Free Will, Witches, Murder, and Macbeth, Part 1: Crash Course Literature 409

The Sound! The Fury! Today, we're talking about Shakespeare's Scottish play, Macbeth. So, was Macbeth really predestined to do all the murdering and bad kinging and other terrible stuff? That's the big question in Macbeth, and it's one of the ideas we're going to talk about today, among many. Also, Yoda joins us for the open letter.

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[sawrirocks]

I love how John Green is still doing these videos. I mean he doesn't have to, but he still does and i freaking love it. Thank you.

[kitthornton]

I have been in three productions of this play, and directed it once. In the first, our Lady MacB had a nervous breakdown the first night of tech week. In the second, our MacB was in a car accident on the way to cast call for opening night, and could not perform. The third time, I was playing MacDuff and was hit with a broadsword in the ending fight scene needing 17 stitches. I finished the scene (after catching my breath in the wings, leading to the longest improvised fight scene in the history of theatre, in which two more actors were injured.) When I directed it, on closing night, some of the scenery caught fire requiring the house to be evacuated.

Needless to say, I call it, "MacB, " or "The Witches' Play."

[rueluxprince]

The only thing I remember about Macbeth was that Tolkien was pissed because trees didn't actually come to knock down Macbeth's front door and a woman wasn't the one who killed him with the prophecy "no man can kill Macbeth." So he wrote his own medieval fanfiction where actual trees did knocked down a castle front door and a woman killed the "no man can kill me" prophecy person.

[georgetuipeatau]

"I'M A C-SECTION BABY" is gonna be in my head for the next few

[EvelynDayless]

Clearly the witches just tell everyone they come across that. Sure of the time they look a little silly, but that ONE time they get it right man it amazes everyone.

[Ash-xufv]

I'm sure this isn't an unusual thing for you to hear, CrashCourse team, but I want you to hear it again. I am 25, have a master's degree, and have been out of any type of formal schooling for 2 years...and I absolutely love watching CrashCourse (esp. CrashCourse Literature). I know that you are commonly used inside and outside the classroom, and I want you to know how much I value your contribution to my ongoing, informal, life-long education as an adult. Much love, and thanks for being awesome!

[IshaIsSomehowTaken]

John Green: so macbeth is like "well trees can't travel so i got this."
Also John Green: He says no one of a woman born can hurt me and Macduff's like, "I was a C-section baby!" And then he lops of Macbeth's head.
Me: **hysterically rolling on the floor in tears**

[yaumelepire]

I love it how, in the video, John refers to the King as King James I, but the intro refers to him as King James VI, and that both of these ways to call him are entirely valid.

[Tsukiko.]

Macbeth is what stopped me from overthrowing the government.

[nebulan]

I like how the witches look like the fates from Disneys Hercules

[Pfhorrest]

OUT, DAMNED SPOT!

[puppy whimpers as it crawls out the doggy door, tail between its legs]

[roberthill]

Interesting that this play should come after the dystopian stories. When I was a student at UNC Greensboro, the theatre department put on a wonderful performance of Macbeth. It was set in a post-apocalyptic land, inspired by the original Mad Max movies. Also, the actor playing Macbeth was missing his left forearm, which definitely fit the dystopic theme. It is, to this day, my favorite experience with the Scottish Play.

[mutasimnabilmannan]

“So far, so Macbeth” probably one of the greatest quote ever

[rebeccajoubert]

Bro this dude wrote “The Fault in our Stars”

[pravdj]

Could you please do russian literatures such as War and Peace, Anna Karenina, and many others

[samuelchen]

Sorry, for Lady Macbeth isn’t the blood spot on her hand?

[BISlover]

I always imagined the dagger hallucinaton as a crazy taxi-style arrow floating in the air above macbeth's head. How could he refuse the beckoning of a quest marker?

[emersonmaesmith]

this is one of my all time favorite plays!! i love the analysis and history you gave us in the episode but i have to admit i'm a little bummed at the lack of Lady Macbeth! she is equally fascinating and the way Shakespeare approaches gender in the tragedy is, in my opinion, part of what makes it so great!!

i hope we'll get to hear more about her next time. 'come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts!'

[mangaluver]

Every time I hear about Macbeth, I think of that episode of Jimmy Neutron where they did this for the school play and Sheen kept trying to figure out how to deliver his line: "My Lord, your wife, Lady Macbeth approaches." I was quite saddened to find out that that line isn't even in the play.

[hannahmerrill]

This channel is the backbone of the American school system. 10/10.