Page 106 - DENG403_BRITISH_DRAMA

British Drama

Notes 16. Macbeth wants no disguise of his ......... disposition.

17. Macbeth is always shaken upon great, and frequently ......... upon trivial, occasions.
State whether the following statements are true or false:
18. A distinction between Richard III and Macbeth is made in the article of courage.
19. There are stories of accidents, misfortunes and even deaths taking place during
runs of Macbeth.
20. Only a few methods exist to dispel the curse, depending on the actor.

7.4 Summary

• The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath
and revolves round a character Macbeth.
• Though the sources of this tragedy are accounts of King Macbeth of Scotland, Macduff, and
Duncan in Holinshed’s Chronicles (1587), a history of England, Scotland and Ireland familiar
to Shakespeare and his contemporaries, the story bears little relation to real events in Scottish
history, as Macbeth was an admired and able monarch.
• The characterization of the play is so remarkably generated that it seems a real happenings in
the history.
• Macbeth is not totally cold and solely ambitious as shown by his terror of the murder image,
which thoroughly defies his loyalty. There is love in Macbeth as shown by his letter to Lady
Macbeth in which he calls her his “dearest partner of greatness.”
• Duncan, King of Scotland is a kindly and trusting older man, Duncan’s unsuspecting nature
leaves him open to Macbeth’s betrayal.
• Malcolm and Donalbain seem to have inherited Duncan’s fairness, both display a cunning
that far surpasses their father.
• What Macbeth lacks in decisiveness, Lady Macbeth makes up for in bloodthirsty lust for power
and wealth. Swearing off her femininity at the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth
manipulates her husband powerfully to follow through with his plans to kill Duncan.
• Banquo, a general in Duncan’s army along with Macbeth, Banquo is also the subject of one of
the witches’ prophesies. Unlike Macbeth, however, Banquo does not act to fulfill these
prophesies.
• Macduff, a Scottish nobleman who questions Macbeth’s tyrannical rule and refuses to recognize
him as king. Macduff follows Malcolm to England, where he demonstrates his true faithfulness
to Scotland.
• The witches foresee Macbeth’s ascent to power and his defeat, as well as the succession of
Banquo’s line.
• The first thought of acceding to the throne is suggested, and success in the attempt is promised,
to Macbeth by the witches
• A distinction between Richard III and Macbeth is made in the article of courage, though both
are possessed of it even to an eminent degree; but in Richard it is intrepidity, and in Macbeth
no more than resolution
• Macbeth commits subsequent murders with less agitation than that of Duncan; but this is no
inconsistency in his character; on the contrary, it confirms the principles upon which it is
formed.

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