Macbeth and Julius Caesar: An Introduction to Shakespeare in Verse

By Roy Lancaster

Macbeth, with the murder on his mind, has a vision.
“Is this a dagger I can see… see but cannot touch?
The hilt is turned toward my hand, but still… I cannot clutch.
It is a dagger… of the mind to lead me to his room
Although unreal, it’s like the one I draw to seal his doom.”
He draws his dagger.
“I must move soft, that no one hears my footsteps on the stone
In silence then I make my way, my presence never known…”
A bell rings.
“The signal sounds, the time has come for Duncan… it’s a knell
I go… it’s done, I send him now to heaven, or… to hell.”
He enters the room.
End of Scene 1

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Apr 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781398406636

Roy Lancaster

Roy Lancaster was born in London and qualified as an architect, designing many projects throughout the Middle East where he opened an office and spent most of his architectural working life. After retirement he took up writing, mainly children's material. He now lives in Cheltenham with his wife.

Book preview

Macbeth and

Julius Caesar

An Introduction to Shakespeare in Verse

Roy Lancaster

Austin Macauley Publishers

Macbeth and Julius Caesar

About the Author

Dedication

Copyright Information ©

MACBETH

Characters in the Play

Act 1, Scene 1

Act 1, Scene 2

Act 1, Scene 3

Act 1, Scene 4

Act 1, Scene 5

Act 1, Scene 6

Act 1, Scene 7

Act 2, Scene 1

Act 2, Scene 2

Act 2, Scene 3

Act 2, Scene 4

Act 3, Scene 1

Act 3, Scene 2

Act 3, Scene 3

Act 3, Scene 4

Act 3, Scene 5

Act 3, Scene 6

Act 4, Scene 1

Act 4, Scene 2

Act 4, Scene 3

Act 5, Scene 1

Act 5, Scene 2

Act 5, Scene 3

Act 5, Scene 4

Act 5, Scene 5

Act 5, Scene 6

Act 5, Scene 7

Act 5, Scene 8

Act 5, Scene 9

Glossary

Witch Expressions

JULIUS CAESAR

Characters in the Play

Act 1, Scene 1

Act 1, Scene 2

Act 1, Scene 3

Act 2, Scene 1

Act 2, Scene 2

Act 2, Scene 3

Act 2, Scene 4

Act 3, Scene 1

Act 3, Scene 2

Act 3, Scene 3

Act 4, Scene 1

Act 4, Scene 2

Act 4, Scene 3

Act 5, Scene 1

Act 5, Scene 2

Act 5, Scene 3

Act 5, Scene 4

Glossary

About the Author

Roy Lancaster was born in London and qualified as an architect, designing many projects throughout the Middle East, where he opened an office and spent most of his architectural working life. After retirement, he took up writing, mainly children’s material. He now lives in Cheltenham with his wife.

Dedication

For all children

Copyright Information ©

Roy Lancaster (2021)

The right of Roy Lancaster to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398406629 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398406636 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2021)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

MACBETH

Legend has it that this dark and violent play is cursed and all who play in it could have bad luck.

To counter this, some actors, even to this day. refuse to call it by its real name and instead refer to it as… ‘The Scottish Play’.

It was first published in 1623 and is thought to have been written by Shakespeare in response to an upsurge in interest of things Scottish after the accession to the English throne of James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England in 1603. He had an interest in theatre and was soon a patron of Shakespeare’s Theatre Company.

The play is entirely fictitious but has its roots in the real events of the 11th century, which in Scotland were extremely violent, being fraught with the assassination of kings, families, nobles’ entire clans and the like.

It was also a very superstitious age with belief in witchcraft. This takes centre stage in the play where witches, encountered by Macbeth, prophesise things which bolster his ambitions and convince him, that in pursuit of them, he is invincible. His wife is equally ambitious and urges him on to even more foul deeds, which ultimately leads to her madness and to take her own life.

Characters in the Play