The ladies having completed their study of Romeo and Juliet move on to Macbeth. It is February in Chicago, a dreary month that seems to last forever. The skies are grey, the streets cold and dangerous, a setting that mirrors Macbeth. The three witches who make their target Macbeth, the ghosts who torment Macbeth and his consort Lady Macbeth resonate with what is happening in their own lives. Katherine is haunted by the certainty that her cancer will recur, and is terrified that she will die alone. Franny is tormented by the ghosts from her past that she thought she had escaped by marrying Sam. Annie, reconciled with Bill is worried about the fate of the artists, writers, and doctors in a culture that exploits those who do the actual work. Claire is disturbed by the play and the pain it is causing her and her friends. All are intensely aware of how little time is left to them and how precious that remaining time is. Changes, welcome or not, come to all the ladies. The Book Club and their friendships provide sustenance and comfort in this unsettled time of their lives.
