Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's tragedies, exploring themes of ambition, guilt, and the corrupting nature of power. The play tells the story of Macbeth, a Scottish general who receives a prophecy from three witches that he will become king. Driven by ambition and encouraged by his wife, Lady Macbeth, he murders King Duncan and takes the throne. This sets off a chain of events marked by violence, paranoia, and ultimately, Macbeth's downfall.