Macbeth [Paperback]

A man's thirst for power ends in tragedy in this Signet Classics edition of one of William Shakespeare's most powerful works.

When a trio of witches fortell that Macbeth will become King of Scotland, the brave general is consumed by ambition. Encouraged by his wife to seize the throne, their quest for power leads down a blood strewn path that ends in madness and death in this play that explores the consequences of guilt and corruption. 

This revised Signet Classics edition includes unique features such as:

• An overview of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater
• A special introduction to the play by the editor, Sylvan Barnet
• Selections from Raphael Holinshed'sThe Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, the source from which Shakespeare derivedMacbeth
• Dramatic criticism from A. C. Bradley, Elmer Edgar Stoll, Mary McCarthy, and others
• A comprehensive stage and screen history of notable actors, directors, and productions
• Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable text
• And more...Macbeth - William Shakespeare - Edited by Sylvan Barnet Samuel Johnson: Macbeth
A. C. Bradley:FromShakespearean Tragedy
Elmer Edgar Stoll: Source and Motive in ?Macbeth? and ?Othello?
Cleanth Brooks: The Naked Babe and the Cloak of Manliness
Mary MacCarthy: General Macbeth
Joan Larsen Klein: Lady Macbeth: ?Infirm of Purpose?
Sylvan Barnet: ?Macbeth? on the Stage and Screen

NEWLY ADDED ESSAYS:
Alan Sinfield: ?Macbeth?: History, Ideology, and Intellectuals

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was a poet, playwright, and actor who is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers in the history of the English language. Often referred to as the Bard of Avon, Shakespeare's vast body of work includes comedic, tragic, and historical plays; poems; and 154 sonnlÓà