Not to be confused with the king of Scotland Macbeth of Scotland
Macbeth, with many parts shown. Top left: Banquo and Macbeth meet the witches. Middle-left: Macbeth has just killed Duncan, and talks with his wife. Bottom-left: Banquo's ghost. Bottom-right: Macduff duels Macbeth.
The first page of
Macbeth, printed in the Second Folio of 1632
Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare wrote three types of plays: histories, comedies and tragedies. Macbeth is his shortest tragedy. Shakespeare wrote it between 1603 and 1607, during the reign of King James I of England.