Assignment #2: Etext Versions of Macbeth (Link #2)

 [http://www.literaturepage.com/read/shakespeare_macbeth.html]

In this post, S.A.M. will be comparing an E-Text version of Macbeth (found on literaturepage.com) with the version we are currently using in class, by Oxford Next. We will be focusing on content differences, such as character descriptions, and setting descriptions, as well as physical differences, such as font, formatting, and punctuation. After contrasting, we will draw a conclusion on if this E-Text is reliable, lasting, and a good version of Macbeth for grade 9 students.

The website www.literaturepage.com was established in 2003, and last edited in 2005. It is a website that allows users to select desired books and place them on their online "bookshelf" as well as utilizing a forum to ensure that readers can discuss read materials with other readers. You can search your literature by author or by title.

However, this version of "Macbeth" contains several differences from the version used in our class, OxfordNext. There are major contrasts, such as a difference in the content of stage directions and setting descriptions. For example, the first scene is described as: An open place. Thunder and lightning. while in the OxfordNext rendition, it is introduced as: The battliefied: Thunder and lightning. This anomaly could cause important differences in how the first act is interpreted. Other major variations regarding the content of the text included variances in character names – the Captain is instead referred to as the Soldier – and several lines are written differently. For instance, in Scene 1 from OxfordNext, “Paddock calls,” and “Anon,” spoken by the second and third witch respectively, are instead included in the next line, said by all three witches. 

Additionally, there are many minor changes that forego the trustworthiness of this website’s rendition.  The physical layout of the script contrasts greatly with the Oxford Next edition; for example, the names are capitalized and placed above each set of lines, instead of the lines being beside and indented. As well, the stage directions and setting descriptions are placed within brackets, not italicized. The lines are not indented, and as an alternative are placed perfectly in line with each other, which may disturb the way in which this play is read. Additionally, definitions are not provided for the reader, which would take away from the experience of a grade nine reader searching for additional resources to improve their insight on the production.

Taking into consideration the age of the website itself, as well as the many variations on both language and grammar within the text, we believe that the etext of Macbeth found on literaturepage.com is inferior to that of OxfordNext. The inaccuracies found throughout the text compromise its reliability. Therefore, we conclude that this edition of Macbeth is not reliable, lasting, and it will not provide a good resource for grade nine students.