Does Anyone Understand Macbeth?

No Shakespeare play is really easy, and everybody will have their own ideas about Macbeth. However, this is one play which is a lot easier if you try to imagine the events in it, happening to you. For instance, at the beginning Macbeth is met by the three witches as he returns from battle. They tell him he will be Thane of Glamis (which he knows is true) THane of Cawdor (which comes true within minutes) and King. He is a soldier, used to killing and not much used to thinking. The present king, Duncan, is coming to stay with him, unprotected. It is so easy to kill Duncan, and once Macbeth has been made king, so easy to silence all critics (like Banquo.) Everything comes easily to Macbeth, except that his conscience punishes him - he has nightmares, never sleeps well again, and his seemingly ruthless wife suffers even more.

If you try to imagine yourself - hugely tempted to do something wrong but very easy - and having been almost persuaded it's right by a "prophecy" - it may be easier to get a feel for the character of Macbeth. Finally, take some of his lines, like "I have lived long anough, my way of life/ Is fallen into the sere, the yellow leaf.." and try to FEEL like him.