Jan 4, 2010
The Oxford Dictionary of Plays | Macbeth
Macbeth (The Tragedie of Macbeth)
Author: William Shakespeare
First Performance: c.1602–6, London
Published: 1623
Genre: Trag. in 5 acts; blank verse and prose
Setting: Scotland and England, 1040–57
Cast: 21m, 8f, extras
The Scottish king Duncan grants Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor in honour of his bravery in helping to repel a foreign invasion. Macbeth learns of this new title from three witches who meet him and his companion Banquo after the battle. The witches also foretell that Macbeth shall become king and that Banquo's sons shall be kings. When Lady Macbeth hears of this prophecy, she urges her husband to murder Duncan while he is sleeping at their castle. Macbeth carries out the deed, and blame falls on Duncan's sons, who flee from Scotland. Macbeth is elected king, but, unable to trust...
[The entire page is 439 words long]
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