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Macbeth | Shakespeare for kids: Shakespeare in a language children will understand and love
Whispers of ambition, power, and the supernatural intertwine in Jeanette Vigon's "Macbeth," where a Scottish warrior's quest for the throne spirals into a chilling tale of betrayal and fate, captivating young readers with a timeless drama reimagined. Through simplified language and carefully crafted scenes, Vigon retains the essence of the original play while making it engaging for children.
The story unfolds in the misty highlands of Scotland, where Macbeth, driven by prophecy and spurred by his ambitious wife, embarks on a bloody path to power, only to be consumed by guilt and madness.Simplified for Young Readers: The complex themes and language of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" are made approachable for children, making classic literature accessible from an early age.Moral and Educational Lessons: Alongside the engaging narrative, young readers learn about the consequences of unchecked ambition and the importance of moral integrity.Engaging and Imaginative: Vivid reimaginations of key scenes capture the imagination, bringing the world of medieval Scotland and its intriguing characters to life for young audiences."Macbeth" becomes the doorway through which children step into the enthralling world of Shakespeare, weaving through themes of ambition, morality, and the consequences of our choices, sparking a lifelong curiosity and appreciation for classic literature.
The story unfolds in the misty highlands of Scotland, where Macbeth, driven by prophecy and spurred by his ambitious wife, embarks on a bloody path to power, only to be consumed by guilt and madness.Simplified for Young Readers: The complex themes and language of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" are made approachable for children, making classic literature accessible from an early age.Moral and Educational Lessons: Alongside the engaging narrative, young readers learn about the consequences of unchecked ambition and the importance of moral integrity.Engaging and Imaginative: Vivid reimaginations of key scenes capture the imagination, bringing the world of medieval Scotland and its intriguing characters to life for young audiences."Macbeth" becomes the doorway through which children step into the enthralling world of Shakespeare, weaving through themes of ambition, morality, and the consequences of our choices, sparking a lifelong curiosity and appreciation for classic literature.
125 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2024
12 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 4, 2024
Making Shakespeare more accessible and understandable… for anyone
It’s been decades since I read Macbeth in high school. I am not a Shakespearean scholar… old English is a bit difficult to read. But so many of Shakespeare’s lines are immortal, and Macbeth has many of them.
Although I really missed the classic wording of some of the key lines like “Out out damned spot!”, the author made choices with her simplified wording which also made it more appropriate for a much younger audience. For example, the author substitutes cursed for damned… subtly eliminating the profanity, but keeping the intent.
Some people will probably denounce the author as bastardizing Shakespeare, some will celebrate her as making Shakespeare more accessible and understandable. As an adult, I can thank her for a more easily readable version to reintroduce me to Shakespeare. It might just inspire me to read more Shakespeare… the original.
I have a confession to make. French is my second language, but I’m far from fluent. I read the Harry Potter books so many times in English, I knew the plot back to front. So, then I bought the French language versions as a way to work on my French with a favorite book. Because I knew the plot so well, I didn’t have to look up every word I didn’t know. I could figure most of them out… and in some cases, appreciate the translator’s work in truly translating the intent, but with an appropriate French idiom.
I see this work as inspiring more people to take up Shakespeare… making it easier to get the gist before diving into the original version. You don’t have to be a kid to appreciate this version.
It’s been decades since I read Macbeth in high school. I am not a Shakespearean scholar… old English is a bit difficult to read. But so many of Shakespeare’s lines are immortal, and Macbeth has many of them.
Although I really missed the classic wording of some of the key lines like “Out out damned spot!”, the author made choices with her simplified wording which also made it more appropriate for a much younger audience. For example, the author substitutes cursed for damned… subtly eliminating the profanity, but keeping the intent.
Some people will probably denounce the author as bastardizing Shakespeare, some will celebrate her as making Shakespeare more accessible and understandable. As an adult, I can thank her for a more easily readable version to reintroduce me to Shakespeare. It might just inspire me to read more Shakespeare… the original.
I have a confession to make. French is my second language, but I’m far from fluent. I read the Harry Potter books so many times in English, I knew the plot back to front. So, then I bought the French language versions as a way to work on my French with a favorite book. Because I knew the plot so well, I didn’t have to look up every word I didn’t know. I could figure most of them out… and in some cases, appreciate the translator’s work in truly translating the intent, but with an appropriate French idiom.
I see this work as inspiring more people to take up Shakespeare… making it easier to get the gist before diving into the original version. You don’t have to be a kid to appreciate this version.
September 25, 2025
52% in but from Act 3 Scene 1 the dialogue goes really weird. Vigon seems to have gone a bit mad with the quotation marks and it's really difficult to keep track of who's talking and who they are talking to. Otherwise it's very good and incredibly faithful to the original text! Love how accessible Vigon has made Shakespeare!! Not just for kids either, this is a fantastic resource for adults who want to get familiar with Shakespeare too!! Vigon is seriously under rated and should be shared as much as possible!!!!
UPDATE
Act 4 Scene 1, the dialogue is back to normal haha
UPDATE
Act 4 Scene 1, the dialogue is back to normal haha
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews