MACBETH referal guide keep me handy if you need help following along with the story.
Faces of Scotland Can you put the face to the name?
WITCH
WITCH
WITCH
HECATE
LORD
SERGEANT
DUNCAN
MALCOLM
DONALBAIN
MESSENGER
MACBETH
LADY MACBETH
MACDUFF
LADY MACDUFF
MACDUFF’s SON
BANQUO
FLEANCE
LENNOX
MENTIETH
ROSS
DOCTOR
GENTLEWOMAN
SIWARD
YOUNG SIWARD
SEYTON
MURDERER
MURDERER
MURDERER
PORTER
WHO’S WHO?
quick character guide Hecate. Siward. Seyton??? Who comes up with these names? Check out this guide before or during the show if you ever get lost with who’s who!
THE THREE WITCHES
Hackers. Through an extremely skilled ability to use and manipulate technology, as well as their own supernatural powers, they give prophecies about Macbeth’s future.We watch the show from their point of view.
HECATE
The Queen of the Witches.
SERGEANT
A sergeant in Duncan’s army.
DUNCAN
LORD
A nobleman that is close with Lennox and delivEngland.
MENTIETH
Another Scottish nobleman and soldier.
ROSS
A Scottish nobleman and Macduff’s cousin. He *initially* supports Macbeth.
3 MURDERERS
King of Scotland at the beginning of the play.
Killers hired by Macbeth to murder…wait, who?! How could he!
MALCOLM
PORTER
Duncan’s eldest son.
DONALBAIN
Duncan’s youngest son.
MACBETH
Thane of Glamis, who is quickly given the title of Thane of Cawdor by Duncan. But what does he really want? To be King of Scotland. wait, what’s a “thane”?
In the middle ages, Kings would allow noble men to own portions of land in exchange for military service to the king, making them “Thanes” of that territory.
The doorman of Macbeth’s castle who is often intoxicated.
MACDUFF
The Thane of Fife, another Scottish nobleman.
LADY MACDUFF Macduff’s wife.
MACDUFF’S SON
The child of Macduff and Lady Macduff.
SIWARD
Leader of the English Army, in support of
LADY MACBETH
YOUNG SIWARD
BANQUO
SEYTON
FLEANCE
DOCTOR
LENNOX
GENTLEWOMAN
Macbeth’s wife.
A general in Duncan’s army and Macbeth’s best friend. Banquo’s son. A Scottish nobleman. Lennox tends to gravitate and stay “loyal” to whoever is in power.
Siward’s son.
Macbeth’s chief servant; a very important personal assistant. A doctor sent to take care of Lady Macbeth. Another caregiver of Lady Macbeth.
MESSENGER
Deliverer of important news.
TL;DR
too long, didn’t read There’s a whooooole lot going on in this play (Shakespeare was def feelin’ a whole lot of things).An unedited version of Macbeth in it’s entirety is about 110 pages. Our script was cut to about 70. With all of the flowery language and dense text, it can be hard to keep up! Here’s a quick guide to refer to if you ever feel lost.
ACT 1
ACT 4
3 witches prophesize that Macbeth will be promoted Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland (!!!). They also prophesize that Banquo’s sons will be kings, but Banquo isn’t promised any power himself.
Macbeth meets with the witches. They tell him that he will not be defeated until Great Birnam Wood reaches Dunsinane Hill (Birnam Wood is the woods beyond MacB’s castle and Dunsinane Hill is where his castle is located). The witches also tell him that he doesn’t need to be afraid of anyone born of woman (Isn’t that literally everyone? Should be safe then...) Lastly, they prophesy that the Scottish succession will still come from Banquo's son. This causes MacB to spiral into madness and embark on a reign of terror. He kills Macduff’s wife and children. Yikes.
Lady Macbeth hears the news of MacB’s new title and of the prophecy. She really wants him to be king, so she vows to help him. By any means necessary. *dun dun*
ACT 2 The Macbeths plot to kill Duncan. The plan is to wait until everyone is asleep. Lady M leaves the murder weapon (a dagger) by the dead king just before Macduff arrives, framing Duncan’s sons, Malcolm for their own lives, but are still blamed for the murder.
ACT 3 Macbeth is crowned King of Scotland. He remembers the prophecy that Banquo's sons will inherit the throne -- so he hires murderers and arranges for Banquo and his son, Fleance, to be killed. Banquo is murdered, but Fleance escapes. Later that night there is a banquet, where MacB sees the ghost of Banquo at the table. He makes a big scene, but no one else can see the ghost. Lady M dismisses her banquet guests leave and tries to calm her husband.
When Macduff hears the news of his family, pained with grief, he persuades Malcolm to lead an army against MacB. Grab the popcorn!
ACT 5 towards him. Malcolm's army is carrying branches . Meanwhile, driven mad with guilt and fear, Lady Macbeth walks in her sleep and tells her secrets to the Doctor and Gentlewoman. She dies, by what is thought to be suicide. M's death and mourns. MacB is challenged by Macduff. MacB learns that Macduff is the child of a caesarean birth (Loophole! Macduff is not ‘of woman born’). They battle and Macduff kills Macbeth. Malcolm declares peace and will be crowned king.