Summary of The Oxford Shakespeare: The Tragedy of Macbeth

The Oxford Shakespeare: The Tragedy of Macbeth is an edition of one of William Shakespeare’s most renowned tragedies. It is edited by Adrian Poole and includes an introduction and commentary that explores the text in detail. The tragedy tells the story of Macbeth, a Scottish nobleman who murders the King of Scotland, and is then haunted by his own guilt and ambition. The play is filled with animal images, symbols, and contains some of the most famous lines of any play by Shakespeare. The introduction provides an overview of the play’s background and context, discusses the sources and evolution of the play, and provides analysis of the characters and themes. The commentary examines the language, structure, and themes in detail and provides a full glossary of terms to support a thorough understanding of the text.