Bibliotek. Tekstmateriale. Macbeth. Romeo & Juliet. Engelsk A-niveau. Flex. Kbenhavns VUC.

Summary of Shakespeares drama Macbeth

There is a thunderstorm and three witches conclude a meeting. They decide to confront the great Scottish general Macbeth on his victorious return from a war between Scotland and Norway. The Scottish king, Duncan, decides that he will confer the title of the traitorous Cawdor on the heroic Macbeth.

Macbeth, and another General called Banquo, happen upon the three witches. The witches predict that he will one day become king. They also predict that Banquo will beget a line of kings, although will not ascend the throne himself. King Duncan arranges to visit Macbeth at his castle. Macbeth cannot stop thinking about the witches' prediction that he will become king and decides that he will murder Duncan. Macbeth's wife agrees to his plan.

Duncan arrives at the castle with his entourage but Macbeth has second thoughts about the murder plot. The forceful Lady Macbeth holds him to his vow to kill Duncan and further encourages him. She then summons evil spirits to "unsex" her and fortify her with cruelty. He then murders Duncan assisted by his wife who smears the blood of Duncan on the daggers of the sleeping guards.

A nobleman called Macduff discovers the body. Before investigation can take place Macbeth kills the guards insisting that their daggers smeared with Duncan's blood are proof that they committed the murderous crime. Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, do not believe Macbeth, however, fearing for their lives, they flee Scotland. This makes them appear guilty so the crown passes to Macbeth.

He remembers the prophecy of the witches that Banquo will beget a line of kings. And so he sends hired assassins to murder Banquo and his sons Donalbain and Fleance. Fleance is the only one to escape with his life.

At a feast the bloodied ghost of Banquo appears to Macbeth but to no one else, causing Macbeth to act and speak strangely. His wife sends the guests away.

Macbeth plagued by the fear of being discovered begins to suspect that Macduff, a nobleman who refused to attend the feast, suspects him. He meets with the witches again and they confirm that he

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has good reason to fear Macduff but they soothe his fears by telling him that no man born of woman can harm him.

After meeting with the witches Macbeth learns that Macduff is urging Duncan's son, Malcolm, to reclaim the throne. In revenge, Macbeth has Macduff's wife and son murdered. Macduff organizes an army to bring down Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth's conscience now begins to torture her and she imagines that she can see her hands covered with blood. She commits suicide.

Macbeth meets Macduff in hand-to-hand combat confident that he will win the day because ''none born of woman'' can harm him. Macduff then reveals that he was not ''of woman born'' but was ''untimely ripp'd'' from his mother's womb. Macduff kills Macbeth and the witches prediction proves true. Malcolm becomes king.

The themes discussed are ambition, greed, fate, deception, and treachery.

Macbeth.
William Shakespeare (around 1610)

From act 1 scene 5.

Lady Macbeth is interrupted by a messenger. She asks him:

What is your tidings?

MESSENGER

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The king1 comes here to-night.

LADY MACBETH Thou'rt mad to say it: Is not thy master with him? who, were't so, Would have inform'd for preparation.

MESSENGER So please you, it is true: our thane2 is coming: One of my fellows had the speed of him, Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more Than would make up his message.

LADY MACBETH Give him tending; He brings great news.

(Exit Messenger) The raven himself is hoarse3 That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements. Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts4, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood; Stop up the access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature5 Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between

1 2

King Duncan Macbeth 3 A croaking raven predicts death. 4 Wait on thoughts of murder. 5 Feelings of kindness.

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The effect and it6! Come to my woman's breasts, And take my milk for gall7, you murdering ministers8, Wherever in your sightless9 substances You wait on10 nature's mischief! Come, thick night, And pall thee11 in the dunnest12 smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark13, To cry 'Hold, hold!'

(Enter Macbeth)

Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor! Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter! Thy letters14 have transported me beyond This ignorant15 present, and I feel now The future in the instant16.

MACBETH My dearest love, Duncan comes here to-night.

LADY MACBETH And when goes hence?

MACBETH Tomorrow, as he purposes.

6 7

Prevent the result. Milk stands for tenderness and gall for bitterness. 8 Spirits, 9 Invisible. 10 Attend 11 Wrap yourself. 12 Darkest 13 Lady Macbeth prays that no good spirit in heaven shall bring light into this darkness and reveal the evil. 14 Lady Macbeth has received letters from Macbeth in which he keeps her informed. 15 Because of the letters she is not ignorant. 16 I now feel the future in the present.

