Macbeth is Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy and, many would say, his darkest. I’ve also called it my favorite for several years, although I never read it until now, my familiarity with it being limited to the video with Ian McKellen and Judi Dench. So I am very sorry that my experience reading it was not more enjoyable.

For sometimes that is what determines our enjoyment of a book or play: the experience, rather than the work itself. Something just doesn’t click, or we come to the material with the wrong material, and from then on everything is ruined. That was how it was for me and Macbeth. I still enjoyed it—but not the way I enjoyed Much Ado About Nothing, or even The Merchant of Venice. Maybe the comedies are simply easier for me to comprehend. I read this play alongside my brother, who had been assigned it in school, and when I tried to explain some of the themes to him I found I was having difficulty with it, even though I had previously thought them fairly simple and straightforward (for Shakespeare, that is).

I think in the end what draws me to this play is that it shows us a world where evil is very real, and yet it does not allow for it to completely triumph over goodness. From the witches’ devilish incantations to the guilt Lady Macbeth shows in her famous sleepwalking scene, this is a study of evil, sin, and suffering in all their various forms: vain ambition, jealousy, negligence (one could argue that Macduff is guilty of this—I like that Shakespeare’s good guys are complex even in plays like this), death, revenge. And yet in the end, the Macbeths get their just deserts, and all is righted. (Of course, there are some scholars who maintain that this is not the case, because Duncan was a usurper and Macbeth historically was really in line for the throne. Whatever. They’re old curmudgeons and just want to take away my happy ending.)

Along with the play in book form, I do still recommend the video with McKellen and Dench. As it is based on a stage production, it follows the text very closely, and both stars perform superbly. I’ve seen sections of the old Orson Welles film as well, and while it is splendid visually, it is more of an interpretation of Shakespeare’s work than a performance. I assume that many of the other film versions suffer from similar changes. ( )

"When shall we three meet again, in thunder lightning or in rain? When the hurly burly's done when the battle's lost , and won."

A Shakespeare story with a magic twist; just great! ( )

*some spoilers*

Three witches meet Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, and greet him with tidings that he will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. Macbeth can't stop thinking about it, and when the first prophecy comes true, he starts pondering regicide with his wife alongside goading him into action.

This is the first of Shakespeare's plays that I ever read, and as such it holds a special place in my memory. In high school, it was the one play I was assigned to read, and I just remember the thrill of surprise as the prophecies that Macbeth put his trust in came back to bite him. The excitement didn't disappoint on rereading, even though I knew what was going to happen. I love the theme of fate vs. free will - could Macbeth have avoided his fate? Would he have become king if he did nothing, much like Banquo's prophecy is likewise fulfilled? The arc of the characters as guilt gnaws them fascinates me as well. One of my absolute favorites of Shakespeare's plays. 5 stars. ( )

Classic. My favorite SS play. ( )

Although I'm an English teacher, I have to admit that Macbeth is not one of my personal favorites. Does that mean that the play isn't brilliant? Absolutely not. Shakespeare, once again, exhibits the full range of characteristics and emotions that a human can display. Great play about the way a seemingly good man, can descend into the madness of becoming greedy and a murderer. ( )