Macbeth (1623) By William Shakespeare

"Something wicked this way comes."

'The Tragedy of Macbeth' is, of course, one of the most famous and studied plays in history, perhaps rivalled only by two other Shakespeare works; 'Romeo & Juliet' and 'Hamlet'.

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair.”

It is a play of rapid tempo and pace, which sees a continuous escalation in events and violence, fueled by the steadily more wicked acts of the play's protagonist, for whom the play is named. It is, by nature, a tragic and brutal affair.

"When our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors.”

The tale is a tragedy by its very name and definition, and is full of dramatic scenes of treachery and woe. The seduction of the Macbeths, by trickery and vain ambition, creates what is a thrilling story for readers, as well as live audiences of theatre productions.

"False face must hide what the false heart doth know.”

Each act has its own messages and themes, that foreshadow, with delicious irony, that which will come to bear. And irony truly is the most appropriate word for the events of the play, as it is with great and growing irony that each scene unfolds and the fates of the key protagonists are revealed.

"Blood will have blood.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this most iconic of plays - particularly due to the abundance of foreshadowing, irony and metaphor that make the final scenes so satisfying. The storytelling is transcendent and genius, and tells a story of greed, ambition, just deserts and downfall with emphatic and delightful quality.

"What’s done cannot be undone.”