Page 105 - DENG403_BRITISH_DRAMA

Unit 7: Macbeth: Characterization and Superstition

a theatre, and sometimes refer to it indirectly, for example as “the Scottish play”, or “MacBee”, or Notes
when referring to the character and not the play, “Mr. and Mrs. M”, or “The Scottish King.”
This is because Shakespeare is said to have used the spells of real witches in his text, purportedly
angering the witches and causing them to curse the play. Thus, to say the name of the play inside a
theatre is believed to doom the production to failure, and perhaps cause physical injury or death to
cast members. There are stories of accidents, misfortunes and even deaths taking place during runs
of Macbeth (or by actors who had uttered the name).
One particular incident that lent itself to the superstition was the Astor Place Riot. Because the
cause of these riots was based on a conflict over two performances of Macbeth, this is often thought
of as having been caused by the curse.

7.3.2 Methods to Dispel the Curse

Several methods exist to dispel the curse, depending on the actor. One, attributed to Michael York,
is to immediately leave the building the stage is in with the person who uttered the name, walk
around it three times, spit over their left shoulders, say an obscenity then wait to be invited back
into the building. A related practice is to spin around three times as fast as possible on the spot,
sometimes accompanied by spitting over their shoulder, and uttering an obscenity. Another popular
“ritual” is to leave the room, knock three times, be invited in, and then quote a line from Hamlet.
Yet another is to recite lines from The Merchant of Venice, thought to be a lucky play.

Self Assessment

Multiple Choice Questions:

11. The anxiety which prompts Macbeth to the destruction of Banquo arises entirely
from
(a) apprehension
(b) fear
(c) prophesy
(d) superstition.
12. Which of the following is not a method to dispel the curse?
(a) Spin around three times
(b) Uttering an ill-will
(c) Knock three times
(d) Spit over the left shoulder.
13. Macbeth has an acquired, though not a constitutional, courage, which is equal to
(a) all special occasions
(b) only special occasions
(c) all ordinary occasions
(d) only ritual occasions.

Fill in the blanks:
14. The first thought of acceding to the throne is suggested, and success in the attempt
is promised, to Macbeth by the ..........
15. Macbeth commits murders with less agitation than that of ..........

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