Macbeth

Macbeth by William Shakespeare (c. 1606)

"Is this a dagger which I see before me?" Three witches prophesy that Macbeth will become King of Scotland. Spurred by his wife's relentless ambition, he murders his way to the throne — and is consumed by guilt and paranoia.

Historical Significance:
Shakespeare wrote Macbeth around 1606, shortly after the Gunpowder Plot — an attempted assassination of King James I. The play was likely written partly to flatter James, who was fascinated by witchcraft. At just 2,100 lines, Macbeth is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy but his most intense — a compression of ambition, guilt, and supernatural horror into a white-hot narrative. Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking scene ("Out, damned spot!") and Macbeth's "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow" soliloquy are among the most psychologically penetrating moments in all drama. Theater tradition holds that the play is cursed — actors refer to it as "The Scottish Play" to avoid saying the name aloud.

This public domain classic was originally written c. 1606. Free to read and share.