Macbeth
A great book. First published AD 1623, written in Early Modern English
The Tragedy of Macbeth, often shortened to Macbeth, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambitions and power. It was first published in the Folio of 1623, possibly from a prompt book, and is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy. Scholars believe Macbeth, of all the plays that Shakespeare wrote during the reign of King James I, contains the most allusions to James, patron of Shakespeare's acting company.
Your reading
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Where it is set
- Scotland
United Kingdom
In the play, a brave Scottish general named Macbeth receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Source: Wikipedia, reviewed
- Inverness
United Kingdom
declaring they will all spend the night at Macbeth's castle in Inverness Source: Wikipedia, reviewed
Its heirs
Later works that draw on Macbeth.
Moby-DickGreat book
Herman Melville, AD 1851
Macbeth was the other play Melville marked most. Ahab, like Macbeth, is driven by prophecy and his own will, and Fedallah's riddling predictions of his death, hearses and hemp, recall the witches'.
Source: Wikipedia, Moby-Dick
“This insight was then reinforced by the study of Melville's annotations in his reading copy of Shakespeare, which show that he immersed himself in Shakespeare when he was preparing for Moby-Dick, especially King Lear and Macbeth.” Read it there
Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk DistrictGreat book
Nikolai Leskov, AD 1865
Leskov's title borrows Shakespeare's murderess for a merchant's wife in provincial Russia, Katerina Izmailova, who kills for love and for her place in the house, without any of Lady Macbeth's remorse.
Source: Wikipedia, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District (novella)
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