Three Witches.

Enter three Witches  (1.1.1, s.d.)

• Alexandre-Marie Colin. The Three Witches from "Macbeth," 1827. — At Harry Rusche's Shakespeare Illustrated site. The witches, full of mischievous glee, are all looking the same way, as though they see the approach of their next victim.   Site visited 29 November 2002. [return to top of page]

Heath.

Upon the heath  (1.1.7)

• A Walk Around Dunwich. — Scroll down to the fifth and sixth pictures, which show Dunwich Heath, in Suffolk, England. Site visited 27 November 2002. [return to top of page]

Scotland.

• Discover Explore Macbeth — This page contains a neat interactive map of Scotland. Selecting any item in a menu will bring up a brief summary of a key event in the play, together with an arrow showing where that event took place. Site visited 5 December 2002. [return to top of page]

Fortune.

And Fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling,
Show'd like a rebel's whore . . .
For brave Macbeth . . .
Disdaining Fortune . . . .  (1.2.14-17)

• Medieval tragedy — "In the illustration, Fortune, traditionally female because of the association of women with the moon and changeability, stands behind the wheel with outstretched wings. She continually moves the Wheel--on which at the top is a king, at the bottom a beggar." Actually, there are two kings, one on his way up, and one on his way down. And there are two bishops, one on his way up, one on his way down. And that beggar at the bottom might have been a queen. The point is that Fortune controls all. Site visited 8 December 2002. [return to top of page]

Heads on Pikes.

And fix'd his head upon our battlements.  (1.2.23)

• View of London Bridge, about 1650 — The heads of criminals were displayed over the gate at the southern end of London Bridge, not far from the Globe Theatre. [return to top of page]
• French Kiss: The Terror and the Guillotine — The practice of fixing heads of traitors to pikes didn't end in Shakespeare's time. At the site, scroll down to the sixth and eighth images to see the heads of persons considered to be traitors to the new French republic, which was born about 200 years after Shakespeare wrote Macbeth. Site visited 16 December 2002. [return to top of page]

Golgotha.

another Golgotha  (1.2.40)

• Golgotha — A place just outside the city gates of Jerusalem, supposed to be the base of the hill on which Christ was crucified. [return to top of page]

Cawdor.

Assisted by that most disloyal traitor
The thane of Cawdor  (1.2.52-53)

• Cawdor Castle — The Castle pictured at the top of the page was built more than 300 years after the death of the historical Duncan, and the site -- maintained by the Cawdor family -- explains how their family name got into Shakespeare's play, even though no Cawdor had anything to do with the death of King Duncan. Site visited 1 December 2002. [return to top of page]

Bellona.

Bellona's bridegroom  (1.2.54)

• Eris — "Bellona" was the Roman name for the Greek goddess Eris or Enyo. The illustration is from a classical Greek vase painting. It depicts a winged, smiling, woman. Site visited 8 June 2003. [return to top of page]
• 'Roman Goddess of War: Bellona' by Shannon *Bellona* Taylor — This is a modern drawing of Bellona as a hot chick with a skull on one shoulder and a big tear in one eye. It's at Elfwood, "the world's biggest site for fantasy/scifi art and fiction."Site visited 8 June 2003. [return to top of page]

Saint Colme's Inch.

Sweno, the Norways' king, craves composition:
Nor would we deign him burial of his men
Till he disbursed at Saint Colme's inch
Ten thousand dollars to our general use.  (1.2.59-62)

• Inchcolm: Iona of the East — The text explains why the Norwegians might have considered this island (now referred to as "Inchcolm" ) as a proper place to bury their dead. Site visited 11 February 2003. [return to top of page]

Chestnuts

A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her lap  (1.3.4)

• all-creatures.org Vegan - Vegetarian Recipe Book — Scroll down. The fifth picture is of edible chestnuts. Site visited 6 June 2003. [return to top of page]

Aleppo

Her husband's to Aleppo gone, master o' the Tiger  (1.3.7)

• Europe in 1560 — On the map, Aleppo is in the far bottom right corner, opposite the finger of Cyprus. From Scotland, it's at the ends of the earth, and the witch is planning on harassing "master o' the Tiger" all the way. Site visited 21 March 2006. [return to top of page]

Compass Card.

