Customer Reviews

Macbeth: A Guide to the Play (Greenwood Guides to Shakespeare)

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I have always liked "Macbeth." What I find interesting is that Macbeth starts out as a valiant general who is loyal to his king, but when he is tempted by evil, he (unlike his fellow general Banquo) can not resist the fruits to be obtained from vile deeds. Even when he tries to prevent himself from acting on his desire to be king, his wife pushes him. But once the deed is done, his wife begins to weaken and he has to push himself all the harder to hold on to what he was reluctant to strive for in the first place. I also find it striking that Macbeth realizes that his murder makes an eventual fallout with his friend Banquo inevitable. So then he has to have him killed secretly. It is masterfully crafted in that when Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo (who suspected Macbeth of murdering Duncan) Macbeth suddenly realizes that Macduff also suspects him of murdering Duncan. Hence, the secret of Duncan is not dead. It is captivating when Macbeth confronts the witches they deceive him into thinking he is invincible, and yet they have also shown him how he will be destroyed. Also, when Macbeth realizes that Banquo's descendants will eventually reign, his psychological frenzy shows us just how much he has degenerated. This paves the way for the murder of Macduff's family. This in turn gives Macduff a reason beyond politics to fight. Here Shakespeare masterfully shows us that even Lady Macbeth has a conscience. Furthermore, he allows us to feel Macbeth's regret over his crimes. We can even feel a sorry for him when his beloved wife dies, when he fights bravely up until the very end, and when he dies with dignity.