AN OVERVIEW OF Macbeth illiam Shakespeare wrote the tragedy Macbeth around the year 1606 A tragedy is a play in which a hero of high status experiences a downfall often caused by a tragic flaw such as pride or ambition Shakespeare's tragedies are perhaps the most famous in the English language The English playwright penned at least ten tragedies including Romeo and Juliet Hamlet Othello King Lear and Macbeth Macbeth's tragic hero is Macbeth a Scottish nobleman who murders the king of Scotland so he can take the king s place as ruler Macbeth's wife Lady Macbeth is often seen as an antihero She pushes her husband to commit the murder making her another tragic hero 12
While not the main character in Macbeth Lady Macbeth plays a crucial role in the play's events 13
Act 1 Strange Predictions As the play opens three witches are gathered in an open field Nearby Scottish soldiers are battling enemy forces The witches hatch a plan to meet with Macbeth one of the king s generals when the battle is over As the battle ends King Duncan receives reports of Macbeth's heroism Macbeth leaves the battlefield with another general Banquo The witches greet the two men with mysterious prophesies They hint Macbeth will gain a new title Thane of Cawdor and later become king of Scotland They add that Banquo's descendants will also become kings Macbeth is intrigued by these strange predictions of his future greatness but Banquo warns him not to trust the witches as they may have evil intentions Shortly afterward Macbeth learns King Duncan has named him Thane of Cawdor as a reward for his heroism in battle Macbeth is stunned to find the witches first prediction has come true He wonders whether the second prediction that he will become king of Scotland will also come true Because King Duncan's son Malcolm is next in line for the throne it seems to Macbeth he will have to kill both King Duncan and 14
Three witches appear to Macbeth and Banquo prophesizing Macbeth's rise to power Prince Malcolm to fulfill the prediction Thoughts of murder fill his mind but he tries to hide them In an aside to the audience he says Stars hide your fires Let not light see my black and deep desires Back in their castle Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband telling her about the witches predictions She is excited by the prospect of Macbeth becoming king and is prepared to murder the present King Duncan to make that happen However she worries Macbeth is too kind to do what needs be to done She plans to talk him into it Hiе thеe hither she 15
