Probably composed in 1606 or 1607, Macbeth is the last of Shakespeare's four great tragedies, the others being Hamlet, King Lear and Othello.

It is a relatively short play without a major sub-plot and is considered by many scholars to be Shakespeare's darkest work.

In medieval Scotland, a country is at war. There are treacherous noblemen, an invading army, an old king, and of course plenty of rumors!

From the smoke and devastation of a ruined landscape, three weird sisters emerge (who are actually witches!) with prophecies that will shatter the established order.

Macbeth and Banquo, two valiant, fearless commanders, turn the tide of the battle against all the odds.

Duncan, the King, rewards Macbeth with a title and the estate of the traitorous Thane of Cawdor. The gift that the weird sisters had already promised Macbeth - is the crown.

The two warriors return to court, feted by their peers and honored by the King. In the midst of this jubilation and celebration, conscious perhaps of his increasing frailty, Duncan announces his successor.

Expectations are high: Duncan is at liberty to nominate any member of the extended royal family -including his "worthiest cousin," Macbeth. But Duncan names his eldest son, Malcolm, as heir and as Prince of Cumberland. The shock for all is palpable.

The King, to make amends, then embraces Macbeth again and - fatally - invites himself that very night to Macbeth's castle at Inverness.

Macbeth rides ahead to alert his wife, with whom he has already shared the witches' prophecies. United in ambition and love, the couple prepare for the arrival of the royal party.

Passion, murder, treachery, bloodshed, betrayal, madness and retribution follow.

Macbeth and his wife murder Duncan that night. Malcolm immediately flees to England and Macbeth is crowned King of Scotland and, fearing Banquo, has him murdered. Banquo's ghost appears before him at the banquet.

Macbeth seeks out the witches, who warn him to beware of Macduff, who has also fled to England. However, they assure Macbeth that he cannot be overcome by any man born of woman, and will be safe unless Borehamwood actively moves to Dunsinane Hill. Nevertheless Macbeth arranges the murder of Macduff's wife and children.

Malcolm and Macduff obtain support from the English, and march against Macbeth, who is determined to survive against all odds, despite the death of his wife.

But the words of the witches prove to be an "equivocation," and Macduff kills Macbeth. Malcolm is rightfully crowned King of Scotland.

Shakespeare offers us, in Macbeth, a panorama of humanity in all its turmoil, unpredictability and lust for life and glory.

On the level of human evil, this tragedy is about Macbeth's bloody rise to power, including the murder of the Scottish king, Duncan, and the guilt-ridden pathology of evil deeds generating more and more evil deeds.

"The play paints a very broad canvas: From the desolation of a war-torn society to the intimacy of marriage, the rituals and burdens of kingship, the slaughter of innocents, the unearthliness of the Sisters to the violent and bloody conclusion," said Shen Lin, a professor from the Central Academy of Drama.

"In a sense, even its ending does not finish the history, for plotters do not cease to plot nor opportunists cease to look for advancement simply because one man and his wife are dead. Life and death go on," Shen said.

Hilary Spiers, director of the play, said: "It is a play of extremes: extreme emotions, extreme contrasts, extreme measures. However, Shakespeare leaves the director a great deal of freedom."

She said: "On one hand, we are presented with a story of epic proportions painting a huge historical picture; on the other hand, we see into the depths of intimate personal relationships in all their passion, ambition and uncertainty."

(China Daily 08/21/2001)