First Witch:  I myself have all the other,
And the very ports they blow,
All the quarters that they know
I' the shipman's card.  (1.3.14-17)

• Magnetic Compass. — The First Witch is saying that she can control all the winds, from any direction indicated by the "shipman's card." A shipman's card is a compass card, which is used with a magnetic needle to show all the points of the compass. The link above shows a modern compass card, together with a lot of explanatory text.  Site visited 17 December 2002. [return to top of page]

Bark.

Though his bark cannot be lost,
Yet it shall be tempest-toss'd.  (1.3.24-25)

• H.M. Bark Endeavour. — The bark isn't exactly "toss'd," but you can see that it's having a rough time. [return to top of page]

Glamis.

All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!  (1.3.48)

• Glamis Castle. — The page on Macbeth can be found via the "History/Gardens" pull-down menu in the upper right corner of the page.   Site visited 4 October 2005. [return to top of page]

The Witches Hail Banquo and Macbeth.

All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!  (1.3.50)

• Henry Fuseli. Macbeth, Banquo and the Witches on the Heath, 1793-4. — At Harry Rusche's Shakespeare Illustrated site. The figure in the foreground (Macbeth?) has a tartan draped over his wrist, but otherwise looks more like a Roman gladiator than a Scottish warrior.  Site visited 29 November 2002. [return to top of page]
• John Wootton. Macbeth and Banquo Meeting the Weird Sisters, 1750. — At Harry Rusche's Shakespeare Illustrated site. The artist's main interest is the dramatic landscape.  Site visited 29 November 2002. [return to top of page]
• Théodore Chassériau. Macbeth and the three witches. — A good melodramatic painting. Two of the witches even have beards.   Site visited 8 August 2003. [return to top of page]

The Witches Vanish.

Whither are they vanish'd?  (1.3.80)

• John Martin (1789-1854). Macbeth (1820) — At Harry Rusche's Shakespeare Illustrated site. The landscape is very dramatic and occupies most of the painting.  Site visited 29 November 2002. [return to top of page]

The Scottish Crown.

the golden round  (1.5.28)

• Edinburgh Photo Library - Crown Jewels — Lady Macbeth's phrase, "the golden round," is not a mere metaphor; the Scottish Crown Jewels are beautiful.  Site visited 18 December 2002. [return to top of page]

Raven.

The raven himself is hoarse
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements.    (1.5.38-40)

• Hugin's and Mugin's Nest — The entire site is devoted to the raven, both real and mythical. There's even a sound file which gives you a good idea of how hoarse a raven can be.  Site visited 18 December 2002. [return to top of page]

The raven himself is hoarse
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements.    (1.5.38-40)

• Battlements — The drawing shows the names of the various parts of the battlements of a castle.
  [return to top of page]

Martlet.

This guest of summer, / the Temple-haunting martlet  (1.6.3-4)

• Martlet.
  [return to top of page]

Tudor Frieze.

                            . . . no jutty, frieze,
Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird
Hath made his pendant bed and procreant cradle.  (1.6.6-8)

• The Mint Yard Gate. — There are many different kinds of friezes, but the one shown on this page may be the sort of thing Shakespeare had in mind.   Site visited 19 December 2002. [return to top of page]

Martlet Nest.

                            . . . no jutty, frieze,
Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird
Hath made his pendant bed and procreant cradle.  (1.6.6-8)

• THE CHIMNEY SWALLOW, OR AMERICAN SWIFT. — Martins, swallows, and swifts were all called "martlets"; the nest of the swift looks like a cradle.   Site visited 19 December 2002. [return to top of page]

Cherubins.

