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Informationen zum Autor William Shakespeare, Edited by Sylvan Barnet Klappentext A man's thirst for power ends in tragedy in this Signet Classics edition of one of William Shakespeare's most powerful works. When a trio of witches foretell that Macbeth will become King of Scotland, the brave general is consumed by ambition. Encouraged by his wife to seize the throne, their quest for power leads down a blood-strewn path that ends in madness and death in this play that explores the consequences of guilt and corruption. This title in the Signet Classics Shakespeare series includes: • An overview of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater • A special introduction to the play by the editor, Sylvan Barnet • Selections from Raphael Holinshed's The Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, the source from which Shakespeare derived Macbeth • Dramatic criticism from A. C. Bradley, Elmer Edgar Stoll, Mary McCarthy, and others • A comprehensive stage and screen history of notable actors, directors, and productions of Macbeth • Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable format • Recommended readings Dramatis Personae DUNCAN, King of Scotland MALCOLM his sons DONALBAIN MACBETH, Thane of Glamis, later of Cawdor, later King of Scotland LADY MACBETH BANQUO, a thane of Scotland FLEANCE, his son MACDUFF, Thane of Fife LADY MACDUFF SON of Macduff and Lady Macduff LENNEX ROSS MENTEITH thanes and noblemen of Scotland ANGUS CAITHNESS SIWARD, Earl of Northumberland YOUNG SIWARD, his son SEYTON, an officer attending Macbeth Another LORD ENGLISH DOCTOR SCOTTISH DOCTOR GENTLEWOMAN attending Lady Macbeth CAPTAIN serving Duncan PORTER OLD MAN Three MURDERERS of Banquo First MURDERERS at Macduff's castle MESSENGER to Lady Macbeth MESSENGER to Lady Macduff SERVENT to Macbeth SERVENT to Lady Macbeth Three WITCHES or WEIRD SISTERS HECATE Three APPARITIONS Lords, Gentlemen, Officers, Soldiers, Murderers, and Attendants SCENE: Scotland; England Location: An open place. hurlyburly tumult Grimalkin i.e., gray cat, name of the witch's familiar—a demon or evil spirit supposed to answer a witch's call and to allow him or her to perform black magic. Paddock toad; also a familiar Anon At once, right away. 1.2 Location: A camp near Forres. 0.1 Alarum trumpet call to arms 1.1 * Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches. FIRST WITCH When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain? SECOND WITCH When the hurlyburly's done, When the battle's lost and won. THIRD WITCH That will be ere the set of sun. first witch Where the place? second witch Upon the heath. third witch There to meet with Macbeth. FIRST WITCH I come, Grimalkin! SECOND WITCH Paddock calls. THIRD WITCH Anon. ALL Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air. Exeunt. 1.2 * Alarum within. Enter King [Duncan], Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, with attendants, meeting a bleeding Captain. DUNCAN What bloody man is that? He can report, As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt newest state latest news. sergeant i.e., staff officer. (There may be no inconsistency with his rank of "captain" in the stage direction and speech prefixes in the Folio.) broil battle spent tired out choke their art render their skill in swimming useless. The merciless . . . supplied The merciless Macdonwald—worthy of the hated name of rebel, for in the cause of rebellion an ever-increasing number of villainous persons and unnatural qualities swarm about him like vermin—is joined by light-armed Irish footsoldiers and ax-armed horsemen from the western islands of Scotland (the Hebrides and perhaps Ireland...
