Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most adapted and performed plays.
The Classic - The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare
We're revisiting two of the most exciting villains in English Literature, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is described as a great place to start Shakespeare lessons for children. The speaker justified his statement with the following facts:
- There isn't a love story for kids to awkwardly act out.
- There are witches, and have you ever seen how scary a six-year-old witch can be?
- It's a fast-moving and high-action story as there's a murder every few minutes.
That action hints as to why the story remains as popular and as frequently adapted by Hollywood as it is. Macbeth was not Shakespeare's first rodeo, it was his fourth tragedy and he knew who his debut audience would be. His Globe Theater attracted wealthy patrons who would sit far back in covered balconies and poorer patrons who would crowd up toward the stage and jeer at the actors. And he had to impress both.
Shakespeare wrote Macbeth to reflect what was happening politically and introduced the entertainment industry to the complexity and ambiguity of morality. Macbeth is a powerhouse tragedy, it's no wonder that many reference lines from the play in their works or play with crucial traits these villains had.
The Tragedy of Macbeth
by Shakespeare, William
Read a preview of The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Macbeth, a successful solider, is visited by Three Witches who claim he will soon become king, but his ascension may be thwarted by other parties. Macbeth is driven by ambition and takes drastic steps to secure his place on the throne.
After a successful military career in the Scottish army, Macbeth receives life-changing news. Three Witches deliver a prophesy stating that he will be the country's future king. He shares this information with his wife, Lady Macbeth, who is intrigued by his fate. The duo is concerned about potential threats to his position including the king's son Malcolm and the army captain, Banquo. Macbeth becomes obsessed with the prophesy, committing acts of violence towards the current King Duncan, his heir and the captain. As Macbeth's desire for power grows, so does the bloodshed across the kingdom.
Macbeth is a haunting prophecy that hinges on the moral decisions of its protagonist. This captivating story highlights the many flaws of man including ego, greed and fear. It's a brilliant character-driven piece that's one of Shakespeare's most adapted and performed plays.
Our Modern Companions
We found ourselves in a dilemma trying to pick one singular book to pair. So, we've provided another reading list featuring reimaginations, villains you strangely found yourself rooting for, and dark plotlines that should remind you of this fast-paced thrill-ride piece.
My Lovely Wife
by Downing, Samantha
SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
INSTANT #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
USA Today bestseller
Edgar + ITW Thriller Award nominee for Best First Novel
Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this wildly compulsive debut thriller about a couple whose fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting...
Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored.
We look like a normal couple. We're your neighbors, the parents of your kid's friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with.
We all have our secrets to keeping a marriage alive.
Ours just happens to be getting away with murder.
Download our full guide of modern companions for The Tragedy of Macbeth.
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