For long has this been my favourite of the plays. Though brief in compass it has everything both to enthrall and horrify the reader: storms, witches, darkness, war, blood, murder, ghosts. Some of the lines of Lady Macbeth are so terrifying that I am unable to bring myself to utter them aloud, but beyond its literary quality, and its sheer power to captivate the reader and hold him spellbound, there are deep and important questions to consider about a world in which Fair is foul, and foul is fair (I.i.12)

Lady Macduff expresses well a conundrum in which we may find ourselves, when stakes are high, and in our human frailty we may be tempted to act against our conscience:

tWhither should I fly?
I have done no harm. But I remember now
I am in this earthly world, where to do harm
Is often laudable, to do good sometime
Accounted dangerous folly. Why then, alas,
Do I put up that womanly defense
To say I have done no harm? (IV. ii. 81-7)

It is this element of the story that I find most interesting, and I find myself always reading Macbeth in the light of Machiavelli, whose Prince shows what is and must be done, in order to succeed as a prince in the world. These are great questions: Is Macbeth virtuous? What is virtue? Is Macbeth fit for rule? How would Machiavelli analyze Macbeth? Why do Machiavelli’s princes value so much the things of this world? Why is Macbeth willing to jump the life to come, when he knows that consequences cannot but be eternal. As he reveals with little hope in this tragic monologue?

tIf th’ assassination
Could trammel up the consequence and catch
With his surcease success, that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We’d jump the life to come. (I.vii.2-7)

These are some of the inexhaustible questions that make this play so deep and rich and tragic.

Domani, e domani, e domani…

Là, in Scozia, c’è una battaglia da combattere contro norvegesi e irlandesi. Macbeth e Banquo si battono con valore e portano la vittoria al vecchio e saggio Re Duncan. Il fato che governa la nostra vita, sotto forma di tre streghe, cambia il corso degli eventi. Macbeth, a cui le streghe hanno preconizzato che sarà re, sente che questo è giusto, che il potere deve essere suo. Sarà Lady Macbeth a vincere il suo vacillare, la sua codardia, le sue remore ed a spingerlo a detronizzare violentemente il vecchio Re. Macbeth regnerà da tiranno ed i suoi baroni, infine, lo tradiranno e, con l’aiuto dell’Inghilterra, faranno rotolare la sua testa nella polvere. La determinazione di Lady Macbeth svanirà in un delirio suicida.

Ambizione e ricerca del potere, lealtà e tradimento, riconoscenza e malvagità, fato e volontà, il grande teatro della vita e la morte quale destino finale. Con tutta l’intensità di azione e personaggi di cui Shakespeare è stato capace.

Nell’ultima versione cinematografica di Joel Coen (2021, da cui tutte le immagini seguenti): bianco e nero ben glaciale, giochi di luci e ombre, desolazione di paesaggi, un castello metafisico, la musica disturbante, grande performance recitativa di Denzel Washington (Macbeth) e Frances McDormand (Lady Macbeth), perfettamente aderente al testo.




“Le mie mani hanno il colore delle tue ma io Mi vergognerei ad avere un cuore così bianco.


“Eppure non sappiamo ciò che temiamo. Ma galleggiamo su un mare violento e tempestoso, Sbattuti da ogni parte.”


“Domani, e domani, e domani, striscia A piccoli passi da un giorno all’altro, Fino all’ultima sillaba del tempo prescritto; E tutti i nostri ieri hanno illuminato A degli stolti la via che conduce Alla morte polverosa. Spegniti, spegniti, Corta candela! La vita non è che un’ombra Che cammina, un povero attore Che si pavoneggia e si agita per la sua ora Sulla scena e del quale poi Non si ode più nulla: è una storia Raccontata da un idiota, piena di rumore E furia, che non significa nulla.”

lady macbeth invented gaslighting

“Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.”
― William Shakespeare, Macbeth



