Macbeth too lives in such a denial when he says" The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be, Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see". he is denying what he has done, saying that his eye can't see what his hand has done.
therefore, the three witches, Lady macbeth, and Macbeth himself all can be classified under one group: "instruments of darkness".

yet another quote is" look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't". this is in under the theme of Appearance vs Reality. it reminds us of how Eve tempted adam, just that now, it is Lady Macbeth tempting macbeth. the comparison draws too close.
there's so much more...go read it yourself!


Awesome   May 29, 2004
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

I first read this play earlier this year in preparation for my SATs exam and wasn't exactly enthralled with the prospect of Macbeth for the next few months. To my surprise I ended up thinking the play was absolutely awesome. It had so many issues and clever character develpoments and deliberate ambiguity, it really left me thinking. I hadn't previously been a particular fan of Shakespeare partly because of the language, but now I see that the language is an important part of the brilliance of the play.

This play is a moral story, about how good triumphs over evil, a story about a friendship going wrong, the break - up of a marriage, the study of a murderer's mind and an intense, fast - moving thriller. I don't think that you could ask for more from a play. Fantastic


Macbeth   April 22, 2004
 4 out of 6 found this review helpful

I had to study this play for english SATs. i never understood shakespeare before until i had to buy this book. It's helpful with all the side notes, explanations of words, photographs, and little excersizes to help you understand the meaning of the text and the wording. This version defintaley helped me to understand and appreciate Shakespeare.


better than expected   January 24, 2004
 7 out of 10 found this review helpful

I studied this play for my English GCSE and automatically disregarded it because Shakespeare does sound pretty boring. However, once you understand all of the hidden meanings, themes, characters and sub-plots an entire world of betrayal, lust for power and ambition is released with the most magnificent subtlety.

I found the 'York Notes' guide book became essential and really helped me to fully understand the play for my coursework. Also watching the various film editions, including the RSC edition, made even more interesting.

The play starts with the significant and interesting three witches who tell Macbeth that he will eventually become king. Macbeth is an eager soldier of Scotland who feels hard done by when the King, Duncan grants his throne to his son after his death, rather than the more courageous Macbeth. His wife, Lady Macbeth urges him to kill the king in order to claim the throne but he soon realises that being King does not automatically bring the honour and loyalty he expects; this shortly leads to his downfall. In other words, "To be safe is nothing, but to be safely thus."

For me, Macbeth really got the 5star review because of its relevance to modern day life. For example, one theme of the book is that Macbeth is over ambitious, this leads him to his downfall; as does his greed for power. Making it something very relevant to celebrities and eager "pop idols".

This copy of the book is more difficult to read as it bombards almost every page with useless notes on certain words and refernces, if you are studying the play for English, you would be much better off with a study guide and the cheaper non-school version.

This book really makes you think. Yet it does not require your undivided attention for days because it is one Shakespeare's shortest plays. You simply must read this book and there are loads of guides on the internet to help you through it if you find the old language particularly difficult. No matter what your age or ability I think Macbeth has it all. An enthralling read.


Regicide, terror and fear   March 28, 2003
 5 out of 8 found this review helpful

Macbeth is Shakespeare’s most “simple” tragedies without the philosophising siloqueys of King Lear or Hamlet. It’s plot is straightforward- a Scottish noble murders himself to the top of the heap then pays the consequences and eerie scenes involving witches, sleepwalking and ghosts make it wonderful to act out.
In terms of meaning Macbeth is one of the finest works to do with regicide. Macbeth was written by Shakespeare for James I/VI and the moral lesson for would be Macbeth’s is that king killing will not bring happiness. With asides to the gunpowder plot, witchcraft and its Scottish theme Macbeth is truly a tableaux of the early seventeenth century.
This edition is especially good as it gives inside information and suggestions for class participation on every page so it is always clear what is happening in the play.