Macbeth

Roles

• Porter - Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50), Senior (>50), Male

About this piece

A porter wonders who might be knocking on the castle's door

Summary

Scottish generals Macbeth and Banquo defeat two opposing armies in battle, an Irish and a Norwegian army. Learning about Macbeth's valor in the battle, the king of Scotland, King Duncan, decides to reward him by giving him the title of the Thane of Cawdor, a title that he takes away from the previous thane who betrayed the Scots by fighting for the Norwegians. On their way back to their base, Macbeth and Banquo run into three witches that prophecise that Macbeth one day will be king and Banquo's descendants will be kings. They also call Macbeth "Thane of Cawdor" which surprises him since he still doesn't know about the king's decision. He is even more surprised when, arriving at the base camp, learns that the king has just given him the title of the Thane of Cawdor, thus wondering if he will really become king one day. Macbeth goes back to his castle in Inverness and tells his wife what happened. Lady Macbeth encourages him to do anything in his power to become king, even if it means killing King Duncan. Duncan will shortly be visiting their castle. Lady Macbeth tells her husband about a plan she has thought to kill the king and cast the guilt upon the king's chamberlains by getting them drunk, smearing blood on them and placing bloody daggers in their room. Macbeth agrees to go ahead with her plan but is not too sure about it. He is afraid and has doubts but he goes ahead with the plan and stabs the king in his sleep. After the deed he goes back to Lady Macbeth and she notices that he has forgotten to place the daggers in the chamberlain's room. Macbeth is too shaken to go back and so she goes to retrieve the daggers. Macbeth is alone and now hears a knocking which frightens him. He hears it several times. In this funny monologue the porter of the castle hears the knocking and before opening the door, imagines who it might be, maybe a farmer, maybe an equivocator or a tailor and makes fun of them. It turns out it was Macduff and Lennox, two Scottish noblemen.

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