Actors refer to "Macbeth" as "the Scottish play," but how much of it is actually about mediaeval Scotland and how much is still relevant to us today? In his critical reading of the play, John Turner explores these issues in the context of two very different productions, both of which are available online. However, Trevor Nunn's television adaptation of his RSC production aspires to be timeless, a study of human civilization across the ages, trapped in its cyclical crisis of violence and sacrifice. Polanski's film is set in mediaeval Scotland and is a study of aristocratic competition in feudal times. This guide explains how the various interpretations of "Macbeth" stem from the various production decisions and critical linguistic choices. John Turner explores the play's depiction of mediaeval history; discusses the relationship between its imagined feudal past and its contemporary Jacobean present; and explores how, in its openness and playfulness, it may be seen to image a universal human condition that brings history itself into play. The book aims to provide a stimulating introductory guide for students of "Macbeth".