Introduction to the play
Listen to this introduction:
In 1603, James VI of Scotland ascended the English throne, becoming James I of England. London was alive with an interest in all things Scottish, and Shakespeare turned to Scottish history for material. He found a spectacle of violence and stories of traitors advised by witches and wizards, echoing James’s belief in a connection between treason and witchcraft.
In depicting a man who murders to become king, Macbeth teases us with huge questions. Is Macbeth tempted by fate, or by his or his wife’s ambition? Why does their success turn to ashes?
Like other plays, Macbeth speaks to each generation. Its story was once seen as that of a hero who commits an evil act and pays an enormous price. Recently, it has been applied to nations that overreach themselves and to modern alienation. The line is blurred between Macbeth’s evil and his opponents’ good, and there are new attitudes toward both witchcraft and gender.
The Folger Shakespeare
Our bestselling editions of Shakespeare's plays and poems
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
—The Witches
Act 4, scene 1, lines 10–11
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time
—Macbeth
Act 5, scene 5, lines 22–24
From the audio edition of Macbeth
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Video: Folger Theatre's Macbeth
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Macbeth in our collection
A selection of Folger collection items related to Macbeth. Find more in our digital image collection
Essays and resources from The Folger Shakespeare
Macbeth
Learn more about the play, its language, and its history from the experts behind our edition.
About Shakespeare’s Macbeth
An introduction to the plot, themes, and characters in the play
Reading Shakespeare’s Language
A guide for understanding Shakespeare’s words, sentences, and wordplay
An Introduction to This Text
A description of the publishing history of the play and our editors’ approach to this edition
Textual Notes
A record of the variants in the early printings of this text
A Modern Perspective
An essay by Susan Snyder
Further Reading
Suggestions from our experts on where to learn more
Shakespeare and his world
Learn more about Shakespeare, his theater, and his plays from the experts behind our editions.
Shakespeare’s Life
An essay about Shakespeare and the time in which he lived
Shakespeare’s Theater
An essay about what theaters were like during Shakespeare’s career
The Publication of Shakespeare’s Plays
An essay about how Shakespeare’s plays were published
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Teaching Macbeth
Use the Folger Method to teach Macbeth. Become a Teacher Member to get exclusive access to lesson plans and professional development.
The Key to Getting ALL Students Understanding and Interpreting Complex Texts
The Key to Getting ALL Students Understanding and Interpreting Complex Texts
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Thou Unknown Power: Embracing Ambiguity in Macbeth
Fill Your Cauldron: Spooky Treats from Macbeth
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Reading Macbeth 1.3 with Art
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Choral Reading: Rena from August Wilson’s Jitney and Lady Macbeth from Macbeth
Choral Reading: Rena from August Wilson’s Jitney and Lady Macbeth from Macbeth
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Macbeth in the First Folio: Sisters or Witches?
Editing Macbeth: Issues an Editor Faces
Editing Macbeth: Issues an Editor Faces
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Choral Reading: Macbeth’s Soliloquy in Macbeth 1.7
Choral Reading: Macbeth’s Soliloquy in Macbeth 1.7
Abraham Lincoln, Macbeth, and Julius Caesar, 1865
Abraham Lincoln, Macbeth, and Julius Caesar, 1865
Early printed texts
Macbeth was published for the first time in the 1623 First Folio (F1) and that text is the basis for all modern editions of the play.
