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Macbeth

William Shakespeare

Macbeth is a tragic play that revolves around the psychological effects of regrets and how the human mind works to gain redemption. Macbeth, with the aid of Lady Macbeth, kills the current king to become the next king. However, the guilt of murdering the King sends Macbeth and his wife into a state of mental shock, depression and fear as both are unsuccessful in their attempts to forget about their evil actions. Macbeth is later greeted with prophecies that initially seem impossible to occur, but as time progresses and the mental state of Macbeth deteriorates, the prophecies seem real. To cure his pain, Macbeth kills many that seem to be a potential threat; however, this results in a power shift from the public. Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, attempts to forget about her pain which leads to a very tragic end for her.

 

The play by William Shakespeare dives into a new view of the human mind and the negative effects of lying, regretting and cheating. Shakespeare touches on gender roles, family values and moral lessons that allow readers to become better individuals. The storyline is very interesting, includes fairy tales, ghosts and other mythical creatures. I definitely recommend this play, although I advise readers to read a modified version or find a translator to increase understanding. -Eesa K.

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Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare

The acclaimed tragic play Romeo and Juliet by world-renowned writer William Shakespeare revolves around the love between two young individuals, Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is a Montague while Juliet is a Capulet; both families have been at conflict for generations, however, these individuals believe they can break that tradition and create a positive change. Both of the lovers must suffer from the deaths of their loved ones due to the family conflicts as well as create various plans to meet each other peacefully. Many fights unfold, many lies and truths are revealed along with acts of desperation to maintain respect and honour. These infamous lovers showcase their love to the world and display why they are the most famous couple in the history of literature.

 

Many themes and symbols are visible in the play mainly due to the attitude of many characters. Symbols such as night, poison and themes such as individual beliefs, love, and fate dictate the direction of the plot which helps the reader to understand all actions of the play completely.

 

Certain characters such as the Nurse, or the ‘priest’ of the time, become significant characters as the play progresses through their cynical and quiet actions from the side. I suggest that readers pay attention to the attitude, behaviour and actions of all the characters that interact with Romeo and/or Juliet.

 

I would recommend reading a simplified version of the play or a version which contains a translation as Shakespeare’s language and structure is very complicated to understand in the modern times. However, the story and message of the play are still very visible to all types of readers. This play is best for students above grade 9 especially since many schools include Romeo and Juliet in their curriculum, further enhancing the understanding of the reader. -Eesa K.

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