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William Shakespeare tells the tragic story of a man who kills his king and begins a life of suspicion and enmity as the new ruler of Scotland. Macbeth is Shakespeare’s darkest play. Summary of the Play Macbeth, a courageous general serving King Duncan of Scotland, is tempted by the words of three witches. The hags tell him that he is destined for greatness, fuelling the inherent narcissism and ambition inside him. His wife encourages his thoughts and tells him that he should be the king instead. Macbeth assassinates King Duncan and takes the throne by force. Yet, the words of the witches do not come true. His rule is signified by utter chaos and paranoia. He turns into a tyrant, killing people to keep his throne. These mad actions result in a civil war, and they cost Macbeth and his wife their sanity and lives. Of all of Shakespeare’s plays, this is the shortest and it is loosely based on the Holinshed’s Chronicles and its account of the lives of King Macbeth of Scotland, Macduff, and Duncan. About William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was an English playwright and poet. Popularly called “The Bard of Avon”, he is largely considered one of the greatest writers in English history. Among his most famous plays are Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, King Lear and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The above play is the subject of much superstition and is often called “The Scottish Play” or “MacBee” to avoid its alleged curse. Media Note Macbeth has been adapted into several films. An upcoming adaptation by Justin Kurzel is currently filming and is due for release in 2015. It stars Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Sean Harris, Paddy Considine, Elizabeth Debicki, and David Thewlis.