And pity, like a naked new-born babe,
Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubins, horsed
Upon the sightless couriers of the air   (1.7.22-24)

• Macbeth inspired art. — At the top of the page is a photo of William Blake's Pity (ca. 1795), which was inspired by the passage quoted above.   Site visited 27 July 2003. [return to top of page]
• Search Results — Art poster reproductions of Raphael's Cherubini.   Site visited 27 July 2003. [return to top of page]

Chalice.

                       . . . this even-handed justice
Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice
To our own lips.   (1.7.10-12)

• Chalice. — This long page, from the Catholic Encyclopedia site, not only has pictures of chalices, but serves as a reminder that the idea of a "poison'd chalice" is a perversion. A chalice is meant to hold the wine which becomes the life-giving blood of Christ.  Site visited 19 December 2002. [return to top of page]

Dagger.

Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand?  (2.1.33-34)

• HistoricalWeapons.com. — Scroll down this page to view several styles of daggers.  Site visited 9 August 2003. [return to top of page]

Gouts of Blood.

gouts of blood  (2.1.46)

• Medical Encyclopedia—DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation) — The blood clots that you can see on the patients' legs would, in Shakespeare's time, be called "gouts."  Site visited 9 August 2003. [return to top of page]

Hecate.

witchcraft celebrates
Pale Hecate's offerings  (2.1.51-52)

• Heidelberg Editions International presents . . .Hecate — There's a picture of a statuette of the Greek Hecate, and an informative text. You can buy the statuette for less than $50.00.  Site visited 9 August 2003. [return to top of page]
• Gustave Moreau (1826-1898) French Symbolist — In the fifth row down there's a clickable thumbnail entitled "Jupiter and Semele, 1894-95. Detail: Hecate." To my taste, this Hecate is a too pretty, but she is pale and has a crescent moon in her crown.  Site visited 9 August 2003. [return to top of page]
• Museum : Mythology Celtic — Scroll down to the thirteenth image to find a small picture and some information about the Celtic idea of Hecate.  Site visited 9 August 2003. [return to top of page]
• Hecate — Hecate as a wise woman. On the site of Lunea Weatherstone, "priestess, writer, artist, and tarot counselor."   Site visited 10 August 2003. [return to top of page]

Tarquin.

With Tarquin's ravishing strides  (2.1.55)

• Titian. Tarquin and Lucretia. — Shakespeare was about six years old when this was painted.  Site visited 9 August 2003. [return to top of page]
• Giuseppe Maria Crespi. Tarquin and Lucretia. — This artist was one year younger than Shakespeare.  Site visited 9 August 2003. [return to top of page]
• Vecellio Tiziano. Tarquin and Lucretia. — "Titian and his workshop produced several versions of the subject."  Site visited 9 August 2003. [return to top of page]

Macbeth Returns from Killing King Duncan.

Macbeth:  I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?  (2.2.14)

• Alexander Johnston. Macbeth — At Harry Rusche's Shakespeare Illustrated site. Macbeth is holding one of the bloody daggers. The other is on the floor in front of him. Lady Macbeth looks like Queen Victoria, or perhaps a chambermaid.  Site visited 29 November 2002. [return to top of page]

Hangman.

these hangman's hands  (2.2.25)

• Hans Kohlhase in ursprünglicher Gestalt. — On the right margin this site there is a 16th.-century engraving of a hangman with a long sword, waiting to chop off a head.   Site visited 10 August 2002. [return to top of page]

Lady Macbeth Takes the Daggers from Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth:  Infirm of purpose!
Give me the daggers . . . . (2.2.49-50)

• Johann Zoffany. David Garrick and Mrs. Pritchard in "Macbeth," 1768. — At Harry Rusche's Shakespeare Illustrated site. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are dressed in the kind of clothes worn by members of the upper classes at the time the picture was painted. The picture is accompanied by a long note on the acting of Mrs. Pritchard and Garrick.  Site visited 29 November 2002. [return to top of page]

Scales of Justice.

here's an equivocator, that could swear in both scales against either scale.  (2.3.8-9)

• Scales of Justice — [return to top of page]

Scone.

