Scarica Scheda di lettura Macbeth, William Shakespeare e più Dispense in PDF di Inglese solo su Docsity! Macbeth William Shakespeare SETTING IN TIME AND PLACE: The play is set in medieval Scotland PLOT : Macbeth, a brave general of King Duncan‘s army, and his friend Banquo, were returning home after a successful war with Norway and Ireland when they met three witches who prophesied that Macbeth would become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland and that the future kings of Scotland would descend from Banquo’s family. Macbeth received word that the king had given him the title Thane of Cawdor as a reward for his valour in the war. That got Macbeth wondering about the witches’ other predictions, which he shared with his wife. Lady Macbeth convinced her husband that he had to murdered the King to obtain the throne of Scotland. That same night the king, who was visiting them at their castle, was murdered while sleeping by Macbeth. Then he killed two guards whom accused of the murder. The king’s two sons, Malcom and Donalbain, fled to England, fearing their own lives were in danger. Macbeth was crowned king, but he didn’t feel secure on the throne. Remembering the witches’ predictions, Macbeth hired murderers to assassinate Banquo and his son Fleance. Banquo was killed but his son Fleance, escaped. At a banquet later that night, the ghost of Banquo appeared , but only to Macbeth, who seemed to be going mad talking to it. Fearful and desperate to know the future, Macbeth went to see the witches and asked them to tell him what was going to happened. They told him three things : first he should beware Macduff, who had been suspicious of Macbeth science Duncan was killed; second he couldn’t be harmed by anyone born of a woman; third he wasn’t in danger until Birnam Wood moved to Dunsinane Castle. Believing that the two last predictions were impossible, assumed he had nothing to fear. Macduff had fled Scotland to join up with Malcom, who was raising an army to defeat Macbeth. Macbeth ordered Macduff’s castle to be stormed and his family to be killed, including his wife and young son. Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth tormented and driven to madness by her guilty conscience, talked about the murder in her sleep and eventually killed herself. Macbeth fortified himself in Dunsinane, feeling secure, until he heard that the English army approached , using branches cut from Birnam Wood to camouflage their advance, fulfilling part of the witches’ prophecy. During the battle Macduff informed Macbeth that he was “ from his mother’s womb/Untimely ripp’d” which meant that his mother had a cesarean delivery. The third part of the witches’ prophecy came true when Macduff defeated and killed Macbeth. The battle ended and Malcom became King of Scotland. MAIN CHARACTERS: Macbeth is a complex character who changes throughout the course of the play and a tragic hero. At the beginning he is the thane of Glamis and he appeared to be a good man, a brave and honourable general of the king’s army. After he was reached by the three witches, his ambition led him to commit an innumerable series of bloody actions, becoming a man capable of murder yet tormented by his sense of guilty. Lady Macbeth is a devoted wife, her ambitious plans are for her husband. She is a strong, power- starved and ruthless woman. The three witches are sisters who have malicious intentions and ambiguous prophetic power. They represent the supernatural. Banquo Macduff
