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Macbeth
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Macbeth Paperback -

by William Shakespeare

About this book

Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a tragic play that delves into the destructive consequences of unchecked ambition. The story follows Macbeth, a Scottish nobleman, who, driven by his wife's relentless ambition and the prophecies of three witches, succumbs to his own inner darkness. As he ascends to the throne through deceit, Macbeth becomes consumed by guilt and paranoia. The play explores themes of power, guilt, fate, and the corrupting nature of ambition. Through vivid imagery, complex characters, and dramatic soliloquies, Shakespeare masterfully crafts a tale that exposes the psychological turmoil and moral decay that accompany the pursuit of power, leaving the audience with a haunting reflection on the human condition.

Macbeth's precise date remains uncertain, but it is generally considered contemporaneous with other canonical tragedies such as Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear. While some suggest an original writing date as early as 1599, it is more likely that the play was composed no earlier than 1603, celebrating King James' ancestors and the Stuart accession to the throne. Scholars believe Macbeth was written in 1606, following the Gunpowder Plot, with references and allusions to the plot and its trials. The play also reflects the political context of James' reign, exploring themes of kingship and rebellion.

From the publisher

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.

'Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires.'

Fresh from victory on the battlefield, the celebrated general and nobleman Macbeth receives a prophecy from three witches that he will one day become king of Scotland. Driven by his own ambition and that of his power-hungry wife, he murders King Duncan and seizes the throne for himself. Forced to commit murder again and again to maintain their grip on power, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth become haunted by guilt and paranoia, falling into a spiral of madness and, eventually, death.

Believed to have been written between 1599 and 1606, Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's darkest and most violent tragedies, and has inspired countless stage and screen adaptations.

First Edition Identification

The “First Folio” of 1623 remains the primary source for the play and the only early printed text, although some interpolations and additions are suspected. The “First Folio” is indeed the first printing of 36 of Shakespeare’s plays, and it was first published in 1623 by Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard. It is believed there were 750 copies of the First Folio printed in 1623. Only 235 of those are known to survive today, most of them held by The Folger Shakespeare Library.

Details

  • Title Macbeth
  • Author William Shakespeare
  • Series Collins Classics
  • Binding Paperback
  • Pages 272
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher William Collins
  • ISBN 9780008329457 / 0008329451
  • Weight 0.45 lbs (0.20 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.7 x 5 x 0.7 in (19.56 x 12.70 x 1.78 cm)
  • Ages 12 to 15 years
  • Grade levels 7 - 10
  • Themes
    • Chronological Period: Medieval (500-1453) Studies
    • Cultural Region: British
  • Dewey Decimal Code 822.33

About the author

William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest playwright the world has seen. He produced an astonishing amount of work; 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and 5 poems. He died on 23rd April 1616, aged 52, and was buried in the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford.

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