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LADY MACBETH O, never Shall sun that morrow see! Your face, my thane, is as a book, where men May read strange matters17. To beguile the time, Look like the time18; bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't. He19 that's coming Must be provided for: and you shall put This night's great business into my dispatch20; Which shall to all our nights and days to come Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.

MACBETH We will speak further.

LADY MACBETH Only look up clear; To alter favour ever is to fear21: Leave all the rest to me. . .

Summary of Shakespeares drama Romeo and Juliet

The play is about two noble families that live in the old Italian city of Verona, Italy. The families
Lady Macbeth fears that the look on her husbands face will make people wonder, for she can read his fear there; she therefore begins to show him how to add to his strength of purpose. 18 If you want to deceive the world, look like the world. 19 King Duncan. 20 Under my direction. 21 It is always a sign of fear when the look on ones face (favour) changes.
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are called the Montagues and the Capulets. Unfortunately, the fathers of the two noble houses have quarrelled, so all their young servants quarrel with each other as well. The young men who work for the Montagues and the Capulets get into gangs and fight each other in the street. Because it is fashionable to carry a sword, sometimes they get badly injured. Verona is ruled by a Prince. The Prince tells Montague and Capulet that there must be no more fighting or they will have to pay. But it is very hard to control the young men. Montague has only one child, a teenage boy called Romeo. Capulet also has only one child, a beautiful 13-year-old daughter called Juliet. They do not know each other, because Juliet never goes anywhere without her nursemaid. However, Romeo and Juliet meet at a party and fall in love. Their love should heal all the problems between their families, but because they are only teenagers, they think they will get into trouble from their parents, so they marry in secret. Because of their secret marriage, a series of things happen which brings about many deaths, including those of Romeo and Juliet. The unhappy families of Montague and Capulet are finally brought together in grief.

Romeo and Juliet. Fra akt 2.

William Shakespeare (around 1591)

The balcony scene.

SCENE II. Capulet's orchard.

(Enter Romeo)

ROMEO He jests at scars that never felt a wound22. (Juliet appears above at a window)

22

An ironic anticipation of later events.

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But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Be not her maid, since she is envious; Her vestal23 livery24 is but sick and green And none but fools do wear it; cast it off. It is my lady, O, it is my love! O, that she knew she were! She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that? Her eye discourses; I will answer it. I am too bold, tis not to me she speaks: Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, Having some business, do entreat25 her eyes To twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven Would through the airy region stream so bright That birds would sing and think it were not night. See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O, that I were a glove upon that hand, That I might touch that cheek!

JULIET Ay me!

23 24

Virginally chaste and pure. Clothes of many colours. 25 Implore, beseech.

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ROMEO She speaks: O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art As glorious to this night, being oer my head As is a winged messenger26 of heaven Unto the white-upturned27 wondering eyes Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him When he bestrides28 the lazy-pacing clouds And sails upon the bosom of the air.

JULIET O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And Ill no longer be a Capulet.

ROMEO (Aside) Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?

JULIET Tis but thy name that is my enemy; Thou art thyself, though29 not a Montague. Whats Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! Whats in a name? that which we call a rose30 By any other name would smell as sweet; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo calld,

26 27

An angel. Turned up so far that the whites show clearly. 28 Rides. 29 Even if you take some other name than Montague. 30 An implicit comparison to Romeo. A name is a thing apart from a person.

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Retain31 that dear perfection which he owes32 Without that title. Romeo, doff33 thy name, And for that name which is no part of thee Take all myself.

ROMEO I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and Ill be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.

JULIET What man art thou that thus bescreend in night So stumblest on my counsel34?

ROMEO By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am: My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, Because it is an enemy to thee; Had I it written, I would tear the word.

JULIET My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words Of that tongues utterance, yet I know the sound: Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?

ROMEO Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike.

31 32

Keep. Owns. 33 Take off. 34 Private talk.

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JULIET How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, And the place death, considering who thou art, If any of my kinsmen find thee here.

ROMEO With loves light wings did I oer-perch these walls; For stony limits35 cannot hold love out, And what love can do that dares love attempt; Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.

JULIET If they do see thee, they will murder thee.

ROMEO Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet, And I am proof against their enmity.

JULIET I would not for the world they saw thee here.

