The Complete Macbeth: An Annotated Edition of the Shakespeare Play

By Donald J. Richardson

Of the five major Shakespearean tragediesHamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet,
King Lear, and OthelloMacbeth is in some ways the most accessible. For one
it is the shortest. For another the witches continue to attract audiences just as
they did during Elizabethan times. In addition he cinematographic approach of the last
actcutting easily from scene to sceneworks as well as it did in Shakespeares time.
Thus, the play is a natural to introduce students to the Shakespeare canon. Probably it
doesnt rival Romeo and Juliet in popularity with students or Julius Caesar with teachers,
but nevertheless it is a finished, representative work of the best of William Shakespeare.

In addition the main themeambitionone which is relevant to Americans today,
can be witnessed again and again, especially during our quadrennial presidential elections.
I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, Macbeth muses; there are those seeking
to attract the public eye for whom this statement applies equally well.

I cannot say I enjoyed reading Macbeth the first time. It was an assignment and, as
do many students, I disliked having to read the play. However, over the years of teaching
the play and re-reading itby choiceI have come to regard the play with respect and
simultaneously admiration for the playwright. The play communicates its own special
numen. Macbeth is the most tightly unified of the Shakespearean tragedies, and it is filled
with major themesambition, definition of character, allegiance to ones state and king
and some which may be regarded as minorsleep, drink, and humor. None of them
could be sacrificed as together they make a unity of approach meant to satisfy the general
audience and the groundlings. As one who has a foot in both camps, I believe the play is
a masterpiece.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 11, 2013
• ISBN: 9781477299920

Donald J. Richardson

Although he has long been eligible to retire, Donald J. Richardson continues to (try to) teach English Composition at Phoenix College in Arizona. He defines his life through his teaching, his singing, his volunteering, and his grandchildren.

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© 2013 Donald J. Richardson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 01/08/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4772-9993-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-9991-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-9992-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012923820

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Table of Contents

ACT I

ACT II

ACT III

ACT IV

ACT V

Works Cited

Other Books by Donald J. Richardson

Dust in the Wind, 2001

Rails to Light, 2005

Song of Fools, 2006

Words of Truth, 2007

The Meditation of My Heart, 2008

The Days of Darkness, 2009

The Dying of the Light, 2010

Between the Darkness and the Light, 2011

The Days of Thy Youth, 2012

The Complete Hamlet, 2012

Those Who Sit in Darkness¸ 2013

For all the persons forced to read Macbeth against their will

About the Book

Of the five major Shakespearean tragedies—Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, and Othello—Macbeth is in some ways the most accessible. For one it is the shortest. For another the witches continue to attract audiences just as they did during Elizabethan times. In addition he cinematographic approach of the last act—cutting easily from scene to scene—works as well as it did in Shakespeare’s time. Thus, the play is a natural to introduce students to the Shakespeare canon. Probably it doesn’t rival Romeo and Juliet in popularity with students or Julius Caesar with teachers, but nevertheless it is a finished, representative work of the best of William Shakespeare.

In addition the main theme—ambition—one which is relevant to Americans today, can be witnessed again and again, especially during our quadrennial presidential elections. I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, Macbeth muses; there are those seeking to attract the public eye for whom this statement applies equally well.

I cannot say I enjoyed reading Macbeth the first time. It was an assignment and, as do many students, I disliked having to read the play. However, over the years of teaching the play and re-reading it—by choice—I have come to regard the play with respect and simultaneously admiration for the playwright. The play communicates its own special numen. Macbeth is the most tightly unified of the Shakespearean tragedies, and it is filled with major themes—ambition, definition of character, allegiance to one’s state and king—and some which may be regarded as minor—sleep, drink, and humor. None of them could be sacrificed as together they make a unity of approach meant to satisfy the general audience and the groundlings. As one who has a foot in both camps, I believe the play is a masterpiece.

About the Author

Ecclesiastes writes, To everything there is a season, and for Donald J. Richardson, the season continues to be to teach. Over the years, he says, he has discovered his raison d’etre, his reason for being, in the classroom. To give it up now, to sacrifice his definition, simply because of encroaching age would be to accept defeat. He refuses.

The Tragedy of Macbeth

ACT I

SCENE I. A desert place.

Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches

FIRST WITCH

1 When shall we three meet again

2 In thunder, lightning, or in rain? In thunder … rain: (Witches were thought able to choose and localize the storms about them) (Bevington, 5)

SECOND WITCH

3 When the hurlyburly’s done, hurly-burly: commotion, uproar, i.e. the battle that is described in the following scene (Riverside, 1,360)

4 When the battle’s lost and won.

THIRD WITCH

5 That will be ere the set of sun.

FIRST WITCH

6 Where the place?

SECOND WITCH

7 Upon the heath.

THIRD WITCH

8 There to meet with Macbeth.

FIRST WITCH

9 I come, Graymalkin! Graymalkin, Paddock: i.e. grey cat, toad; the names of the familiars or spirits who serve the witches. In IV.i.3 we learn that the familiar of the Third Witch is called Harpier, apparently meaning ‘harpy.’ (Riverside, 1,360); Graymalkin is apparently a favorite name for a gray cat, ‘malkin’ being a diminutive of the then popular name Matilda (Asimov, 152)

SECOND WITCH

10 Paddock calls. The Second Witch has a familiar in the shape of a toad (the apparently natural habitat of an evil spirit, since it is a squat and ugly creature). An obsolete name for a toad is ‘paddock’ (Asimov, 152)

THIRD WITCH

11 Anon. Anon: at once (Inglis, 135)

ALL

12 Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Fair … fair: To mix things up thus is a witch’s delight (Inglis, 135)

13 Hover through the fog and filthy air.

Exeunt

SCENE II. A camp near Forres. Forres: A town in northeast Scotland (Inglis, 135)

Alarum within. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENNOX, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding Sergeant Alarum: a trumpet call to arms (Wright, 1)