Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's great tragedies, and in this study guide we analyse the key meanings and subtleties within the play. We discuss the main protagonists, the key themes and the context and break down the core scenes so that you have all the necessary facts and arguments at your disposal. Written by Catherine Hartley and Stella Vassiliou, both of whom have master's degrees in English literature from Cambridge and Oxford Universities respectively, their depth of understanding and analysis is brought to life by actors, including Guy Henry, the leading Shakespearian actor. As well as narrating, our actors provide a range of pertinent quotations so you are not only taken into the world of Shakespeare but are provided with all the salient information of this great play in a clear and compelling manner.

The chapters in the Macbeth series are:

Introduction and Critical Heritage
Analysis of Context
Act 1 Scene 1 – Witchcraft
Act I, scene ii - Foreshadowing
Act I, scenes iii and iv - The prophecies
Act I, scene v - Meeting Lady Macbeth
Act I, scenes vi and vii - Dramatic irony - Part 1
Act I, scenes vi and vii - Dramatic irony - Part 2
Act II, scene i - The dagger soliloquy
Act II, scene ii - The murder - Part 1
Act II, scene ii - The murder - Part 2
Act II, scenes iii and iv - Comic relief and reactions to murder
Act III, scenes i, ii and iii - Banquo’s murder and the deterioration of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship - Part 1
Act III, scenes i, ii and iii - Banquo’s murder and the deterioration of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship - Part 2
Act III, scene iv - Banquo’s ghost - Part 1
Act III, scene iv - Banquo’s ghost - Part 2
Act III, scenes v and vi, and Act IV, scene i - The apparitions
Act IV, scenes ii and iii - Lady Macduff and the rise of Malcolm
Act V, scenes i, iii, and v - The demise of Lady Macbeth
Remainder of Act V - The demise of Macbeth
Overview of characters: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth - Part 1
Overview of characters: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth - Part 2
Exam questions and how you might answer them
Exam questions and how you could answer them Part 2.