The play is set in the 11th century. Shakespeare got many of his ideas for Macbeth from a historical source “Holinshed’s chronicles”. Shakespeare also didn’t stick closely the sources; he picked the best bits and even added parts to make it more interesting!
In the twentieth century people focus more on the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, their guilt and their motives. In the seventieth century people would have been more interested in the witches, the monarchy and the divine order of kings. I have seen two productions of Macbeth, parts of two films and one cartoon. I didn’t find the witches at all scary whereas in the 17th century they were feared because they were unknown. A modern day audience is more interested in relationships, friendships and the power between men and women.
Macbeth and Banquo are co-leaders of the Scottish army and are returning from battle. They meet three witches who tell Macbeth he will be thane of Cawdor and king later on. They tell Banquo that he won’t be king but his ancestors will be. A messenger arrives and tells Macbeth he has been named thane of Cawdor. Macbeth thinks King Duncan (Macbeth’s cousin) will make him king. Macbeth’s hopes of becoming king are ruined when Duncan names his eldest son Malcolm as the next king. Macbeth sends a letter to Lady Macbeth, telling her what the witches told him. She is determined to help Macbeth become king. When she finds out Duncan will be staying the night she persuades Macbeth to kill the king. When Duncan’s body is discovered, his sons flee leaving Macbeth to claim the throne.
The main characters are the Witches, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Duncan and Banquo. Each one of the main characters is partly responsible for the death of Duncan.
The witches were partly responsible for Macbeth’s actions. It was believed that Satan had rebelled against God, and he was responsible, through witches and evil spirits, for all attacks on the divine order. They put ideas in to Macbeth’s head about becoming king when they addressed him thus: “All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor, All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!” Moments later two of the King’s messengers arrived, and the first of the weird sisters prophecies came true. The King had made him Thane of Cawdor. This made Macbeth think that their second prophecy might come true too. They cast spells on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to control them and make them evil, Lady Macbeth called the evil spirits “Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty.”
In the productions and films I’ve seen the witches are portrayed as being weird and not pure evil, as they might have been seen in Shakespeare’s day.
Macbeth is obviously responsible for his actions but I don’t think he is totally to blame for Duncan’s death. Although Macbeth killed the king, I don’t think he did it of his own free will. He immediately thought about killing the king as soon as the withes told him he would be king, he tried to put the idea out of his head, “if change would have me king, why change may crown me without my stir”. Macbeth is ambitious “I have no spur to prick the side of my intent, only vaulting ambition,” but he doesn’t have the will power to go ahead with the murder on his own. In the productions and films I’ve seen the Macbeth seems to be quite weak and he regrets murdering the king.
I think Lady Macbeth plays a big part in the murder of Duncan. She knows Macbeth is too full of inner goodness to become king by the most direct way, she says “yet I do fear your nature, it is to full o’ th’ milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way.” She calls the evil spirits to enter her body and make her ruthless so she can carry out the murder of Duncan, “come you evil spirits that do tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty”. She comes up with a plan. When Macbeth says he doesn’t want to go ahead with the murder she remains resolute and is scornful of him. She says he is a coward and accuses him of showing a lack love for her. She is cunning and manipulative, “From this time such I account thy love”, “ And live a coward in thine own esteem.” She also took part in the murder of the king. To me she seems conniving and devious and this is the way I have seen her portrayed in films and plays.
I don’t really think you can hold Duncan responsible for Macbeth’s actions but I do think he was too trusting. He invites himself to Macbeth’s castle with out even thinking about his safety. In the productions and films I’ve seen Duncan is depicted as being naïve.
Banquo could as be held partly responsible for Macbeth actions. He was there when the witches made the prophecies and he noticed how Macbeth looked rapt and preoccupied, “Look how our partner's rapt.” He also suspected Macbeth but he did nothing, “I dreamt last night of the three Weird Sisters. To you they have shown some truth.” He also said, “Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, as the weird women promised, and I fear thou play’dst most foully for’t.”
I think Lady Macbeth is most responsible for Duncan’s death because she asked the evil spirits to possess her. She knew what she was doing, and with out her, Macbeth wouldn’t have been motivated enough to kill the king.
