MACBETH

Scene I

A desert place

Thunder and Lightning

First Witch: When shall we three meet again

In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
Second Witch: When the hurlyburly’s done
When the battles’ lost and won.
Third Witch: That will be ere the set of Sun.
First Witch: Where is the place?
Second Witch: Upon the heath.
Third Witch: There to meet with Macbeth.
All:- Fair is foul, and foul is fair.
Hover through the fog and filthy air

Enter Macbeth and Banquo

Macbeth: I have not seen such a foul and fair.

Banquo: What are these strange creatures shrivelled dressed wildly.
They don’t look like the inhabitants of the earth, yet we find them here.
Macbeth: Speak if you can tell us who you are?
First Witch: All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis
Second Witch: All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee thane of Cawdor!
Third Witch: All hail, Macbeth thou shalt be the king hereafter.
First Witch: Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.
Second Witch: Not so happy, yet much happier.
Third Witch: Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none.
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
First Witch: Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!
Macbeth: Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more. They have melted: into the
air. Only a little while ago they seemed to be bodily presences but now they have
dissolved like our breath. I wish they had stayed a little longer!

Enter Ross

Ross: Macbeth The King was happy to receive the news of your success in
defeating the rebels. As a token of greater honour which the king will bestow on
you he bade me to address you on his behalf as the Thane of Cawdor.
Banquo: What! Were those devilish creatures speaking the truth then?
Macbeth: Thane of Cawdor is still alive.
Angus: Yet but he lives under a sentence of death charged with high treason.
Macbeth: I am already the Thane of Glamis and of Cawdor, but the great prophecy
is yet to come true. I thaw you for the trouble you have fallen.
(To Banquo)- Don’t you hope that your children will one day become kings as
predicted by the creatures who predicted that I would be the Thane of Cawdor
which now I am.
Banquo: If you fully believe these prophecies you will surely aspire to be the king
besides being the Thane of Cawdor but however I feel that these evil spirits often
tell us unimportant truths and win our confidence only to betray us.
Macbeth: What these spirits have predicted can neither be evil nor good. If it were
evil it could not have given me good luck and fair beginning- I am the Thane of
Cawdor. If it were good why I am tempted by that horrible idea of murder- murder
of the king. Oh no! no! no! if fate rules let fate make me the king without any effort
on my past.
Banquo: Macbeth we are waiting for you.
Macbeth: Yes let us move on.
 Scene II

Lady Macbeth reading a latter.

L.Macbeth: You are already the Thane of Glamis and Thane of Cawdor and you will
get what has been promised to you. You want to get that which you are mere
frightened of doing which not be done. Come to me so that with my bold
courageous words I may drive out from your heart all those doubts which prevent
you from seizing the crown offered to you by fate.

Enter Macbeth

Welcome home Thane of Glamis and Thane of Cawdor and according to the weird
sisters you are surely going to be greater than both Glamis and Cawdor.
Macbeth: My dearest, Duncan is coming here tonight, and plans to leave
tomorrow.
L.Macbeth: O, the Sun shall never see that tomorrow. But Lord your face is as plain
as an open book, you should look innocent like a flower but be treacherous like
the serpent hidden underneath. Let the management of the great business of this
night be left to me- this great business shall give us the sole powers and mastery of
kingship for the rest of our lives.
Messenger: The King has arrived

(Both leave)

Enter with Duncan, Banquo, Malcolm, Donalbain.

Duncan: Here comes our noble hostess and the Thane of Cawdor
L.Macbeth: We shall remain ever grateful to you for the honours bestowed on us
both in the past and recently and shall always pray for your welfare.
Duncan: Let me take your hand! Conduct me to my host.

(All leave)
(Enter Macbeth)

Macbeth: If this murder could lead me to success with no other consequences to

follow I would willingly risk the life to fulfill my desire. But Duncan has come here
in double trust first my being his kinsman as well as his subject are two strong
reasons why I should not kill him. Secondly I am his host, my duty is to protect him
from any murderer rather than play the murderer myself.

Enter L.Macbeth

Macbeth: What is the news?

L.Macbeth: He has almost finished his supper. Why have you left his chamber?
Macbeth: We shall not go any further in his wicked business of killing Duncan.
L.Macbeth: Do you desire to be the king which you consider to be the highest glory
in life yet live like a coward in your own estimate because you don’t have courage.
When you have the courage to plan his murder you were a man you will prove
yourself to be more of a man if you carry out your plan now.
Macbeth: Suppose we fail.
L.Macbeth: How can you think of failing keep courage.
Macbeth: I have made up my mind now, and I shall employ all my powers to the
committing of the horrible dead.

