Macbeth

by William Shakespeare

"Macbeth" by William Shakespeare is a tragedy first performed in 1606. A Scottish general receives a prophecy from three witches that he will become king. Consumed by ambition and urged on by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and seizes the throne. But his violent rise to power unleashes guilt, paranoia, and further bloodshed. As the body count rises, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth descend into madness, discovering that political ambition exacts a terrible psychological price.