Macbeth: Videos

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The following are clips from the 2011 Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank production of Macbeth at Shakespeare's Globe.

Act 1, Scenes 1 and 3

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=mX4DHmjFfNE)

'When shall we three meet again...?'

In the opening scene of the play, the Three Witches meet with each other. In the third scene, they encounter Macbeth and Banquo and deliver the fateful prophecies: 'All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis', 'All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor', 'All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, thou shalt be King hereafter'. 

 

Act 1, Scene 7

 

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=yIGFGYKafLM)

'If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well/It were done quickly...'

Macbeth contemplates the horrid deed of murdering Duncan, going back and forth between whether to do it or not.

 

Act 2, Scene 3

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=652_suY28Vk)

'Knock knock, who's there...?'

Following the death of Duncan, the castle sleeps soundly except for the Porter who must answer the door to guests including Macduff and Lennox. The Porter delivers a monologue to the audience in which he muses on his role as 'devil-porter' and bids them to 'Remember the Porter'.

 

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=1kOKqVwCBPw)

'O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart/Cannot conceive nor name thee...'

The murder of Duncan is discovered. The guests of the castle assemble and contemplate the deed. In order to hide their guilt, Macbeth murders the groomsmen believed to have committed regicide, while Lady Macbeth faints upon hearing the news. But did she really or was it feigned?

Act 3, Scene 1

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=XGl1DumaFmA)

'To be thus is nothing/But to be safely thus...'

The Three Witches' prophecy to Banquo is still haunting Macbeth: 'Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none'. The newly crowned Macbeth soliloquises on the threat of Banquo and what action to take before meeting with the murderers...

 

Act 3, Scene 4

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=oEr16BkQDpg)

'The table's full...'

The infamous banquet scene. Hosting a feast in his castle, the Macbeths and their guests wait on Banquo, whose murder is unknown to all but the King. The dinner commences and when asked to sit, Macbeth sees no place for him. At the head of the table, his place has been usurped by the ghost of Banquo. Macbeth talks to this spirit who no-one else can see and his behaviour worries the other guests. Lady Macbeth makes excuses for her husband, but the dinner is abruptly ended and she berates Macbeth: 'You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting,/With most admir'd disorder'.

Act 4, Scene 1

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=1k4s_HtJzKk)

'Double, double, toil and trouble,/Fire burn and cauldron bubble...'

The Three Witches meet again and perform a charm. Macbeth finds them and demands to know more about their prophecies. The Witches deliver three more prophecies: 'Beware Macduff,/Beware the Thane of Fife', 'Be bloody, bold and resolute: laugh to scorn/The power of man, for none of woman born/Shall harm Macbeth', 'Macbeth shall never vanquished be until/Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill/Shall come against him'. Macbeth demands to know much more, too much...

Act 5, Scene 3

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=2U3B2RMPyxM)

'Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane/I cannot taint with fear...'

Reports come in of an approaching English power, ten thousand strong. Macbeth continues to believe the Witches words in spite of this, but resigns himself to the life he has created: 'honour, love, obedience, troops of friends,/I must not look to have'. Further reports come in, this time concerning the Queen, who has taken ill.

 

Act 5 Scene 5

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=yavfz5AMX4c)

'Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...'

An over-confident Macbeth who has 'almost forgot the taste of fears' thinks nothing of the approaching troops, still disillusioned by the Witches words. News of Lady Macbeth's death reaches Macbeth, who soliloquises on 'dusty death' and the 'walking shadow' of life.

 

Act 5, Scene 8

(Your students can access this video at: youtube.com/watch?v=ecajYsAM-aY)

'I bear a charmed life, which must not yield,/To one of woman born...'

With his army fleeing save 'constrained things/Whose hearts are absent too', Macbeth does not even contemplate suicide but would rather fight to the end. He encounters Macduff who the Witches prophesied to be wary of but is still assured he will not die. Macduff reveals he was from his mother's womb/Untimely ripp'd'. Macbeth will still 'try the last' and the two fight. Macbeth is killed and Malcolm is proclaimed the new king.

Notes

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