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Nobody knows how long it took Shakespeare to write any of his plays. All we know is that they had to have been written before people said they saw them in the theatre, or they were licenced for performance, or they were published in book form.

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12y ago
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13y ago

Shakespeare, when writing about historical events, had a tendency to compress the time so it would flow more naturally in a play. From the play one gets the impression that Macbeth reigned for a very short time indeed. Act III starts with Banquo saying "Thou hast it now" which suggests that Macbeth has just been crowned. He then immediately meets Macbeth who invites him to the feast that evening, which means that all of Act III to the end of scene iv happens the same day. At the end of Scene iv Macbeth says "I will tomorrow, and betimes I will, to the weird sisters." He does that in Act IV Scene i, at the end of which he says that, without delay, "the castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife, give to the edge o' the sword his wife, his babes . . ." This happens in the next scene. Ross brings the news to Macduff in the scene that follows which ends with Malcolm saying "our power is ready; our lack is nothing but our leave.", meaning that they will embark on their expedition immediately. It takes them to Act V Scene vi to get to Dunsinane.

The flow of this action suggests that Macbeth's reign could be measured in weeks. The reign of the historical Macbeth was quite successful and lasted 17 years.

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14y ago

There were at least 17 years of Scottish history in the play 'Macbeth'. The play by William Shakespeare [Baptized April 26, 1564-May 23, 1616] may have begun the day of or the day before the murder of King Duncan I [d. August 14, 1040]. The play ended with the murder of Macbeth [d. August 15, 1057]. That timeline would agree with the historical record on the reign of Macbeth as King of Scotland. But other events in the play haven't tallied with historical records. For example, according to the historical record, King Duncan was killed by his own men during an invasion that he started, and that his men didn't support, into Macbeth's lands. Also according to the historical record, Macbeth was killed by King Duncan's son, the future King Malcolm III [d. November 13, 1093], at the battle of Lumphanan.

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14y ago

Readers and viewers of the play 'Macbeth' would have no idea as to the length of time that Macbeth [d. August 15, 1057] held the throne of Scotland. William Shakespeare [Baptized April 26, 1564-April 23, 1616] didn't include that information in the play. But according to the historic record, Macbeth reigned for 17 years. His rule began with the death of King Duncan I, who died trying to take away Macbeth's lands. His rule ended with his own death at the hands of King Duncan's son, the subsequent King Malcolm III [d. November 12, 1093], during the battle of Lumphanan. Macbeth either died there or was mortally wounded. If wounded, he died later at Scone. There was no mention of his having been beheaded. As with the case with King Duncan, Macbeth was buried in the royal burial grounds on Iona, an island off the west coast of Scotland.

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15y ago

I keep reading that the play is a little over 2 hours... like 2 hours and 20 minutes. (with no intermissions) .... however someone out there keeps posting that it is 69 minutes...

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14y ago

1 hour and 50 minutes.

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6y ago

Only Lady Macbeth knew that information.

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Q: How long did it take shakespeare to write Macbeth?
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Where was Macbeth written?

Macbeth was written in London by William Shakespeare and describes events that take place in Scotland.


How long did it take Shakespeare to write Richard III?

3 years 152 days 10 hours


What Scottish King was the subject of a Shakespearean play?

The play that delt with Scottish History was Macbeth, a story of a man who goes crazy and kills his father to take his place as king, I read the Bard of Avon. That book is all about Shakespeare


What was the original language that Macbeth was written in?

William Shakespeare was English and all his plays were written in English. The semi-true events which take place in Macbeth happened in Gaelic speaking Scotland and were therefore originally recorded in Gaelic.


Why did it take 15 months to write Romeo and Juliet?

Umm, where did you get that idea? We have no idea how long it took Shakespeare to write his play. Or how long it took Arthur Brooke to write his poem. Perhaps you are thinking of some other Romeo and Juliet, in which case you should specify.


When did Shakespeare's write?

Shakespeare's writing career spanned the years 1590 to 1613, give or take a year either way.


Who says prince of cumberland that is a step on which i must fall down or else overleap for in my way it lies quote?

Macbeth says this quote in William Shakespeare's play "Macbeth." He is referring to Malcolm, the Prince of Cumberland, as an obstacle standing in his way to the throne. Macbeth contemplates whether he should let destiny take its course or take action to achieve his ambition.


How long did Shakespeare take to write largest play?

It took Shakespeare eight or nine months to complete most of his plays. That means that some years he presented one new play; some years he presented two.


How does Shakespeare show Macbeth?

There is a sort of conflict in Lady Macbeth's mind between what she wants to do (i.e. kill Duncan) and what she suspects rightly Macbeth will want to do (i.e. not kill Duncan). She therefore sets about persuading him to let her plan the murder, so she can overcome the objections she knows he will make.


Who rote Macbeth?

William Shakespeare wrote the play Macbeth. It is believed to have been written between 1603 and 1607.


Is William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' and 'Macbeth' both one story?

The short answer is no. They take place at different times, in different countries, with different characterizations. You could sort of see Hamlet as a spiritual sequel to Macbeth, but more likely it's just that Shakespeare just liked writing stories about royalty murdering each other.


What happened at the kings headquarters in Macbeth?

In Shakespeare's play "Macbeth," several significant events take place at the king's headquarters, including the assassination of King Duncan by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. This act sets off a chain of events that leads to Macbeth becoming king and subsequently descending into madness and tyranny. The headquarters serve as a central location for political intrigue, power struggles, and the unraveling of Macbeth's tragic downfall.