Overview
In 1603, James VI of Scotland ascended the English throne, becoming James I of England. London was alive with an interest in all things Scottish, and Shakespeare turned to Scottish history for material. He found a spectacle of violence and stories of traitors advised by witches and wizards, echoing James’s belief in a connection between treason and witchcraft.
In depicting a man who murders to become king, Macbeth teases us with huge questions. Is Macbeth tempted by fate, or by his or his wife’s ambition? Why does their success turn to ashes?
Like other plays, Macbeth speaks to each generation. Its story was once seen as that of a hero who commits an evil act and pays an enormous price. Recently, it has been applied to nations that overreach themselves and to modern alienation. The line is blurred between Macbeth’s evil and his opponents’ good, and there are new attitudes toward both witchcraft and gender.
Most Popular Resources
Exploring Gender: Shakespeare’s Take on Chaste, Silent, and Obedient
Exploring Gender: Shakespeare’s Take on Chaste, Silent, and Obedient
Join us for a fascinating talk with Dr. Gail Paster as she explores the role of women in Shakespeare. This professional development session was recorded on December 8, 2022 at 8pm ET
Two Juicy, Interactive Lessons for Your Next Class!
Two Juicy, Interactive Lessons for Your Next Class!
Experience the power of choral reading, paired texts, discovery and analysis, all with no explaining from the teacher. This professional development was recorded on October 27, 2022 at 8PM ET.
Macbeth Without Ambition with Dr. Adam Zucker
Macbeth Without Ambition with Dr. Adam Zucker
What if we teach Macbeth without ambition? What if we push back against the Shakespearean cliché in an effort to make more room for our voices and the voices of our students? How might we clear some space to see this old, familiar text in new, and newly useful ways? This lecture was recorded on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 8PM ET .
Free resource
Lesson plans
Reading Macbeth 1.3 with Art
Reading Macbeth 1.3 with Art
Use art to get students thinking about the witches in Macbeth and the way in which artists have represented these characters over time.
Comparing Shakespeare to His Source, Holinshed: The Witches in Macbeth 3.1
Comparing Shakespeare to His Source, Holinshed: The Witches in Macbeth 3.1
How did Shakespeare take a book of legend and turn it into drama? Students compare his witches in Macbeth to those of Holinshed.
Free resource
Choral Reading: Rena from August Wilson’s Jitney and Lady Macbeth from Macbeth
Choral Reading: Rena from August Wilson’s Jitney and Lady Macbeth from Macbeth
What do Rena from August Wilson’s Jitney and Lady Macbeth have in common?
Macbeth in the First Folio: Sisters or Witches?
Macbeth in the First Folio: Sisters or Witches?
Students get up close with the 1623 First Folio to solve a textual mystery about the witches in Macbeth.
Professional Development
Exploring Gender: Shakespeare’s Take on Chaste, Silent, and Obedient
Exploring Gender: Shakespeare’s Take on Chaste, Silent, and Obedient
Join us for a fascinating talk with Dr. Gail Paster as she explores the role of women in Shakespeare. This professional development session was recorded on December 8, 2022 at 8pm ET
Two Juicy, Interactive Lessons for Your Next Class!
Two Juicy, Interactive Lessons for Your Next Class!
Experience the power of choral reading, paired texts, discovery and analysis, all with no explaining from the teacher. This professional development was recorded on October 27, 2022 at 8PM ET.
Macbeth Without Ambition with Dr. Adam Zucker
Macbeth Without Ambition with Dr. Adam Zucker
What if we teach Macbeth without ambition? What if we push back against the Shakespearean cliché in an effort to make more room for our voices and the voices of our students? How might we clear some space to see this old, familiar text in new, and newly useful ways? This lecture was recorded on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 8PM ET .
Free resource
Folger Community Conversation: Teaching Literature During COVID-19
Folger Community Conversation: Teaching Literature During COVID-19
Join Folger Education and teachers from around the country for a virtual community conversation.