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Macbeth

The Tragedy of Macbeth · 145 speeches across 15 scenes

Macbeth is a valiant Scottish general whose ambition leads him to murder, tyranny, and self-destruction.

Who they are

Macbeth begins as a loyal and courageous thane, celebrated for his victories in battle. After encountering three witches who prophesy he will become king, his latent ambition is ignited by his wife's manipulation. He murders King Duncan, seizes the throne, and descends into paranoia, ordering the deaths of Banquo and Macduff's family. His arc traces a fall from honor to a bloody reign, culminating in his death at the hands of Macduff, fulfilling the prophecy.

Playing them

Macbeth's journey requires a profound emotional range: from noble confidence to guilt-ridden horror and then hollow defiance. In early scenes, speak with clarity and stature; post-murder, let his voice fracture with anxiety, especially during the ghost scene (Act 3, Scene 4). His soliloquies ('If it were done,' 'Is this a dagger') need intense introspection—play them not as set pieces but as real-time psychological battles. Physicality should shift from open, commanding movements to tense, jerky gestures as guilt consumes him.

Appearance

Often depicted in armor or military garb in early scenes, transitioning to regal but disheveled attire as his rule deteriorates. The actor's physical presence should convey both warrior strength and eventual exhaustion.

Worth knowing

Macbeth is loosely based on the historical King Macbeth of Scotland (r. 1040–1057), though Shakespeare heavily adapted the story to please King James I, emphasizing witchcraft and the dangers of regicide.

Where they appear

Play Macbeth

Take the part and Yorick reads every other role aloud, following you line by line as you speak.

Rehearse Macbeth on your phone: App Store · Google Play

Shakespeare the way it was meant to be had — out loud

These plays were written to be performed, not silently read. Yorick is a rehearsal app that lets you perform them: you take a part in any of Shakespeare’s 38 plays, and Yorick reads every other role aloud, listens while you speak your lines, keeps your place, and prompts you the moment you dry.

It is built for the person who has to be off book by tech week — school and college productions, community theatre, festivals, drama students and classical auditions — and for anyone who wants to hear a scene rather than skim it. Alongside the performance you get a plain-English translation of every speech, scene context, performance notes, and the ability to ask about any line and get an answer that already knows the play, the scene and who is speaking.

The text is the public-domain Cambridge/Globe edition. Translations and notes are AI-generated rehearsal aids for actors and students, not a scholarly apparatus. Yorick runs in a browser with nothing to install, and on iPhone and Android.