I haven't read this since I was in HS. Loved it. Probably my biggest complaint is how slim it is. But, Shakespeare is at the top of his game. Based on an account of the reigns of Duncan and Makbeth in "the Chronicals of Scotland" in Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, it also spins into myth and alludes a bit to Seneca's tragedies. This is an efficient play. It is a sword, a knife, a razor blade; interesting and tight. And Lady Macbeth is just, well, bloody amazing. It is hard sometimes to map EXACTLY where the magic of Shakespeare happens, but with Macbeth it is fairly easy. Shakespeare is the master at weaving very human characteristics (pride, ambition, duplicity, guilt) with a dark, mythic background filled with ghosts and witches. But add to that Shakespeare's poetry (95% of this play is in verse) and grand-scale characters, and he transports this play from great to fantastic. Some of Shakespeare's most memorable lines and moments come from Macbeth. I still think there are several plays that are better (Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, etc), but there is SOMETHING in this play that hooks me hard. Not necessarily always in a good way. But it grabs me like guilt still.

Some of the best lines:

― “Where shall we three meet again in thunder, lightning, or in rain? When the hurlyburly 's done, when the battle 's lost and won” (Act 1, Scene 1).

― “I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself
And falls on the other.” (Act 1, Scene 7)

― “False face must hide what the false heart doth know.” (Act 1, Scene 7)

― “Confusion now hath made his masterpiece.” (Act 2, Scene 3)

― “By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.” (Act 4, Scene 1)

― “Life ... is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.” (Act 5, Scene 5).

"سرزمین نگون‌بختی که از به یاد آوردن خود نیز بیم‌ناک است! کجا می‌توانیم آن‌ را سرزمین مادری بنامیم که گورستان ماست؟ آن‌‌جا که جز از همه جا بی‌خبران را، خنده بر لب نمی‌توان دید، آن‌جا که آه و ناله‌ها و فریادهای آسمان‌شکاف را گوش شنوایی نیست، آن‌جا که اندوه جان‌کاه چیزی‌ست همه‌جا یاب، و چون ناقوس عزا به نوا درآید کمتر کسی می‌پرسد که از برای کی‌ست؟ و عمر نیک‌مردان کوتاه‌تر از ع��ر گلی‌ست که به کلاه می‌زنند،
می‌میرند، پیش از آن‌که بیماری گریبان‌گیرشان شود."

تو چنین خوب چرایی آقای شکسپیر؟!؟
مکبث یکی از بهترین، جذاب‌ترین و قوی‌ترین نمایشنامه‌هایی بود که تا به امروز خواندم. آن‌قدر عالی که بود ارزش بارها خواندن و لذت بردن از آن را دارد.
ترجمه‌ی آقای داریوش آشوری هم ترجمه‌ای غنی و کامل بود. مقایسه‌ای که به لطف دو زبانه بود کتاب با متن انگلیسی به خصوص در بخش‌هایی که زنان جادو حرف‌شان را با وزن شعر بیان می‌کردند، انجام دادم... در فارسی نیز اشعار مورد اشاره وزن دار بودند که به این ترجمه اعتبار زیادی بخشیده.

لینک فایل پی‌دی‌اف نمایشنامه
https://t.me/reviewsbysoheil/498

نوزدهم آذرماه یک‌هزار و چهارصد و یک

ولدت من جديد منذ عدة سنوات.

كنت قد انقطعت عن القراءة تقريبا منذ التخرج فالعمل فالزواج و مشاغل الحياة و السفر و الربيع العربي بأخباره و همومه و مشاكله و انتكاساته و مذابحه ثم فجأة زهدت كل تلك الحياة و أحسست أن شيئا ما ينقصني. الروح لم تشبعها نشرات الأخبار و صفحات التواصل الاجتماعي و برامج التوك شو.

عدت قديما بالذاكرة لمرحلة كان فيها الكتاب صديقي و رائحة الورق إدماني و السطور غايتي و مرساي و قررت في هذه المرة ألا تكون هناك حدود للمعرفة و لا قواعد للقراءة. سأقرأ كل شيء و في كل شيء و لأبدأ بما رفضته من قبل.

