Introduction to ‘Macbeth’ and Shakespeare

• ‘Macbeth’ is about the corrupting power of ambition
• Macbeth becomes a cruel king, who commits many crimes, before he is eventually killed
• Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most-performed plays
• Its themes of ambition and betrayal are still relevant today
• The basic plot of Macbeth has inspired many adaptations
• Themes in Macbeth

  • Ambition
  • Betrayal
• Shakespeare shows that

  Even honourable men can be corrupted by ambition
• Macbeth betrays his king, his country and his own conscience to satisfy his lust for power
• Macbeth and Lady Macbeth show that power that’s taken unfairly doesn’t bring happiness
• Power that’s taken unfairly leads to guilt, madness and death
• Shakespeare is the most famous writer in the English language

  . William Shakespeare wrote at least thirty-seven plays and a lot of poems

  . He wrote some of the most famous plays in the English language, including comedies (such as Twelfth Night), tragedies (such as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet) and histories (such as Richard III)

  . Macbeth is one of his best-known tragedies

  . It was written in the 1600s, but the story is very loosely based on history - a man called Macbeth was King of Scotland in the 11th century