February 18-- 7:00pm Macbeth

 

Macbeth is a wonderful exploration of the ways in which the natural, societal, and psychic fabrics are devastated when power and authority are usurped. Scotland’s descent into tyranny is mirrored by the increasing chaos in the natural world and the descent into madness by Macbeth and his wife. And all because “overvaulting ambition” prompts Macbeth to do the unthinkable: murder his king and guest, and then embark on the wholesale slaughter of anyone he thinks might get in his way.

Shakespeare's Macbeth is based on a historical figure, but the playwright took certain liberties. These liberties distinguish Shakespeare's character from the "real Macbeth", and allowed the playwright to explore gender roles, what is appropriate "manly" behavior, and the corrosive effect of ambition divorced from loyalty to anyone but the self. The circumstances surrounding the composition of the play show that Shakespeare used political considerations to his advantage. The accession of James VI of Scotland to the English throne to become James I of England probably not only prompted the play's composition but shaped the characterizations of both Macbeth and Banquo. Events such as the Gunpowder Plot would have intensified an audience's reaction to this dark tale of usurpation.

No one is sure when Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, but scholars generally agree that it was sometime between 1603 and 1606. Macbeth is seen as part of the general celebration of James VI of Scotland’s accession to the English throne (becoming James I of England and Scotland). James did not succeed to the English throne until 1603, so it is unlikely that the play was composed before that time. Others argue that the play was not composed until after 1605 because they believe it contains allusions to the Gunpowder Plot, which was discovered in November 1605. By 1607, there are allusions to the play, so it was probably composed—at least in its first version—by then.

The only source for the text is the First Folio of 1623. There are additions that are clearly the work of other hands, particularly the inclusion of two songs from Thomas Middleton’s 1615 play, The Witch. Many believe that Middleton is solely responsible for the scenes involving Hecate. Even if it is assumed that Shakespeare wrote those scenes (Act III, scene v and Act IV, scene 1), the play is still notably shorter than many of his other plays. The Folio text may derive from a promptbook or shortened adaptation.

The earliest known public performance of Macbeth was at the Globe Theatre in April 1611 (although there are those who argue that the book containing the performance’s description is itself a forgery). Court records indicate that, in the summer of 1605, James saw a play involving three “sibyls,” not, perhaps, unlike Shakespeare’s weird sisters. Whether this reflects an actual performance or is only a mere coincidence (as witches or sibyls were hardly unusual characters) is unknown.

Although there is always some conjecture regarding the dates of Shakespeare’s plays, it is generally agreed that Shakespeare composed some of his greatest tragedies—including Hamlet, King Lear, and Othello—before or at the same time that he composed Macbeth.

Shakespeare’s main source for Macbeth was a source that he used for his histories: Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland, first published in 1577. Other annals portray a somewhat different history. Holinshed's Chronicles lay out the basic plot of Shakespeare's play, but the play and its source diverge in some critical ways. Holinshed's history--replete with weird sisters and prophecies--itself is markedly different from Scottish annals that tell of Macbeth's reign. The divergence of the Chronicles from the annals and the play from the Chronicles shows that both Holinshed and Macbeth knew how to tell a good story, but Shakespeare knew how to turn an interesting history into a compelling tale layered with meaning.

Although much of Holinshed’s Chronicle account tracks the basic plot points of Shakespeare’s play, there are some notable differences. These differences include both Macbeth and Duncan's characters, Banquo’s role in Duncan’s murder, the length and nature of Macbeth’s reign, why Macduff decided to flee Scotland, and Macbeth’s death.

Macbeth and Duncan. According to Holinshed, Duncan and Macbeth were cousins (on their mothers’ side), and Duncan was considered to be an ineffectual king, both cowardly and slothful. Macbeth, on the other hand, was a great warrior but with a predisposition to cruelty. In fact, “the people wished the inclinations and manners of these two cousins to have been so tempered and interchangeable bestowed betwixt them, that where the one had too much of clemency, and the other of cruelty, the mean virtue betwixt these two extremities might have reigned by indifferent partition in them both, so should Duncan have proved a worthy king, and Macbeth an excellent captain.”

Duncan and Macbeth even worked successfully together. Shakespeare’s play opens with a description of a rebellion by Macdonwald and an invasion by Sweno, the Norwegian king. The play appears to link these two events, but, in Holinshed, they occur sequentially. In the play, it is Macbeth's valor that leads to the Scots' victory. In Holinshed, the Norwegian invasion was defeated through a combination of Duncan’s cunning and Macbeth’s martial skills.

Banquo’s Role in Duncan’s Murder. One of the main differences between Holinshed’s Chronicle and Shakespeare’s play is Banquo’s role. After Macbeth and Banquo concluded a peace treaty with the Danes, they met the three witches who figure so prominently in Shakespeare’s play. Holinshed’s witches made the same prophecies to Macbeth and Banquo that Shakespeare describes, but, for a time, Macbeth was content to let his destiny play out naturally. It was only after Duncan announced that he would be succeeded by his son, Malcolm, that Macbeth began to contemplate murder. Macbeth’s unnamed wife encouraged him in the deed, “as she that was very ambitious, burning in unquenchable desire to bear the name of a queen.” But in the end, Macbeth turned to his friends, “amongst whom Banquo was the chief,” to put his conspiracy into action. The conspirators then killed Duncan and crowned Macbeth king.

Macbeth’s Reign: Its Early Years and Length. Another important distinction between Holinshed’s and Shakespeare’s Macbeth is Macbeth’s character as king. In the Chronicle, Macbeth’s reign starts well. “[H]e set his whole intention to maintain justice, and to punish all enormities and abuses, which had chanced through the feeble and slothful administration of Duncan.” He brought oppressors of the innocent to justice, punished those who caused disorder, killed nobleman who, through sedition, caused “daily troubles” in the kingdom, slew a tyrant, and made peace with Galloway. He also made many “wholesome” laws and statutes for the good of his people.

Fortunately for Shakespeare, Holinshed’s Macbeth went astray after 10 years. Macbeth, through the “prick of conscience,” began to fear that his throne would be usurped by Banquo and his son, Fleance. Therefore, like in the play, Macbeth invited the father and son to a great feast, in order to set up an ambush that, like in the play, succeeded in killing only Banquo. It was Banquo’s murder that led many to fear Macbeth, and it is this murder that started Macbeth on a killing spree, murdering many of his nobles and then enriching himself by confiscating their estates.

Macduff and Macbeth’s Death: To make himself stronger, Macbeth ordered each thane of Scotland to contribute men to build the great fortress of Dunsinane. Macduff, the thane of Fife, sent men but did not go himself because he was afraid that Macbeth would kill him. Macbeth wanted to kill Macduff, but was advised by a witch that he could not be killed by any man born of a woman or defeated until Birnam Wood came to Dunsinane. So, Macbeth held back, but “[t]his vain hope [of his invincibility] caused [Macbeth] to do many outrageous things, to the grievous oppression of his subjects.” Eventually, in fear for his life, Macduff fled to Edward the Confessor’s England, and made common cause with Duncan’s son and heir, Malcolm.

At this point, Shakespeare’s play begins to closely mirror the Chronicle’s history. There is one final and critical difference, however. In Holinshed, once he realizes the strength of Malcolm’s army, Macbeth tries to flee. Macduff chases him down, and, in a final battle, quickly kills him.

Check out http://www.clicknotes.com/macbeth/Holinshed/index.html for an index to Holinshed’s history of Macbeth.

The Schoenberg Center for Electronic Text and Image has scanned a 1587 copy of the Chronicles to be viewed online.