أزعم أن عقلي تفتح عن ذي قبل بدرجة أنا راض عنها بصورة كبيرة و قرأت من الكتب المفيدة ما لم أكن لأعرف عنه شيئا و لو طال العمر و كان هذا الموقع الرائع الذي تعرفت به على أصدقاء لم أكن أتخيل وجودهم إلا في عالم مثالي من صنع القاريء وحده و صار لي فيه أخوة كثر و أخوات لم تلدهن أمي و لكن لكل شيء ضريبته.

أسرتني القراءة فصارت شاغلي الأول بعد عائلتي و التهمت كل وقت فراغي بأكمله و من ثم ازداد وزني في تلك السنوات الأربعة بمقدار أربعة و عشرين كيلو جراما و فشلت كل محاولات زحزحتي من مكاني لأمارس أي رياضة بعيدا عن الكتاب.

ما علاقة كل ذلك بشكسبير و مسرحيته؟ و لماذا أصدعكم يا أصدقائي بمشاكلي و حياتي و ذكرياتي؟

هنا بيت القصيد. فهذا هو الكتاب الصوتي رقم عشرة خلال ابريل-2018
ماذا يعني ذلك؟
يعني أنني أقرأ بأذني لأول مرة في حياتي. أقرأ أثناء المشي كمن يمشي أثناء النوم و كأن القراءة حلم جميل يتحقق بدون مجهود يذكر مع الرياضة و بدون أن يأخذ أي منهما الوقت من الأخر فأحيانا أمشي أكثر لأنتهي من جزء معين من الكتاب فأنسى التعب و أحرق المزيد من الدهون التي راكمتها الكتب و الكسل.

خسرت سبعة كيلوجرامات خلال شهر إبريل/نيسان و أتعشم في فقدان المزيد خلال الشهور القادمة بترشيحاتكم و اختياراتكم السحرية التي تفتح لي دائما عوالم من البهجة و المعرفة.

أشكر عائلتي التي تتيح لي الوقت لممارسة عاداتي الشخصية المزعجة و تتحمل في ذلك كل مجهود و تذلل كل الصعاب كما أشكر أيضا صديقة القراءة الأخت العزيزة  إسراء  التي أوحت لي بقراءة الكتب المسموعة فساهمت دون أن تدري في تلك النتيجة و كانت سببا في حل المشكلة و الشكر موصول لكم أيها الأصدقاء لمن وصل إلى هذا السطر أو لم يصل فلكم مني جزيل الشكر و خالص الأمنيات بعالم مليء بالصحة و البهجة و المعرفة.

ربما أكتب عن المسرحية في القريب العاجل إن كان في العمر بقية و هي أشهر من أن أضيف شيئا إليكم عنها

The play starts with the standard three witches, (which Shakespeare practically invented) plotting the assassination of Duncan. Why the King of Scotland is to be killed is never explained, the weird sisters (an appropriate name ) maybe they just like to cause evil, such a brilliant scene to see and absorb. Their tool is Macbeth , a lord and very ambitious man, married to an even more woman, Scotland in the mid 11th century is barbaric, bloody and with the greedy nobles perpetually fighting for the throne, the sword rules here. The English and Norsemen outsiders also battle for influence in that rough land , the tumultuous conflicts always ready to appear, death comes not infrequently. A great opportunity occurs when the king is to visit Macbeth's castle, in order to thank him for defeating the rebel Macdonwald. The Lady Macbeth urges her husband to kill the trusting Duncan , a weak ruler and seize the throne from his cousin. She implies that Macbeth is not a man and cowardly if he doesn't eliminate Duncan; hesitating his mind in turmoil can he kill his own kin, already a very important man, treachery wins ... deciding he wants the glory of the title, power is a magnet for the rogue . After the bloody deed is done, Macbeth is almost reluctant to slaughter more and more of his perceived enemies...Including the noble Macduff's whole family (Macduff had fled south of the border), there are an endless supply of opponents. But the former monarch's sons had escaped, Malcolm the eldest to England, Donalbain the youngest to Ireland, they can never forget... revenge will be so sweet. The deteriorating Lady Macbeth begins to sleepwalk, trying to wash the imaginary blood off her hands, when observed by her husband and doctor she says "Out, damned spot, out I say," a sad sight to behold for the new king, the strong woman evaporates, his circle of friends diminish as loneliness prevails. The tide turns a storm is brewing, forces are gathering in that troubled kingdom, Malcolm and Macduff, with the help of 10,000 English soldiers are coming. Macbeth is confident that he cannot be killed, the witches have promised him, would they lie? One of the greatest plays ever performed on any stage, Shakespeare at the top of his abilities contributes to the world of illusion.

