Macbeth

By William Shakespeare

In 1603, James VI of Scotland ascended the English throne, becoming James I of England. London was alive with an interest in all things Scottish, and Shakespeare turned to Scottish history for material. He found a spectacle of violence and stories of traitors advised by witches and wizards, echoing James’s belief in a connection between treason and witchcraft.

In depicting a man who murders to become king, Macbeth teases us with huge questions. Is Macbeth tempted by fate, or by his or his wife’s ambition? Why does their success turn to ashes?

Like other plays, Macbeth speaks to each generation. Its story was once seen as that of a hero who commits an evil act and pays an enormous price. Recently, it has been applied to nations that overreach themselves and to modern alienation. The line is blurred between Macbeth’s evil and his opponents’ good, and there are new attitudes toward both witchcraft and gender.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Green World Classics
• Release date: Jul 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9789897784231

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is the world's greatest ever playwright. Born in 1564, he split his time between Stratford-upon-Avon and London, where he worked as a playwright, poet and actor. In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare died in 1616 at the age of fifty-two, leaving three children—Susanna, Hamnet and Judith. The rest is silence.

Book preview

Macbeth

Table of Contents

Act I

Scene I

Scene II

Scene III

Scene IV

Scene V

Scene VI

Scene VII

Act II

Scene I

Scene II

Scene III

Scene IV

Act III

Scene I

Scene II

Scene III

Scene IV

Scene V

Scene VI

Act IV

Scene I

Scene II

Scene III

Act V

Scene I

Scene II

Scene III

Scene IV

Scene V

Scene VI

Scene VII

Scene VIII

Macbeth

William Shakespeare

Copyright © 2017 Green World Classics

All Rights Reserved.

This publication is protected by copyright. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

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Act I

Scene I

A Desert Place

Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches

First Witch

Second Witch

Third Witch

That will be ere the set of sun.

First Witch

Where the place?

Second Witch

Upon the heath.

Third Witch

There to meet with Macbeth.

First Witch

I come, Graymalkin!

Second Witch

Paddock calls.

Third Witch

Anon.

ALL

[Exeunt]

Scene II

A Camp Near Forres

Alarum within. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENNOX, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding Sergeant

DUNCAN

MALCOLM

Sergeant

DUNCAN

O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman!

Sergeant

DUNCAN

Sergeant

DUNCAN

[Exit Sergeant, attended]

Who comes here?

[Enter ROSS]

MALCOLM

The worthy thane of Ross.

LENNOX

ROSS

God save the king!

DUNCAN

Whence camest thou, worthy thane?

ROSS

DUNCAN

Great happiness!

ROSS

DUNCAN

ROSS

I'll see it done.

DUNCAN

What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won.

[Exeunt]

Scene III

A Heath Near Forres

Thunder. Enter the three Witches

First Witch

Where hast thou been, sister?

Second Witch

Killing swine.

Third Witch

Sister, where thou?

First Witch

Second Witch

I'll give thee a wind.

First Witch

Thou'rt kind.

Third Witch

And I another.

First Witch