The Cursed Play

-Macbeth-

By: Corey Tinnin

• Macbeth was written in the early 1600's by William Shakespeare.

• Supposedly, saying the name "Macbeth" inside a theater will bring bad luck to the play and anyone acting in it. Supposedly, saying the name "Macbeth" inside a theater will bring bad luck to the

play and anyone acting in it.

Macbeth was written in the early 1600's by William Shakespeare.

Beginning with its first performance, in 1606, Shakespeare himself was forced to play Lady Macbeth when Hal Berridge, the boy designated to play the lady with a peculiar notion of hospitality, became sick and died. The play displeased King James he banned it for five years.

When performed in Amsterdam in 1672, the actor playing Macbeth substituted a real dagger for the blunted stage one and with it killed Duncan in full view of the entranced audience.

During its 1849 performance at New York's Astor Place, a riot broke out in which 31 people were trampled to death.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow Speech

Big Question!!!!

It is said that Shakespeare's Macbeth is a cursed play. What are the reasons behind this accusation and what real things have occurred to support this statement?

This is because Shakespeare is said to have used the spells of real witches in his text, purportedly angering the witches and causing them to curse the play. So to say the name of the play inside a theatre is believed to doom the production to failure, and perhaps cause physical injury or death to cast members.

One particular incident that lent itself to the superstition was the Astor Place Riot. Because the cause of these riots was based on a conflict over two performances of Macbeth, this is often thought of as having been caused by the curse

"Macbeth -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 04 Feb. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth#Superstition_and_.22the_Scottish_play.22>.

Should Lady Macbeth be the same age as Lord Macbeth? 

I think Lady Macbeth is an older women who desires the kingship for herself and wants Macbeth to murder Duncan in order for him to obtain it. Not only that, but Macbeth has a weak will and I think younger, and Lady Macbeth, being determined and intelligent, manages to persuade the indecisive Macbeth to commit regicide.

"WikiAnswers - Why does Macbeth succumb to Lady Macbeth's demand that he murder Duncan." WikiAnswers - The Q&A wiki. Web. 04 Feb. 2010. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_does_Macbeth_succumb_to_Lady_Macbeth's_demand_that_

What do the predictions made by the three witches mean and what is the significance that there are three weird sisters and why the term sisters?

They predict 2 events of Macbeth in the first Act.  They greet him with 3 different titles.  They hail him as "Thane of Glamis"--which he currently is.  Then they hail him as "Thane of Cawdor," which he is about to become because of his valiant efforts in battle.  Then they hail him as "King."  This last title is what creates the tragedy of the play.

The witches symbolize the dark side of human nature. They live to torture and harass.  While they do not physically create the downfall of any human, they do lead the humans to fall by their own demise by way of misleading illusions. The witches represent the evil that is in Macbeth which does not show itself until the prophecy is made, Macbeth will be King.  The witches plant the seed, Lady Macbeth waters it with back-up, and from there it grows wildly on its own within Macbeth's heart as he plans the murders of Banquo, Fleance, and the MacDuff family to secure his throne.

"Macbeth - Questions and Answers." ENotes - Literature Study Guides, Lesson Plans, and More. Web. 04 Feb. 2010. <http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/q-and-a>.

Who is the historical figure of Macbeth?

Mac Bethad Mac Findlach

Mac Bethad mac Findlaích, anglicised as Macbeth," the Red King"; died 15 August 1057) was King of the Scots (also known as the King of Alba, and earlier as King of Moray and King of Fortriu) from 1040 until his death. He is best known as the subject of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth and the many works it has inspired.

"Macbeth of Scotland -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 04 Feb. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth_of_Scotland>.

Is Macbeth a good man who grows into a villain?

• Macbeth is a basically good man who is troubled by his conscience and loyalty though at the same time determined and murderous. He is led to evil initially by the witches' predictions and then by his wife's goading, which he succumbs to because he loves her so. His obsession over the kingship shows a certain kind of selfishness.

"Macbeth: An In depth Analysis." Oracle ThinkQuest Library. Web. 04 Feb. 2010. <http://library.thinkquest.org/2888/>.