Macbeth

Canon Classics Worldview Guides

by Brian Kohl

"Perhaps the most vivid testament to the power of Macbeth is that actors consider the play itself bad luck. And the themes seem to justify this reaction: Macbeth is an unhappy, bloody story in which ambition proves to be the harshest master and men’s lives little more than the playthings of witches." - Brian Kohl

The Canon Classics Worldview Guides provide an aesthetic and thematic Christian perspective on the most definitive and daunting works of Western Literature. The Worldview Guides focus on the big picture (both the good and the bad) without neglecting the details. Each Worldview Guide is a friendly literary coach -- and a treasure map, and a compass, and a key -- to help teachers, parents, and students appreciate, critique, and master the classics.

56 pages, Paperback

Published January 20, 2017

About the author

Brian Kohl is the editorial director for Canon Press, and over the past seven years has been a high school and undergraduate instructor. He and his wife Christy have two sons and live in the Pacific Northwest.

Reviews

[D. Ryan]

Insightful, succinct, and humorous, this little book is a fantastic guide to my favorite play. Without falling into "bardolatry," Kohl spells out a summary of the plot and explains its ambiguities and supernatural weirdness. I recommend you listen to Macbeth on Audible/Librivox and then buy this little book right away.

[Matthew Huff]

Some great insights tucked in here.

[Laura Webb]

3 stars because it’s a guide and it’s short. But these worldview guides are fantastic and helpful for teachers. I’ve read several this year before teaching (or re-teaching) books. Hovering around 60 pages each, it’s a great way to get your bearings before reading a classic work for the first time!