William Shakespeare, "Macbeth" (The New Cambridge Shakespeare) This is the most extensively annotated edition of Macbeth currently available, offering a thorough reconsideration of one of Shakespeare's most popular plays.
A full and accessible introduction studies the immediate theatrical and political contexts of Macbeth's composition, especially the Gunpowder Plot and the contemporary account of an early performance at the Globe. It treats such celebrated issues as whether the Witches compel Macbeth to murder; whether Lady Macbeth is herself in some sense a witch; whether Banquo is Macbeth's accomplice in crime; and what criticism is levelled against Macduff. A well-illustrated account of the play in performance examines several cinematic versions, such as those by Kurosawa and Roman Polanski, and other dramatic adaptations.
Several possible new sources are suggested, and the presence of Thomas Middleton's writing in the play is proposed. Appendixes contain additional text and accompanying music.
An international team of scholars offers:
modernized, easily accessible texts
ample commentary and introductions
attention to the theatrical qualities of each play and its stage history
informative illustrations
Contents
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List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Abbreviations and Conventions
Introduction Macbeth in legend, Macbeth in history Topical Macbeth Occasional Macbeth Documents Macbeth in the mind Succession, time, and families Master of his time: 'doubly redoubled strokes' Prospect of belief: witches, women, and mediated knowledge 'What do you mean?': the languages of Macbeth Macbeth in performance Performance and adaptation before 1800 Later stagings and versions Further variations: Kurosawa, Polanski, Ninagawa Macbeth in the mind and in performance: Act 4, Scene 3 Map: Scotland, showing place names mentioned in the text of Macbeth Note on the text Note on the Commentary List of characters
The Play
Supplementary notes Textual analysis General editorial procedures Copy for the Folio Scene division in the Folio Compositors and the printing of the Folio Lineation in the Folio Thomas Middleton's contribution to the Folio Revision in the Folio Appendix 1: Casting Macbeth Appendix 2: Additional text and music Appendix 3: Relineation of the Folio Reading list