The tragedy of Macbeth

By E.K. Chambers

Book Overview

A compact, ferocious study of power and conscience. Ambition consumes; conscience rarely survives. The tragedy of Macbeth stands among the most concentrated of the works of William Shakespeare, a Shakespearean tragedy play that distils ambition and power themes into an unforgiving moral drama. Its spare Scottish setting drama and stark supernatural elements in literature create a charged atmosphere in which a betrayal and guilt story is driven by language and dramatic pace rather than spectacle. Composed in early 17th century England and often grouped with late Elizabethan stage literature, Macbeth's terse blank verse, urgent speeches and compressed scenes make it as immediate on the page as it is on stage. Readers approaching classic English drama for the first time find a fierce narrative voice; students encounter it across the high school literature curriculum and in college English reading, while theatre practitioners return to it for the concentrated study of character and consequence. Republished by Alpha Editions in a careful modern edition, this volume preserves the spirit of the original while making it effortless to enjoy today - a heritage title prepared for readers and collectors alike. Fresh readers find the play's momentum and moral pressure gripping; seasoned collectors and those completing a complete Shakespeare collection appreciate an edition that respects textual intensity without getting in the way of the work itself. Scholars and theatre companies have long mined Macbeth for its compact architecture and intense character study, and its adaptability keeps it vital on stage and in translation. This edition suits close classroom analysis as much as solitary reading - a bridge between high school literature curriculum introductions and deeper college English reading programmes. More than historical record, Macbeth offers a mirror on ambition, authority and the corrosive costs of desire, securing its place as essential reading and a continuing force in English stage literature.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9390382890
• ISBN13: 9789390382897
• Release Date: September 2020
• Publisher: Alpha Edition
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"