The Shakespeare-in-Essence series

Shakespeare is simply too difficult for most people to truly understand and enjoy. Yet a whole world of love and learning is lost to those who do not know Shakespeare well.

And so, I have written this series to bring genuine Shakespeare (essential, condensed and carefully-selected dialogue) to the general public, inserting at intervals normally quick comments which seek to illuminate Shakespeare’s deeper meanings. No wordy, obscure essays to read before or after the play. You comprehend Shakespeare’s meanings while you are reading him.

The idea is to provide an unusually understandable and pleasurable reading experience. You tell me if I have or have not succeeded. You must come away feeling greatly rewarded – I will not settle for less than this – or I have failed.

I am betting that Shakespeare-in-Essence tragedies such as Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra . . . will leave you deeply touched, perhaps numb, and never forgetting what you have read.

I am also betting that comedies such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, the male chauvinist Taming of the Shrew and the female chauvinist Merry Wives of Windsor . . . will leave you amused and delighted -- forever.

That’s what Shakespeare can do for you.

MACBETH

a tragedy of crime, conscience, and punishment

- - - - - - - - -

One of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, Macbeth relates the drama of a talented, admirable Scottish military leader smitten by ambition and tempted beyond resistance to murder his king and usurp the throne. A fierce struggle between Ambition and Conscience lies at the heart of the play, a combat pitting bold ruthlessness against respectful fear and sympathy. The murder done, Conscience again arises to spoil the fruits of conquest.
Fear resurrects itself: that which he could do can be done to him. To eliminate potential wielders of retribution, Tyranny envelops the land. That tyranny itself breeds Retribution.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth dominate the drama, she as hardened and ruthless in the early going as her husband Macbeth was hesitant, wavering, conscience-stricken. Then, they develop in opposite directions; Lady Macbeth towards a nightmarish remorse, Macbeth towards a conscience as cold and steely as the sword which rives the tyrant’s kingdom.
Shakespeare creates a menacing atmosphere of darkness and blood and supernatural entrapment to accompany impending evil and perpetrated crime. Portents suffuse earth and sky as Macbeth and “his fiend-like queen” bring chaos and intimidation to the country while agonizing struggle is waged within their own souls.

- - - - - - - - -

Act I, scene 1. Scotland. Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches.

1 Witch. When shall we three meet again,
In thunder, lighting, or in rain?

2 Witch. When the hurlyburly’s done,
When the battle’s lost and won.

3 Witch. That will be ere the set of sun

1 Witch. Where the place?

2 Witch. Upon the heath..

3 Witch. There to meet with Macbeth.

All. Fair is foul, and foul is fair,
Hover through the fog and filthy air.

[They vanish.]

The opening sets the dark, ominous tone of the entire work. “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” – this renowned verse betokens a confusion of moral values.

- - - - - - - - -

Macbeth. We will proceed no further in this business.

Lady Macbeth. Was the hope drunk
Where in you dressed yourself? hath it slept since?
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely?
Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine own esteem?

Macbeth. I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more, is none.

Lady Macbeth. What beast wasn’t then
That made you break this enterprise to me?

Before the action of the play commenced, Macbeth had broached the subject. The supernatural Witches knew this, hence were lying in wait for Macbeth before he was aware of their existence. At the present juncture, a more earthly witch stirs the cauldron.

Lady Macbeth. I have given suck, and know
How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me –
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.

Macbeth. If we should fail?

Lady Macbeth. We fail?
But screw your courage to the sticking place,
And we’ll not fail.

continue