Scotland.
On a dark and barren heath, three weird witches met to carry
out an evil plan in the midst of foul and stormy weather.
When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
When the hurly-burly’s done, When the battle’s
lost and won.
Which will be before the
set of sun.
Fair is foul, and foul is fair,
Hover through the fog and filthy
air!
Where would be the
place?
Upon the heath.
There to meet with Macbeth.
Act 1 Scene 1
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Act 1 Scene 2 At a battle camp near Forres in Scotland.
The army of Duncan, king of Scotland, had been trying to crush a rebellious uprising in the kingdom. Malcolm and Donalbain, the king’s sons, and Lennox, a lord, assembled
to get the latest news from the battlefront.
At that point, two loyal generals of Duncan’s army came to the camp
with more news of the battle. The Lord of Cawdor has betrayed our trust. Put him to death immediately.
Macbeth shall now be Lord of Cawdor. Go and greet him
with this title. It shall be done, Your
Highness.
Ross and Angus, where
are you coming from?
From Fife, where the Norwegian
king is begging for a truce.
Your Highness, initially there was a
deadlock as both the armies were equally
balanced.
But this was only until he was confronted by
Macbeth, who overpowered and finally slaughtered him.
Macbeth is certainly a brave
man!
This did not in the least distress
Macbeth and Banquo though, who fought with even greater
valour and quelled this new attack with utmost
ease.
Your Highness,
I feel weak now.
Arrange surgeons for him,
quickly!
However, just when the situation seemed settled in our favour, the Norwegian
king attacked us with fresh soldiers.
Then the rebel Lord of Cawdor, Macdonwald,
brought in fresh reinforcements and started butchering our
soldiers mercilessly.
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Act 1 Scene 3 Meanwhile, on the barren heath, the witches prepared for their first meeting with Macbeth, who together
with Banquo, was on his way back from the battlefield.
What an eventful day this has been,
Banquo.
Macbeth, just look there! What on
earth are those weird looking creatures?
Yes, so it has been--
What have you been doing since
we met last?
I’ve been having a good time
killing pigs.
A drum, a drum! Macbeth does come. Let’s wind up the charm
and watch the fun.
A sailor’s wife was rude to me. As revenge, I’m going to trouble her husband, drain him of his sleep,
and toss his ship about in the ocean.
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Why is it that you don’t address me at all or predict my future?
Come on, speak to me too.
Can you hear and understand me? Why are you gesturing to me to be quiet? You look like women,
but your forms are deceptive.
Speak, if you can. Who
are you?
We salute Macbeth, Lord
of Glamis!
We salute Macbeth, Lord
of Cawdor!
We salute Macbeth, the next king of Scotland!
You shall be less than Macbeth, but much
greater!
Not as happy, but
happier!
Your sons shall be kings, even though you will
never be one!
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I am Lord of Glamis, but why
do you call me Lord of Cawdor, who still
lives?
And why do you call me king? That
title is something that is beyond my wildest
imagination.
Come on, answer me!
But without giving Macbeth an answer, the witches disappeared mysteriously.
At that very moment, Ross and Angus found Macbeth and Banquo, and
hurried to give them the good news.
As a gesture of his appreciation, he
has bestowed the title of Lord of Cawdor
on you.
What! Can the devil speak
the truth?
Where have they vanished?
I wish they had stayed.
Were those creatures really
here, or have we been imagining things?
Your children shall
be kings!You shall be king!
Macbeth, the king is very happy at
your victory.
Messenger after messenger from the
battlefield came and informed him of your brave and
matchless feats.
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Fair is foul and foul is fair – so said three weird women in ghoulish glee, predicting a subversion of order in fair Scotland…
In the reign of King Duncan, Scotland is a just and hospitable land, with loyal, warlike thanes guarding the best interests of people…
…Till the very best among them, Macbeth, gives in to a fatal temptation and commits regicide. But will the crown of Scotland sit easy on his head? Will justice be restored to Scotland? Or will Macbeth remain invincible?
One of Shakespeare’s most powerful plays, Macbeth goes beyond a mere tragedy of moral order to a deeply psychological study of a mind preyed on by ambition, insecurities, fear, and regret. Playing out the timeless themes of good and evil, temptation and fall, order and subversion, the story of Macbeth has never failed to grip the imagination of audiences through generations.