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.