I recently attended the Royal Shakespeare Company’s performance of Macbeth at the Barbican Centre (London, 2019, directed by Polly Findlay). In this interpretation of the play, Macbeth and the men around him are modern infantrymen. The staging does not point explicitly to a situation on which Shakespeare could shed some light — although current and unsettling examples would have been easy to pick. We are in Hell itself. The Weird Sisters are played by very young girls, who strangely resemble the twin girls in Kubrick’s Shining, just as Banquo’s ghost, soaked in blood, reminds us of De Palma’s Carrie. Macbeth’s progression, from zealous liegeman to killing machine and finally to cornered nihilist is manifest; as well as that of his alluring wife, from blind ambition to denial and fatal hysteria.

However, the most striking aspect of this stageplay — and, broadly speaking, of Shakespeare’s masterpiece — is not only the fact that it is all centred on the villain, the monster. It is, above all, the inescapable machinery of death that is set into motion from the very start (the witches’ self-fulfilling prophecy), and especially from the moment when Macbeth stabs Duncan to eternal sleep. From this moment on, there is no turning back, and at this precise moment, the hungover Porter, sole comic relief and dispassionate observer of the whole tragedy, sets a huge clock ticking down, that will reach zero exactly when Macduff slits Macbeth’s throat. Here, as in other dramas indeed, the initial prediction is inescapable, whether the heroes try to change their fate (think about Laius’ failed attempt in Oedipus Rex), or whether they struggle to make it happen against all the odds and bloodbaths, as is the case in this “Scottish Play”.

Moreover and to top it all off, at the end of this RSC performance, when Malcolm is crowned, and justice seems to be restored, the three witches make one last appearance, revealing that Fleance, Banquo’s son, might very soon use another dagger against his sovereign. The clock, tick-tick or knock-knock, is ready to be triggered into horror again. Here, Time has never been less “out of joint”. It is, on the contrary, set for another deadly loop — again, a Kubrickian trait. “To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow” (V,5,19). Disturbing and mind-blowing.

That's it. That's Macbeth in one sentence.

Vengeance is a dish best served severed. "McBeth" is a tale of power, treachery, cowardice, gluttony, and guilt. McBeth has just fought valiantly for king and country and been rewarded with new noble titles. However, after seeing apparitions from witches whereby McBeth wears the crown, Lady McBeth convinces her husband to commit regicide despite the latter's hesitation. McBeth's newfound power is not guaranteed as rumours abound, and power brokers flee for safety in foreign lands. McBeth revels in this power, whereas Lady McBeth's resolve wavers. Be careful what you wish for. You might get it, but only fleetingly and at the cost of everything.

What else can be said about Macbeth. An infinite amount of movies and theatre productions have been made of this most tragic of tragedies, most horrific of horror stories - complete with witches and murder. Lady Macbeth is one of literature's ultimate evil women and she can never manage to wash the blood off her hands - such a fantastic psychological illustration of guilt has never been surpassed until perhaps Raskolnikov's dialogs with Sonya in Crime and Punishment. A must-read and one of the greatest Shakespeare plays among so many titanic, staggering works.

