"[W]hile we may grant the basic position that literature is primarily art, it must be affirmed also that art does not exist in a vacuum. It is a creation by someone at some time in history, and it is intended to speak to other human beings about some idea or issue that has human relevance."
-- Guerin, et al. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature

One critical method for reading Shakespeare's Macbeth is via an historical and cultural approach. Placing the work in context gives the reader greater insight into its nuances. This website has seven sections that highlight important aspects of Macbeth. Each section has descriptive links to websites and primary source materials concerning the time period Macbeth was written in.

November 16, 2004