I'm familiar with Macbeth, and have read it multiple times. I found this edition useful in uncovering meanings that were previously unclear, and that I didn't feel the need to check the meaning of individual words as I read. Some may quarrel over the modern translations, but even so, it gives a reader insight to possible interpretations that may have relevance. I enjoyed reading it and recommend it along with other texts that can add to ones understanding of this essential play.

Def should read on Sparknotes website. The layout makes it easy to follow and compare the two versions of the play: the original and the modern/no-fear version. Highly recommend this for anyone interested in Shakespeare but have not enough the ability to understand ancient English.

I remember the trauma to this day. Reading Shakespeare in middle school. 5 decades have passed. Scars have healed. Time to give the poet another go. But where to start? Thankfully for us rubes there is the No Fear Shakespeare series. While I've just finished Macbeth this is really a review of the series as I have read 6 or 7 in this series in the past year. At first I started reading the modern translation on the right page first then reading the original. Then curiously I started reading the oc...

Well who doesn't love a Shakespearean verse from time to time? I was assigned this particular version of the play by my 100 level intro to theater instructor and tbh I was very perturbed by the idea that you have a side by side original and modern translation of the play in one book. After getting used to the structure of this book the modern translation served a good purpose to illuminate ideas - particularly through explanatory footnotes related to some contextual comments - but largely served...

This is a very useful copy. I recommend it to anybody who likes Shakespeare. Even if you comfortable with the language, like first language comfortable. Some of the translations are questionable, but interesting to read even if you know what it means. I found it quite irritating to read at the beginning because the original and translated version are on seperate pages. This is confusing at the start, as you start to read one after the other.

Always a banger for spooky szn

I really enjoyed reading this book. I feel like this is pretty standard Shakespeare. I liked the development of the characters and I feel like the ending paid off. Overall, a pretty good story.

Thank you, Sparknotes!

I've read Macbeth several times, seen the play at the Globe, and read a novel based on the play, so this was a quick re-read and then I watched a movie version from 2010 with Patrick Stewart in the lead roll. It was really great - filmed in some creepy place that looked like an abandoned hospital or something. That really added to the effect. I have to laugh at Lady Macbeth washing her hands every time. I love that part with her descent into madness. So good!

[icky face emoji]Shakespeare plays are like a Jackie Chan movie: the plot could have been written by an 8 year old and its full of a bunch of fancy karate gymnastics that has nothing to do with the story and and distracts the viewer.

so my chore is to sweep and my parents got a roomba…wanted to name it macbeth bc its a backstabber

I wish Goodreads didn't count as READ books that I did not finish. Why isn't there a DNF feature on this program? Is that bad for selling books?Anyway, I didn't get through Macbeth. What sticks to my ribs, though, is that Lady Macbeth was the real main character here; she talked her old man into killing the King and whenever he wavered on his decision to do it, she was right there with the browbeating. What a bitch. I'd have told her "you want him dead so bad? YOU kill him." She was a nightmare....

good ol Shakespeare... trying to read more of the tragedies

I've never liked Shakespeare because it took too long to figure out what Shakespeare was trying to say, if I could at all. This version of Macbeth in plain English side by side with the original words is wonderful. I thought the story was fantastic and I understood what was happening because the plain English was easy to understand. With No Fear Shakespeare books, I can finally enjoy Shakespeare's plays.

Macbeth has been one of my favorite books and reading this version made it a very easy and fun read (sorry Ysabel 🙂). There were translations that I found too literal though, and personally do not agree to. In any case, it’s another way of enjoying Shakespeare 😊

My first venture into Shakespeare's world... And I ended up with the dark tragedy, The Scottish Play itself. Macbeth. I think I like it.In the No Fear Shakespeare edition, the Modern English version is very well written. It helped understand Shakespeare's words better, for sure. It felt like I was in a book club, of sorts, getting insight from (a slightly more educated) someone else. It's great! There were a small handful of times that I questioned the translation though as being a bit too frivo...

Kindle version not as good as the bookThis is a review for No Fear Shakespeare Kindle (I know Amazon lumps all Macbeth reviews together). In the paperback version of No Fear Shakespeare, the original and modern text appear side by side. Unfortunately, in the Kindle version, the original full act is all together followed by the modern. There is no way in the menu part to flip back and forth (both versions are placed in the same “chapter” in the menu) and no way to compare line by line like the pa...

I think this book was truly interesting because it has some old English and you can learn a bit from this book. I thought it was interesting how the killing was very underrated, people seemed very comfortable murdering or eliminating people just for power. During the age of Shakespear you really did need to watch your back because anyone could kill you. Strangers can kill you, and even the people who you think you are close to can double-cross you. Especially if you had power like being king you...

This is my first ever Shakespearean play and I loved reading through this No Fear version. I felt I was able to genuinely enjoy the story with an easy translation that I could utilize when I needed it. I don't think I would have made it through this story otherwise. This play turned out to be a compelling story on self-fulfilling prophecies, being careful what you wish for, and manipulation. It was much deeper than I anticipated. I would recommend the No Fear Shakespeare series to anyone.

Out of all of Shakespeare's tragedies, "Macbeth" is what I would deem as his magnum opus. First off, the elephant in the room: although a play, I would argue Macbeth could be more entertaining and is most definitely more enriching read compared to watched. SparkNotes has done a great job in providing an ample "translation" of the text, so that even if the Old English becomes a burden, you will still be able to enjoy the essential story at the heart of Shakespeare's writing. In terms of narrative...