Macbeth

Macbeth is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around 1606 and first printed in the Folio of 1623. It dramatizes the corrosive effects of political ambition and is considered one of his finest plays.

The book tells the story of a Scottish general named Macbeth who ascends to the throne as King Macbeth, after murdering King Duncan.

He kills again to keep what he has taken and becomes a tyrant, which leads to his downfall. The tragedy also tells the story of Macbeth's wife, Lady Macbeth, who pushes him into the first murder and then breaks under the weight of it.

As in the Greek tragedies, Macbeth learns his destiny through a prophecy: three witches announce that he will become king of Scotland and that his companion in arms, Banquo, will father a long line of kings. A second set of promises later convinces him that he cannot be beaten — and means the opposite of what he takes it to mean.

Its main themes are ambition, power, betrayal and death.