Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare that follows a Scottish general, Macbeth, and his wife, Lady Macbeth, as they pursue power through murder and deceit, leading to their downfall. The play blends prophecy, ambition, guilt, and the moral consequences of tyranny, and it is set largely in Scotland with key moments driven by supernatural elements and political intrigue.
Core plot
- Macbeth and his ally Banquo encounter three witches who prophesy that Macbeth will become king and Banquo’s descendants will also reign. This prophecy sparks ambition in Macbeth, though it is Lady Macbeth who pushes him toward regicide.
- Macbeth murders King Duncan to seize the throne. Guilt and paranoia soon haunt him, and he becomes a ruthless ruler, facing increasing resistance from nobles like Macduff.
- Consequences escalate as further bloodshed and tyranny provoke more murders, culminating in Macbeth’s downfall at the hands of Macduff and the restoration of order.
Key themes
- Ambition and fate: How prophecy and personal desire collide, pushing characters toward ruin.
- Guilt and conscience: The psychological unraveling of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth under the weight of their deeds.
- The nature of power: Tyranny, legitimacy, and the erosion of moral boundaries in pursuit of control.
- The supernatural: The Weird Sisters’ predictions and their ambiguous influence on human action.
- Blood and imagery: Recurrent motifs of blood symbolize guilt, violence, and the costs of ambition.
Major characters
- Macbeth: A respected Scottish nobleman whose ambition leads him from valor to tyranny.
- Lady Macbeth: His wife, who masterminds much of the plot and channels her own ambition into manipulation and resolve.
- The Weird Sisters: Witches who prophesy Macbeth’s rise and Banquo’s descendants’ future rulers.
- Macduff: A nobleman who opposes Macbeth and ultimately kills him.
- King Duncan: The benevolent king whose murder triggers the play’s tragic trajectory.
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