YNA Macbeth: York Notes Advanced everything you need to catch up, study and prepare for and 2023 and 2024 exams and assessments: everything you need ... prepare for 2021 assessments and 2022 exams - Softcover

Shakespeare, William

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1405801743 ISBN 13: 9781405801744

Publisher: Longman, 2005

Synopsis

York Notes Advanced offer a fresh and accessible approach to English Literature. This market-leading series has been completely updated to meet the needs of today's A-level and undergraduate students. Written by established literature experts, York Notes Advanced intorduce students to more sophisticated analysis, a range of critical perspectives and wider contexts.

About this title

Review:

One of Shakespeare's greatest, but also bloodiest tragedies, was written around 1605/06. Many have seen the story of Macbeth's murder and usurpation of the legitimate Scottish King Duncan as having obvious connection to contemporary issues regarding King James I (James VI of Scotland), and the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. King James was particularly fascinated with witchcraft, so the appearance of the witches chanting "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" at the opening of the play seemed particularly topical, as was Macbeth's betrayal of Banquo, from whom James claimed direct descent.

However, the play is clearly far more than a piece of royal entertainment. It is also a fast-moving and dramatically satisfying piece of theatre. Macbeth's existential struggle between loyalty to his King and his "Vaulting ambition" is fascinating to watch, as his is struggle with Lady Macbeth, and her own terrifying refusal of her maternal role. The play shows an intensification of Shakespeare's interest in mothers and their effect upon ruling masculinity, and also contains some of the most memorable speeches in the entire canon, including Macbeth's reflections that ultimately life "is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing". --Jerry Brotton

Review:

The perfect introduction to Shakespeare! --Helen Reynolds, teacher

An absolute godsend! --Linda Arthan, teacher

About this edition

• Publisher: Longman
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1405801743
• ISBN 13: 9781405801744
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 136