He is already named, and gone to Scone
To be invested.  (2.4.31-32)

• Stone of Destiny — A picture of -- and a few words about -- the traditional Scottish coronation stone. Kept at Scone, it is sometimes referred to as the Stone of Scone.  Site visited 5 December 2002. [return to top of page]

Hedgehog.

Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined   (4.1.2)

• HedgeHog. — A whole page about "hedgies"; toward the bottom there's a description of the sounds they make. Site visited 4 August 2003. [return to top of page]

Toad.

Toad, that under cold stone
Days and nights has thirty-one
Swelter'd venom sleeping got   (4.1.6-8)

• FROGS AND TOADS IN THE UK. — Scroll down past the frog to see the English Common Toad. Site visited 26 July 2003. [return to top of page]

• NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC NEWS. — Photo of a black-spined toad, and info about its "venom." Site visited 26 July 2003. [return to top of page]

Fen.

fenny snake  (4.1.12)

• Land cover change in Scotland   Marginal Inundation — Looks like a good home for a "fenny snake." Site visited 4 October 2005. [return to top of page]

Newt.

eye of newt  (4.1.14)

• NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC NEWS — Photo of the red-spotted newt, which is poisonous. Site visited 26 July 2003. [return to top of page]

Bat.

wool of bat  (4.1.15)

• Daubenton's Bat — Close-up it looks quite wooly. [return to top of page]

Adder.

adder's fork  (4.1.16)

• wild woods adder — Good pictures of England's only poisonous snake, but you can't see its tongue ("fork"). On the site of the UK Forestry Commission. Site visited 26 July 2003. [return to top of page]

Blindworm.

blindworm's sting  (4.1.16)

• British Wildlife — Scroll down to #44 for a picture of a blindworm, which was formerly thought to have a poisonous sting in its tongue. Site visited 26 July 2003. [return to top of page]

Mummy.

Witches' mummy  (4.1.23)

• BODIES OF EVIDENCE  |  MUMMY MEDICINE — There's a picture of a mummy and an explanation of the history of how the word "mummy" came to mean a certain kind of medicine. Site visited 26 July 2003. [return to top of page]

Birnam Wood.

Great Birnam wood  (4.1.93)

• Birnam Oak. — "This ancient tree is believed to be the last surviving remnant of Birnam Wood, the great oak forest made famous in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'."  Site visited 4 December 2002. [return to top of page]

Dunsinane.

high Dunsinane hill  (4.1.93)

• Dunsinane Hill. — This is said to be the site of Macbeth's castle. Birnam Wood is 12 miles NW.  Site visited 2 December 2002. [return to top of page]

King James VI & I.

And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass   (4.1.119)

• HIS MAJESTIE King James VI & I Page. — Perhaps the "glass" (mirror) was brought on stage so that, in a performance before King James, the king could see his own face.  Site visited 10 August 2003. [return to top of page]

Macduff's castle.

The castle of Macduff I will surprise   (4.1.150)

• Scottish Castles Photo Library — Macduff's Castle, Fife. — Only a fragment is left of what might have been Macduff's castle.  Site visited 3 September 2003. [return to top of page]

Wren.

the poor wren  (4.2.10)

• Winter Wren — A close-up of a very small bird.  Site visited 4 October 2005. [return to top of page]

Kite.

O hell-kite!  (4.3.216)

• THE YORKSHIRE RED KITE PROJECT. — It's a beautiful bird, unless you're a chicken farmer.  Site visited 4 September 2003. [return to top of page]

Bear-baiting.

They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly,
But, bear-like, I must fight the course  (5.7.1-2)

• RECREATION and SPORTS . — The drawing (on the right side of the page) shows an dogs attacking some creature tied to a stake, but it's hard to make out whether the creature is a bear, an ape, or maybe a large sheep.  Site visited 4 September 2003. [return to top of page]
• Wikipedia: Bear-baiting . — In this drawing the bear has broken its tether and is trying to climb into the spectator seats. There's also a lot of informative text.  Site visited 4 October 2005. [return to top of page]