battle, fight, or disturbance offstage. It was frequently used in English Renaissance drama to signal chaos or action without showing it directly.
An allusion is an indirect reference to another work of literature, art, historical event, or cultural figure. Playwrights often use allusions to add deeper meaning or context to a character’s dialogue or a scene.
Arms' is an old-fashioned theatrical term referring to weapons used on stage, such as swords, spears, or shields. These props are often associated with historical or battle scenes in classical or Renaissance plays.
The iconic London theatre associated with Shakespeare, where many of his plays premiered in the late 1500s and early 1600s.
An archaic command meaning 'listen'; frequently used in English Renaissance drama. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
A poetic meter consisting of five iambs per line, widely used in English Renaissance drama by playwrights like Shakespeare.
Pertaining to the period of King James I’s reign, known for darker, more violent English drama than the Elizabethan era.
A form of government often portrayed in historical plays to explore lineage, power, betrayal, and class structures.
Works not protected by copyright and available for free use or adaptation. Many classical plays, including Shakespeare's, fall into the public domain.
A brief trumpet flourish used in Shakespearean theatre to announce the entrance or exit of important characters.
A speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing inner thoughts or emotions to the audience. Common in Shakespearean plays.
A dramatic genre involving serious themes and the downfall of a protagonist, often evoking catharsis from the audience.
A protagonist whose downfall results from a fatal flaw, central to classical and modern tragedy.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher