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katbancroft's review against another edition
5.0
So brutal and bloody and brilliant. Shakespeare’s exploration of a king‘s fall from grace and descent into madness is as psychologically complex as it is emotionally devastating. There’s so much to unpack here — the guilt and insanity and ambition, but also the grief and honor and humanity. The tragedy of Macbeth is that he could have chosen such a different path, but he knowingly damned himself to blood and horror. All the while, the backdrop of witches and prophecies and nature itself revolting against Macbeth’s rule creates a chillingly chaotic atmosphere, impressing on readers the heinousness of his sins.
Beyond the story itself, Shakespeare’s writing is nothing short of profoundly beautiful; this text is worth studying if only to fully appreciate his intense, powerful imagery and masterful phrasing. I’m left with no doubt about why this is such a famous play, and I imagine it’s only more of a masterpiece when it’s performed.
Beyond the story itself, Shakespeare’s writing is nothing short of profoundly beautiful; this text is worth studying if only to fully appreciate his intense, powerful imagery and masterful phrasing. I’m left with no doubt about why this is such a famous play, and I imagine it’s only more of a masterpiece when it’s performed.
beabear1907's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kikijuly1's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
knittinjenna's review against another edition
Read and performed in middle school...
cami19's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
llorenteguy6491's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bookshroom247's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
gabsy's review against another edition
5.0
What a magnificient performance! The only way to make things better would have been to SEE it as well as hear it. A tour de force from Alan Cumming! There aren't enough superlatives to express how much I loved his performance. He brings to life every character and gives them a distinctive voice which lets us follow the story without getting lost. Granted, maybe someone who does not know the story at all would get lost, I'm not certain. There are almost no artifice, apart from superimposing his voice whenever characters speak together. A bare, but certainly not boring, interpretation of the classic text.