The book begins with the three "weird sisters" who anticipate Macbeth's arrival. We then switch to Macbeth with his companions after a bloody, successful battle and see the ill-fated Banquo before, in the next scene, the two of them fall upon the weird sisters on the "blasted heath" and their fatal predictions are made as to the rise of Macbeth. Banquo is barely affected other than the strangeness of the scene, but Macbeth is truly inspired. Critics have for centuries asked whether, without the weird sisters, Macbeth would have been capable of all the murders that will soon begin. I feel that he already a smoldering piece of evil inside him (like that in the toaster at the end of 'The Time Bandits') and that the weird sisters as well as Lady Macbeth gave him the final push towards action, without which it is possible that he would have remained a sort of evil reflection of Hamlet.

It never ceases to amaze me the power of the writing and the deep psychology of Macbeth and his deadly Lady. Blind and bloody ambition. Are they avenging the world for her barren womb? How close does Richard III come to Macbeth’s depravity? The two stories are quite similar, but Macbeth is a bigger, grander character. Stupendous literature.

Fino's Reviews of Shakespeare and Shakespearean Criticism
Comedies
The Comedy of Errors (1592-1593
The Taming of the Shrew (1593-1594)
The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1594-1595)
Love's Labour's Lost (1594-1595)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595-1596)
The Merchant of Venice (1596-1597)
Much Ado About Nothing (1598-1599)
As You Like It (1599-1600)
Twelfth Night (1599-1600)
The Merry Wives of Windsor (1600-1601)
All's Well That Ends Well (1602-1603)
Measure for Measure (1604-1605)
Cymbeline (1609-1610)
A Winter's Tale (1610-1611)
The Tempest (1611-1612)
Two Noble Kinsmen (1612-1613)

Histories
Henry VI Part I (1589-1590)
Henry VI Part II (1590-1591)
Henry VI Part III (1590-1591)
Richard III (1593-1594)
Richard II (1595-1596)
King John (1596-1597)
Edward III (1596-1597)
Henry IV Part I (1597-1598)
Henry IV Part II (1597-1598)
Henry V (1598-1599)
Henry VIII (1612-1612)

Tragedies
Titus Andronicus (1592-1593)
Romeo and Juliet (1594-1595)
Julius Caesar (1599-1600)
Hamlet (1600-1601)
Troilus and Cressida (1601-1602)
Othello (1604-1605)
King Lear (1605-1606)
Macbeth (1605-1606)
Anthony and Cleopatra (1606-1607)
Coriolanus (1607-1608)
Timon of Athens (1607-1608)
Pericles (1608-1609)

Shakespearean Criticism
The Wheel of Fire by Wilson Knight
A Natural Perspective by Northrop Frye
Shakespeare After All by Marjorie Garber
Shakespeare's Roman Plays and Their Background by M W MacCallum
Shakespearean Criticism 1919-1935 compiled by Anne Ridler
Shakespearean Tragedy by A.C. Bradley
Shakespeare's Sexual Comedy by Hugh M. Richmond
Shakespeare: The Comedies by R.P. Draper
Tyrant: Shakespeare on Politics by Stephen Greenblatt
1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare by James Shapiro

Collections of Shakespeare
Venus and Adonis, the Rape of Lucrece and Other Poems
Shakespeare's Sonnets and a Lover's Complaint
The Complete Oxford Shakespeare

The play is about a weak, but an ambitious, power hungry man. His chance meeting up with 3 witches in the forest on his way back to his king Duncan.

The 3 witches begin to tell him of their prophecy. One that he will be King and said that the present king must die first. Upon telling his wife, Lady Macbeth, of these predictions she immediately clings to. She becomes determined in finding the ways for her husband to precede. She urges Macbeth, a nobleman, to make this happen. Where Macbeth has doubts, she is gung-ho! Incredible character that she is she continues to plant ways forward into Macbeth’s head encouraging him toward evil!

Macbeth then goes onto slaughter anyone in his way. Lady Macbeth becomes unstable and Macbeth can’t live with himself for killing King Duncan. “Blood will have Blood