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If you're the bloodthirsty sort, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, will speak directly to your love of gore. That's because the main character, Macbeth, spends the bulk of this play killing people-and all in the name of power. There's a king's crown to be had-and haven't Shakespeare's characters killed for less? But don't blame all the blood and guts on Macbeth. One of the big questions of Shakespeare's tragedy is whether the guy is completely responsible for his actions. After all, it's the witches' prophecies that prompt the first murder. And Macbeth's wife, Lady Macbeth, plays more than just a supporting role in the killing spree. Which is to say that unlike today's slasher flicks, there's actually some nuance to Macbeth. And if you can get past the violence, you'll see that Shakespeare was playing with some important questions about responsibility, influence, and consequences-questions that keep this play feeling relevant nearly 400 years later

Links to performances, audio recordings, commentary and text for Macbeth.

Articles and essays on Macbeth

A quick summary of Macbeth and other interesting shtuff

It is important to show your awareness of the genre of a text. Macbeth is above all a drama, intended to make its impact in performance on the stage. This can sometimes get forgotten when you are reading the play from a book in class or studying at home! When writing on Macbeth in your critical essays for Higher English, you should:

An detailed analysis of the play 'Macbeth' by Shakespeare, including all five acts, the characters and its' theme.

Resource Kit for analysing Macbeth in conjunction with Bell Shakespeare's performance. 

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC9G_CZVAL8&feature=share&list=PL8C46E50305745D26"

Whether for controlled assesment or exam, writing about a play needs extra care. You will perhaps only have read the play in class so take care to keep in mind that plays are written for the stage, not the page.

An example table of how generic conventions of tragedy are used in Othello, very useful for creating your own version based on Macbeth in preparation for your upcoming essay