Shakespeare, Year 10: the story and how the tragedy is built (Macbeth option)

Cawdor; king

HintThe first title he already holds, the second arrives within minutes, and the third is the one that tempts him.

The whyHe is already Thane of Glamis. Ross arrives moments later to say Duncan has made him Thane of Cawdor, so the second greeting comes true at once and the third starts to look possible.

2

HintIt happens early: on the very night the Macbeths plan it.

The whyDuncan is killed offstage in Act 2 Scene 2, at Macbeth's own castle. The audience sees Macbeth come back with the daggers and hears “I have done the deed.”

England

HintIt is where he later gathers an army of ten thousand to come back with.

The whyDonalbain goes to Ireland. Their flight makes them look guilty, which lets Macbeth be named king; Malcolm returns from England with an army in Act 5.

Banquo

HintHe heard the witches too, and was promised something for his children.

The whyBanquo is killed in Act 3 Scene 3 but his son Fleance escapes, so the prophecy that Banquo's descendants will be kings stays alive.

Malcolm's soldiers each cut a bough and carry it in front of them

HintThink of an army wanting to hide how many men it has.

The whyMalcolm gives the order in Act 5 Scene 4. A prophecy that sounded impossible comes true in an ordinary, practical way.

Macduff

HintThe Thane of Fife, whose wife and children Macbeth had slaughtered.

The whyThey fight in the last scene. Macduff brings in Macbeth's head, and Malcolm is hailed as King of Scotland.

5

HintThe same as every Shakespeare play in the standard editions.

The whyRoughly: Act 1 temptation, Act 2 the murder, Act 3 the crown and the banquet, Act 4 the apparitions and the killing of Macduff's family, Act 5 the fall.

The three witches

HintThey meet in thunder and lightning and plan where to find the hero.

The whyAct 1 Scene 1 is very short. Starting with the witches rather than the king or the hero puts the supernatural first and sets an uneasy mood before Macbeth is even seen.

Banquo's

HintHe was killed on Macbeth's orders earlier that same evening.

The whyUntil now Macbeth has kept up a public face. Here he breaks down in front of his lords, and from this point he loses their trust. This is one common reading of where the tragedy turns; the play does not label it.

Macduff was not born in the ordinary way: he was cut from his mother's womb

HintThink of an operation at birth.

The whyMacduff says he “was from his mother's womb / Untimely ripp'd”. The prophecy was true but misleading, which is how every promise made to Macbeth turns out.

Hamartia

HintA Greek term beginning with h.

The whyIn Macbeth it is usually said to be ambition. The term comes from Aristotle's writing on tragedy.

Malcolm

HintDuncan's elder son.

The whyThe play ends with order restored: the rightful heir invites everyone to see him crowned at Scone. Tragedies of this kind usually close with a survivor putting the state back together.