Macbeth by William Shakespeare

My Summary:

Set in medieval Scotland, Macbeth is a Thane who rules over Glamis. He is given a prophecy by three witches, predicting he would next be the Thane of Cawdor, that eventually after that he will become King of Scotland, and that his companion, Banquo, will be the father of future kings. This prophecy burns itself into Macbeth's mind, so that soon, it is all he can think about. His greed for power leads to murder, betrayal, and anguish. 

Review:

I'm going to say this right away; it wasn't my favorite. This was a play that was a mandatory read for my English class this year, and although I typically enjoy reading Shakespeare's work, this one was a dud. The thing I most enjoyed about the entirety of the piece was getting to read it aloud, (simply because the language is beautiful) but other than that the plot did not agree with me.

I initially like the storyline; the first murder kept me intrigued. However, as the number of dead bodies rose, I lost interest in the deceit and killing. And yes, I understand that the access of homicide had to do with showing the underlying themes, but I feel that perhaps another way of showing the danger of greed would have been more effective.

Not to say at all that this play was poorly written. I don't think that's possible in Shakespeare's case. I absolutely love Macbeth's famous speech:

"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day

To the last syllable of recorded time,

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing." (Act V, Scene 5)

The themes, although I didn't like how they were displayed, were quite interesting. There is a lot of focus on the intoxication that comes with power and how morals are usually set aside, if it means getting what one wants. It also delves into the repercussions of death and grief and how much people can be negatively effected by the things they once wanted most.

All said and done (yes, this is short because I tried to refrain from spoiling the book) it wasn't the worst read ever, nor was it the best. The phraseology always astounds me when I read Shakespeare and that is the element I appreciate most about this book. 

 

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I think that these types of reviews (ones where I discuss books that are mandatory for me to read) are some of the more interesting ones. I feel like it's probably a fresher perspective; that of a 15 year old, who didn't choose to read the novel by choice. There will always be books I do not like, but in recent years there have been a few that I've thoroughly enjoyed reading. So, if you're a high-schooler and you're reading this, remember; look at every assigned book as an opportunity to find a work you will find delight in reading.