Author: William Shakespeare
Year of Publication: 1623
Genre: Tragedy
Setting: Eleventh century Scotland and England
Top Themes: Ambition ("I have no spur to prick the sides only vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself and falls on the other"), Fate (" All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!...All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!...All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!"), Nature and the Unnatural ("What are these/ So wither'd and so wild in attire./ That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth/ And yet are on't")
About William Shakespeare:
Book Summary:
Macbeth is about a man who receives a prophesy from three witches predicting
that he will become king. Him and his wife take any steps necessary to ensure his
rise to power. He takes matters into his own hands and begins killing the ones that
occupy the positions he needs to take to fulfill the prophesy. The spirits of those
killed at the hands of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth torment them and cause them
to act out in ways that make them seem insane. Eventually, another man comes
against Macbeth and tries to kill him...
Year of Publication: 1623
Genre: Tragedy
Setting: Eleventh century Scotland and England
Top Themes: Ambition ("I have no spur to prick the sides only vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself and falls on the other"), Fate (" All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!...All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!...All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!"), Nature and the Unnatural ("What are these/ So wither'd and so wild in attire./ That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth/ And yet are on't")
About William Shakespeare:
- He was the third of six children
- His father was a successful merchant
- He married his wife Ann Hathaway when she was 26 and he was 18
- There is a period of about 7 years of his life that are referred to as the "lost years" where he disappears from records
- He was a part of an acting group called the Kings Men
- He died in 1616 and left most of his wealth to his oldest daughter
- His existence is widely debated and his works are often credited to Edward de Vere
Book Summary:
Macbeth is about a man who receives a prophesy from three witches predicting
that he will become king. Him and his wife take any steps necessary to ensure his
rise to power. He takes matters into his own hands and begins killing the ones that
occupy the positions he needs to take to fulfill the prophesy. The spirits of those
killed at the hands of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth torment them and cause them
to act out in ways that make them seem insane. Eventually, another man comes
against Macbeth and tries to kill him...
I have linked a video summary of the book to help you better understand the complicated plot!
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed to book! It is difficult to get through simply because it is Shakespeare, but the plot moves quickly. I would recommend this book! If you have already read this book and enjoy it, I would suggest Julius Caesar as your next read!
I enjoyed to book! It is difficult to get through simply because it is Shakespeare, but the plot moves quickly. I would recommend this book! If you have already read this book and enjoy it, I would suggest Julius Caesar as your next read!