ROMEO I have nights cloak36 to hide me from their sight; And but thou love me, let them find me here: My life were better ended by their hate, Than death prorogued37, wanting of thy love.

35 36

He is unconsciously anticipating the tomb. The darkness of the night. 37 Postponed, deferred.

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JULIET By whose direction found'st thou out this place?

ROMEO By love, who first did prompt me to inquire; He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes. I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far As that vast shore washd with the farthest sea, I would adventure for such merchandise.

JULIET Thou knowst the mask of night is on my face, Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night Fain38 would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny What I have spoke: but farewell compliment39! Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say Ay, And I will take thy word: yet if thou swearst, Thou mayst prove false; at lovers perjuries40 Then say, Jove41 laughs. O gentle Romeo, If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully: Or if thou thinkst I am too quickly won, Ill frown and be perverse42 and say thee nay, So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world. In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, And therefore thou mayst think my havior light: But trust me, gentleman, Ill prove more true Than those that have more cunning to be strange43.

38 39

Gladly. Conventional rules of polite speech. 40 Lies 41 Jupiter. 42 Unreasonable. 43 Juliet is distinguishing between real and pretended modesty.

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I should have been more strange, I must confess, But that thou overheardst, ere I was ware, My true loves passion: therefore pardon me, And not impute this yielding to light love, Which the dark night hath so discovered.

ROMEO Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops

JULIET O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

ROMEO What shall I swear by?

JULIET Do not swear at all; Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, Which is the god of my idolatry44, And Ill believe thee.

ROMEO If my hearts dear love

JULIET Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract to-night: It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
44

Adoration, worship.

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Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be Ere one can say It lightens. Sweet, good night! This bud of love, by summers ripening breath, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet. Good night, good night! as sweet repose and rest Come to thy heart as that within my breast!

ROMEO O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?

JULIET What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?

ROMEO The exchange of thy loves faithful vow for mine.

JULIET I gave thee mine before thou didst request it: And yet I would it were to give again.

ROMEO Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?

JULIET But to be frank, and give it thee again. And yet I wish but for the thing I have: My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite. (Nurse calls within)

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I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu! Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true. Stay but a little, I will come again. (Exit, above) ROMEO O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard. Being in night, all this is but a dream, Too flattering-sweet to be substantial45. (Re-enter Juliet, above) JULIET Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed. If that thy bent46 of love be honourable, Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow, By one that Ill procure to come to thee, Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite47; And all my fortunes at thy foot Ill lay And follow thee my lord throughout the world.

NURSE (Within) Madam!

JULIET I come, anon.--But if thou meanst not well, I do beseech thee--

NURSE (Within) Madam!

45 46

Real not imaginary. Inclination for love. 47 Propose to her.

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JULIET By and by, I come:-To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief: To-morrow will I send.

ROMEO So thrive my soul

JULIET A thousand times good night! (Exit, above) ROMEO A thousand times the worse, to want thy light. Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from their books, But love from love, toward school with heavy looks. (Retiring) (Re-enter Juliet, above) JULIET Hist! Romeo, hist! O, for a falconers voice, To lure48 this tassel-gentle back again! Bondage is hoarse49, and may not speak aloud; Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies, And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine, With repetition of my Romeo's name.

48 49

Tempt. She cannot speak loud because of her family.

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ROMEO It is my soul that calls upon my name: How silver-sweet sound lovers tongues by night, Like softest music to attending ears!

JULIET Romeo!

ROMEO My dear?

JULIET At what oclock to-morrow Shall I send to thee?

ROMEO At the hour of nine.

JULIET I will not fail: tis twenty years till then. I have forgot why I did call thee back.

ROMEO Let me stand here till thou remember it.

JULIET I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, Remembering how I love thy company.

ROMEO And Ill still stay, to have thee still forget, Forgetting any other home but this.

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JULIET Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone: And yet no further than a wantons50 bird; Who lets it hop a little from her hand, Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves51, And with a silk thread plucks it back again, So loving-jealous of his liberty.

ROMEO I would I were thy bird.

JULIET Sweet, so would I: Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow. (Exit above) ROMEO Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast! Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! Hence will I to my ghostly fathers cell, His help to crave, and my dear hap52 to tell. (Exit)

50 51

Juliet is visualizing a Cupid-like boy at play. Fetters, chains. 52 Fortune.

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