William Shakespeare's Macbeth A Sourcebook

Containing annotated extracts from key sources, this guide to William Shakespeare's Macbeth explores the heated debates that this play has sparked. Looking at issues, such as the representation of gender roles, political violence and the dramatisation of evil, this volume provides a way through the wealth of contextual and critical material that surrounds Shakespeare's text.

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a timeless tale of love, greed and power, which has given rise to heated debates around such issues as the representation of gender roles, political violence and the dramatisation of evil. Taking the form of a sourcebook, this guide to Shakespeare’s play presents: extensive introductory comment on the contexts, critical history and performance of the text, from publication to present annotated extracts from key contextual documents, reviews, critical works and the text itself cross-references between documents and sections of the guide, in order to suggest links between texts, contexts and criticism suggestions for further reading. Part of the Routledge Guides to Literature series, this volume is essential reading for all those beginning detailed study of Macbeth and seeking not only a guide to the play, but a way through the wealth of contextual and critical material that surrounds Shakespeare’s text.

Introduction Part 1: Contexts, Introduction, Chronology, Source Part 2: Interpretations, Critical History, Early Critical Reception Part 3: Key Passages Part 4: Further Reading Recommended Editions of Macbeth. Contexts. The Play in Performance.Film Versions.Criticism

Alexander Leggatt is Professor of English at University College, University of Toronto. He has published many books and articles on Shakespeare and ahs won an Outstanding Teaching Award from the Faculty of Arts & Science, University of Toronto.