One stormy night, three witches predict Macbeth's rise to power and Banquo's royal descendants. “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. So all hail, Macbeth and Banqou!” Driven by ambition, Lady Macbeth urges her husband to take the throne by any means, leading them down a dangerous and dark path.

Reading Macbeth is not my first Shakespeare; I first read Othello as a teen and was hooked on the majesty of his tragedies at that age. Macbeth is no exception and delivers the same captivating experience.

I was blown away by how Macbeth can be seen as the foundational style for numerous classic fantasy themes. This play combines elements of murder mystery with fantasy, including witches, magic, potions, and paranormal events like ghost appearances. But it also is rich with political intrigue, greed, love, betrayal, and explores themes of claustrophobia or encroaching anxiety.

The atmosphere can best be described as a pre-early gothic horror reminiscent of Game of Thrones, with scenes ranging from muddy battlefields, stormy supernatural events, and flickering candles at lethal banquets.

However, downside to this play is the elements of antisemitism and sexism. Lady Macbeth is portrayed as the murderous, villainous wife. However, it also prefigures female rage novels, featuring obsession, autonomy, and the lengths women will go to carve their own place in history

All things considering, I adored this play because of its humor, the witches, the numerous plot twists and the feeling of compassion for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth when they spiraled into madness. A compelling read, tragic, yet occasionally humorous. Macbeth is a with right a masterpiece.