Macbeth Story in Easy English
Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare. He wrote 3 types of plays; histories, comedies and tragedies. And Macbeth is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy. It was written between 1603 and 1607. It was during the reign of King James I of England.
Shakespeare based some characters in the play (Macbeth, Macduff, and Duncan) roughly on records of real people in Holinshed's Chronicles, a history book from 1587. However, the things that happen in the play are very different from what happened in real life.
Characters:
Duncan is the King of Scotland.
Malcolm is Duncan's eldest son.
Donalbain is Duncan's youngest son.
Macbeth is a general in the army of King Duncan. He is Thane of Glamis, then Thane of Cawdor and later King of Scotland.
Lady Macbeth is Macbeth's wife, later Queen of Scotland.
Banquo is Macbeth's friend and fellow general in Duncan's army.
Fleance is Banquo's son.
Three Witches.
Macduff is Thane of Fife.
Lady Macduff is Macduff's wife.
Macduff's son.
Ross, Lennox, Angus, Menteith, Caithness are Thanes.
Seyward is General of the English forces.
Young Seyward is Seyward's son.
Seyton is Macbeth's servant.
Three Murderers.
Porter is in charge of the gate at Macbeth's castle.
English Doctor.
Scottish Doctor is Lady Macbeth's doctor.
Gentlewoman is Lady Macbeth's servant.
Let's get started with the story.
Act 1:
The first characters we see in the play are the three Witches. They talk to each other in a mysterious way, and agree to meet with Macbeth on the heath. This scene includes the famous line "fair is foul, and foul is fair", a subject which becomes a main part of the play.
In Act 1 Scene 2, there is a war going on. King Duncan is at a camp, listening to reports from the battlefield. An injured officer (some scripts say a captain, others a sergeant) is brought in. He saved Malcolm's life. The officer tells Duncan about the battle. He says that it was going badly, until Macbeth fought his way to the rebel leader Macdonald and disembowelled him. But as soon as that happened, the Norwegians, led by their king Sweno, also attacked. They were joined by a traitor, the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth and Banquo fought bravely until they were defeated. Duncan is pleased by the news. He orders that the Thane of Cawdor be executed and his title given to Macbeth.
In Act 1 Scene 3, the Witches appear again. They talk about using their powers on humans, and it becomes clear that they have a lot of power, but they cannot kill people. Macbeth and Banquo are returning from the battlefield to Forres, and meet the witches. Banquo is amazed by the way the witches look, because they look like women but they have beards. Macbeth is not afraid and asks them what they are. They do not answer him, but greet him as the Thane of Glamis, the Thane of Cawdor and the future King. Macbeth is surprised, because he knows that he is not the Thane of Cawdor, and does not think he will ever become the King. Banquo asks the witches what his future will be like. They answer in riddles, saying that he will be "lesser than Macbeth, and greater", "not so happy, yet much happier", and that he will be the father to a line of kings. Then the witches disappear.
Ross and Angus come to find Macbeth, and tell him that the King has given him the title of Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is surprised and happy, but he starts thinking of ways to become king. This frightens him, because he thinks that the only way he can become king is to murder Duncan.
In Act 1 Scene 4, Macbeth and Banquo return to Forres and Duncan thanks them for their courage and hard work. He also says that his son Malcolm will be his heir. Macbeth realizes that he will have to get past both Duncan and Malcolm to become king. Duncan says he is going to Macbeth's castle for the night.
In Act 1 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth is reading a letter from Macbeth that tells her about the witches and their prophecy. She is very excited, and starts planning to murder Duncan. A messenger tells her that Duncan will be staying at their castle that night. She calls on evil spirits to make her strong and evil so that she can murder Duncan. Macbeth comes in and she tells him of her plans.
[Adapted from Simple English Wikipedia.]
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