A brave Scottish general named Macbeth receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders the King Duncan and soon becomes a tyrannical ruler.
Performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Family Theater in 2007 by Weber State University. Stage direction by Tracy Callahan.
A Teacher Explains: 5 Keys to Studying Shakespeare
English teacher Lauren Cavarra offers students tips for successfully studying Shakespeare. Topics include dealing with Shakespeare’s 400-year-old English and not being intimidated by people who need you to know just how much they love Shakespeare.
Why should you read “Macbeth”?
There’s a play so powerful that an old superstition says its name should never be uttered in a theater. A play that begins with witchcraft and ends with a bloody, severed head. A play filled with riddles, prophecies, nightmare visions, and lots of brutal murder. But is it really all that good? Brendan Pelsue explains why you should read (or revisit) Macbeth.
Tomorrow, and tomorrow—Ian McKellen analyzes Macbeth speech (1979)
Free Will, Witches, Murder, and Macbeth (Part 1): Crash Course Literature #409
The Sound! The Fury! Today, we’re talking about Shakespeare’s Scottish play, Macbeth. So, was Macbeth really predestined to do all the murdering and bad kinging and other terrible stuff? That’s the big question in Macbeth and it’s one of the ideas we’re going to talk about today, among many.
Gender, Guilt, and Fate - Macbeth, Part 2: Crash Course Literature #410
This time around, we’re looking at the play’s characters operate, how the play deals with gender, and the Macbeth as an early anti-hero. You can definitely love to hate him. Or hate to love him. Or both!
Video SparkNotes: Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” | CliffsNotes Video Summary
Producer
Kenny Neal
Updated
October 23, 2019
Take a peek behind the red curtain and discover the artistry and history behind the world of theater. Explore the playwriting process first-hand, learn about the cultural impact of performance, and read and perform some of the most influential works of the 20th century.
Eric Friedman
Director, Digital Learning
Kenny Neal
Manager, Digital Education Resources
Tiffany A. Bryant
Manager, Operations and Audience Engagement
JoDee Scissors
Content Specialist, Digital Learning
Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;
Prince Charitable Trusts; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Jackie Washington; GRoW @ Annenberg and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family; Wells Fargo; and generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts..
The content of these programs may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government.