(Goes for the murder)

Is this the dagger which I see before me the handle towards my hand?
Come let us clutch thee.
I have thee not yet I see thee still!
No! This dagger must be an illusion. It is only the bloody deed I propose to do that I
have taken the shape of the dagger before my eyes!
Let me go and it will soon be over.
(Leaves)

(Shadow)

(Macbeth’s voice heard from inside)

Who’s there? What ho!

Alas! I am afraid the grooms have awakened and murder hasn’t been done. If in his
sleep Duncan had not resembled my father, I would have killed him myself.

Enter Macbeth

Macbeth: I have done it.

Macbeth: I think I heard someone cry out, sleep no more! Macbeth is murdering
sleep itself. I think I shall never again be able to enjoy innocent sleep.
L.Macbeth: What do you mean?
Macbeth: Thane of Glamis has murdered sleep therefore Thane of Glamis shall
sleep no more Macbeth shall sleep no more.
L.Macbeth: Why did you bring the dagger from his room? They must remain lying
there. Take them there now and smear the sleeping attendants with blood.
Macbeth: I will go no more.
L.Macbeth: Give me the dagger. There is hardly any difference between the
sleeping and the dead. He who fears a painted devil can only be a child.
Macbeth: Can all the oceans of the world wash away this stain of blood from my
hand?
No no no.
Knocking outside. Wake Duncan with his knocking. I would thou couldst.
 Scene III

Murder Murder (Commotion)

Macduff: Oh it is horrible very horrible. What has happened is beyond the tongue
to speak and head to imagine.
Macbeth/Lennox: What’s the matter?
Macduff: The sacred body of our king has been cut open by the murderer.
Macbeth: Life taken away
Lennax: Life of our king
Macduff: Yes, wake up, wake up you all! Ring the alarm bell. There has been
murder treason! Banquo, Donalbain, Malcolm wake up
L.Macbeth: What is the matter tell me what it is?
Macduff: Our King is murdered.
L.Macbeth: Oh! How sad! What! Murdered in our house! (faints)
Macduff: (Attend the lady)
Donalbain: Our fate emerging as it were from a small he like a snake may attack us
and seize us. Let us run away. Time is not ripe to shed tears. I will go to Ireland.
Malcolm: Our safety lies in avoiding the murderers. I will go to England.

Scene IV

Royal Palace- Macbeth + Lady Macbeth (Both disturbed)

L.Macbeth: We have our goal but lost peace of mind. Come on, my Lord
compose your troubled looks. Be again cheerful. Your guests would arrive
soon.
Macbeth: My dear, my mind is being so tormented by fears as if were full of
scorpions, as Banquo and his son Fleance are still alive. I do realise that it is
possible to attack and kill them.
L.Macbeth: What is to be done?
Macbeth: I would not like to know of it dear till it is done.

(Guests arrive + are welcomed)

4 ladies 4 men

Macbeth: You know your own social ranks. So let me heartily welcome you to the
feast.
L.Macbeth: Sir, welcome all our friends on my behalf. I greet them from the core
of my heart.

(Music starts to get busy)

Murderer appears
Macbeth: Has he been killed?
Murderer: My lord his throat has been cut. I cut it myself. But……
Macbeth: But……
Murderer: Fleance has escaped.
Macbeth: Oh no! that revives my feelings of doubt and fear.

(Murderer leaves)

(Macbeth feels disturbed)

L.Macbeth: My lord you don’t welcome your guests properly

Macbeth: I thank you for reminding me (attends them)
If Banquo had also been present here we should now have had all the
honourable people of our country present under this roof.
Lennox: Here is a seat reserved for your Sir.

(Macbeth goes to sit but finds Banquo’s ghost already sitting)

Macbeth: You can’t say I’ve done it Don’t shake your bloody looks at me.
Others: Seems his majesty is not well.
L.Macbeth: Keep sitting, my husband has often been subjects to such fits ever
from his youth. It will soon be over.
Macbeth: Go away get out of my sight. Let the earth cover you up.
There is no marrow in your bones your blood is cold.
L.Macbeth: Good night to all of you. You need not observe the formality of leave
taking. Please go at once.
All: Good night. May his majesty recover soon.
(L.Macbeth takes Macbeth inside)
L.Macbeth: You have spoiled the pleasure and broken up the banquet with your
strange behaviors.

