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Macbeth

by William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

  • Free to read
  • 1 hour to read
  • 30 chapters
  • Reading level: 6th grade

"Macbeth" by William Shakespeare is a tragedy first performed in 1606. When a Scottish general receives a prophecy that he will become king, his latent ambition awakens. Spurred by his wife, Macbeth murders his way to the throne, then descends into paranoia and tyranny as he commits further killings to secure his power. The play explores the devastating psychological and physical effects of unchecked political ambition, tracing how the violent pursuit of power leads to guilt, madness, and ultimately destruction.

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  • Tragedies (Drama)
  • Regicides
  • Macbeth, King of Scotland, active 11th century
  • Scotland · Kings and rulers

Read the opening

Act I: Scene I: A desert place. Thunder and lightning

Enter three Witches.

FIRST WITCH. When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
SECOND WITCH. When the hurlyburly's done,
When the battle's lost and won.
THIRD WITCH. That will be ere the set of sun.
FIRST WITCH. Where the place?
SECOND WITCH. Upon the heath.
THIRD WITCH. There to meet with Macbeth.
FIRST WITCH. I come, Graymalkin.
ALL. Paddock calls. Anon!
Fair is foul, and foul is fair.
Hover through the fog and filthy air. Exeunt.

Keep reading Macbeth →

Contents

Show all 30 chapters
  1. Front Matter
  2. Act I: Scene I: A desert place. Thunder and lightning
  3. Scene II: A camp near Forres. Alarum within
  4. Scene III: A heath. Thunder
  5. Scene IV: Forres. The palace
  6. Scene V: Inverness. Macbeth's castle
  7. Scene VI: Before Macbeth's castle. Hautboys and torches
  8. Scene VII: Macbeth's castle. Hautboys and torches
  9. Act II: Scene I: Inverness. Court of Macbeth's castle
  10. Scene II: The same
  11. Scene III: The same
  12. Scene IV: Outside Macbeth's castle
  13. Act III: Scene I: Forres. The palace
  14. Scene II: The palace
  15. Scene III: A park near the palace
  16. Scene IV: A Hall in the palace. A banquet prepared
  17. Scene V: A heath. Thunder
  18. Scene VI: Forres. The palace
  19. Act IV: Scene I: A cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron. Thunder
  20. Scene II: Fife. Macduff's castle
  21. Scene III: England. Before the King's palace
  22. Act V: Scene I: Dunsinane. Anteroom in the castle
  23. Scene II: The country near Dunsinane. Drum and colors
  24. Scene III: Dunsinane. A room in the castle
  25. Scene IV: Country near Birnam Wood. Drum and colors
  26. Scene V: Dunsinane. Within the castle
  27. Scene VI: Dunsinane. Before the castle
  28. Scene VII: Dunsinane. Before the castle. Alarums
  29. Scene VIII: Another Part of the field
  30. Scene IX

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About this edition

This free edition of Macbeth by William Shakespeare comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #1795, released 1999-06-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Plays/Films/Dramas, Classics of Literature, British Literature.

Other editions: eBook #1533 (most read), eBook #2264.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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