Macbeth full title The Tragedy of Macbeth) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatizes political ambition’s damaging physical and psychological effects on those who seek power. Of all the plays that Shakespeare wrote during the reign of James I, Macbeth most clearly reflects his relationship with King James, patron of Shakespeare’s acting company. It was first published in the Folio of 1623, possibly from a prompt book, and is Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy.