Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, is a tragic play that was first performed in 1606. The play is about a Thane, or Scottish noblemen, who begins as a loyal general and subject of King Duncan. After receiving a prophecy from three witches that he will become King of Scotland, Macbeth murders Duncan and usurps the throne. To hide his crime and eliminate perceived enemies, Macbeth murders several more people throughout the course of the play. He seeks reassurances from the witches, who give him a seemingly optimistic prophecy that is nonetheless ambiguous. Macbeth chooses to believe that the prophecy guarantees his safety and engages the loyal Thane Macduff in battle, only to be slain by Macduff. Although the seed of the idea of becoming King is