Scene V

(Enters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth)

Macbeth: What do you think of Macduff who has referred to present himself
inspite of my orders.
L.Macbeth: No I have heard he has referred to come.
Macbeth: Tomorrow early in the morning I will go to the weird sisters. They must
reveal to me more about the future. Moreover compared with my own good all
other considerations are secondary. There are strange plans in my mind and they
need to be executed. I will storm the castle of Macduff, seize upon Fife put to
death his wife and children and all his relations who are unfortunate to be tied to
him by blood.
 (Calls the messenger + whisper)

Macduff Castle

L.Macduff: What had he done that he had to fly from the land?
Ross: You must have patience madam.
L.Macduff: Do you think it is wisdom to leave his wife, his children, his home
properties in a place where he does not consider himself safe. Well little fellow
you have lost your father: what will you do now? How will you live?
Son: I shall live as birds do mother. I cannot believe my father is dead.
L.Macduff: May God take care of you poor boy.
Messenger: God bless you, Madam. I am afraid some danger is about to befall you.
L.Macduff: Alas where should I fly? I have not done any harm to anybody

(Murderers enters and kills them)

(All leave)

(Malcolm and Macduff enters)

Ross: Your castle has been stormed your wife + children cruelly murdered.
Malcolm: Oh God.
Macduff: My children too
Ross: Wife, children, servants all who could be found in your castle.
(Macduff’s reaction)
Malcolm: Take comfort; Let us use our revenge as a medium to live the deadly
sorrow.
Macduff: Oh! All of them were killed not for any fault of theirs but because of me.
Let me meet this devil face to face. Let him stand within the length of my sword.
But gentle heavens, cut short the period between the uttering of these words and
my revenge.
 Scene VI

(A dark cave)

In the middle of a boiling cauldron

First Witch: Let us all go round the cauldron and drop into it poison’d entrails of
animals.
Second Witch: Let us boil a snake, a tongue of a dog, leg of a lizard, wing of an owl.
A strong broth for the devil let us prepare.
Third Witch: Let us also put into it the scaly skin of a dragon, tooth of a wolf,
fingers of a baby born of evil and let us make the broth thick and sticky.
Macbeth: You mysterious wicked hags answer my question.
Witches: You may ask what you wish.

(Thunder, first Apparition, An armed head)

Macbeth: Tell me, oh mysterious power.

First Witch: He knows what you want to ask. Just listen don’t speak.
First Apparition: Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware of Macduff! Beware of the Thane of
Fife.
Macbeth: You have rightly guessed my fear. Can I ask you one thing more?
You cannot order him to answer any of your questions.
Second Apparition: The power of man for none of woman born shall harm
Macbeth.
Macbeth: Then live Macduff: what need I fear of thee?

(Thunder, Third Apparition a child crowned with a tree in his hand)

 Third Apparition: Macbeth will never be defeated until the Great Birnam wood
moves to the high Dunsinane hill to fight against him.
Macbeth: That is not possible who can form the forest into military service. One
thing more tell me if Banquo’s children will ever reign in this kingdom.

(A show of Eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand; Ghost of Banquo
following)
What a horrible sight now. I realize all this is going to be true. After today I will
never come to the witches to know my future. I have realized my mistake but oh!
It is too late.

Scene VII
(Sleep walking scene)

Doctor: When did you last see her walking in her sleep?
Gentlewoman: Since his majesty went to war, I have seen her rise from her bed.
Doctor: It means she is mentally disturbed. Have you heard her say when she is
this excited in her sleep?
Gentlewoman: Sir it is something which I will not repeat

(Lady Macbeth enters with a candle rubs her hand)

Doctor: Her eyes are open

Gentlewoman: But they don’t see anything
Doctor: See how she rubs her hand
L.Macbeth: Yet here is a spot. Away damned spot! Away I say! Hell is so dark. It is
shame my lord you are a soldier yet frightened. Why should we fear? Yet who have
thought there was so much blood in the body of the old man. Thane of Fife had a
wife where is she now?
There is still the smell of blood.
All perfumes of Arabia will not be able to sweeten this little hand of mine.
Banquo is buried- he cannot come out of the grave now.
Come Come let us go to bed. What is done cannot be undone.
Doctor: Keep a watch on her, Goodnight. She has mated my mind and amazed
my sight. I dare not utter anything that I think.

Scene VIII

Macbeth: Is there any news?

Seyton: All that was reported has been confirmed to be true. There are ten
thousand soldiers.
Macbeth: I will fight till my flesh is hacked off my bones

(Hears a cry)

What was the cry?

Seyton: The queen your Majesty is dead.
Macbeth: She should have died a little later. There would have been better time
receive such news. I cannot run away. I have to face the enemy.

Alarms Enter Madcuff.

Madcuff: Tyrant show your face. If you are not slain by a stroke my mine the ghost
of my wife and children will never let me rest in peace.
Macbeth: It is you of all men, whom I avoided. You may go back. My sword is
burdened with the responsibility of the murder of your family. Moreover my life is
protected by a charm and it will not yield to one born of woman.
Macbeth: You may rain your blows on me
Macduff- (Macbeth is slain)
But I will go on fighting
Macduff: I greet you King of Scotland. For this is now your tittle. Look here is me
cursed head of the usurper. The day of freedom has come back again.
All: Hail, King of Scotland!
Macduff: We thank you all at once and invite you to see our coronation at Scone.