Macbeth Free Essays

At the start of the play, Macbeth was portrayed as a heroic and courageous man. He created this image for himself by fighting long and hard in the King of Scotland’s battle. The King of Scotland (along with all his people) was very impressed with Macbeth. We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeth or any similar topic only for you Order Now He was rewarded for his efforts, being presented with the title of the Thane of Cawdor. After the battle, he and Banquo were out riding when they bumped into a group of incredibly strange women that had a strange aura of power about them (the witches). It was here that Macbeth was confronted with the prophecy that someday he would become King of Scotland. There were many reasons Macbeth could become King without murdering anyone – the current king could die, renounce his throne and appoint Macbeth as King, or Macbeth could overthrow him. Macbeth did indeed think for a while that he could become King without murdering anyone. â€Å"If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without stir. † There were a lot of reasons why Macbeth was reluctant to murder King Duncan. For a start, he was a good King. He had been treating Macbeth very well, showering him with praise and rewards. The King wasn’t the only one who thought highly of Macbeth. The people of Scotland also held him in high regard. If he killed or tried to kill the King and got caught, his reputation would be gone. The final reason he had for not murdering King Duncan was that he was his host, and he should be protecting not endangering him. These reasons were all forgotten when Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth, convinced him to murder King Duncan. She told him straight out that he ‘wasn’t a real man’ if he didn’t do this. She was involved in the murders both by convincing Macbeth and by drugging the men who stood guard in front of the King’s sleeping chambers. King Duncan’s sons feared that after their father was murdered, they would be next. They were very wary of everyone, and wanted to leave the castle as soon as possible. Banquo strongly suspected Macbeth was involved in the murder. He had also heard the witches’ prophecy, and he feared that Macbeth had ‘played foully’ to make the prophecy come true. Meanwhile, Macbeth was shocked by what he did. He wondered whether in killing King Duncan he had not made the position available to himself, but to others. The prophecy played heavily on his mind, and he wondered whether he had now made the Crown available to children that are not his, namely Banquo’s. Macbeth decided to kill Banquo and his son Fleance for more than one reason. The major reason was the prophecy predicted that Banquo’s children would become kings. By killing Banquo and his son, he would be able to prevent Banquo from having more children and stop Fleance himself from becoming King. The other more minor reason was that Macbeth thought that Banquo was suspicious of him, and he was worried that Banquo would tell someone or act on his suspicions. Macbeth didn’t tell Lady Macbeth about what he was planning to do because he thought his wife would think that it would upset their plans. The appearance of Banquo’s ghost made Macbeth very scared and worried, it definitely made him appear incredibly disturbed to all the people around him. Macbeth then decided to go to the witches. He had become caught up in events and felt he had lost control of the situation. He desperately wanted to know what was going to happen next. This did help him a bit, or so he thought, because he knew more about what was going on. This was due to three new prophecies made by the witches – ‘Beware Macduff’, ‘No fear until Birnam Wood come to Dunsinane Hill’ and finally ‘No man of woman born can harm you. After hearing these prophecies, Macbeth felt much more confident. He scoffed at the idea that a wood could climb a hill, and after hearing that ‘no man of woman born can harm you’, the only thing he felt threatened by was Macduff. Since he was a threat, Macbeth wanted to kill Macduff (just like everyone else who had been a threat to him). But he couldn’t get to Macduff, so instead he killed everyone that Macduff loved and destroyed everything that he cherished. As expected, this had a very negative affect on Macduff. Macduff most likely would’ve preferred to have been killed himself. Lady Macbeth at the end of the play was very different from the composed lady at the start. Her guilty conscience had gotten to her, and by the end of the play she was a guilty, stuttering mess. She began admitting to some of the terrible deeds she had done. Finally she just couldn’t take it anymore, and committed suicide. Macbeth kept on going because he thought that the prophecies would protect him. He figures he’s killed so many people he might as well keep going. Finally, he didn’t want to look weak in front of everyone and he wanted to keep his honour. The witches were the starting point and basis for all the murders Macbeth committed. No matter who he killed, it could always be linked back to the witches and their prophecies. They were the ones who first put the idea into his head about becoming King of Scotland. Lady Macbeth also played a major part in him becoming a murderer. When he was undecided about whether he was going to kill King Duncan, she urged him on until he finally made the decision to kill him. This first murder resulted in all subsequent deaths. Nevertheless, Macbeth wasn’t forced to kill anybody. He has to take some responsibility for his actions. If he was not so egotistical and keen to hold power, the witches prophecies would not have has such an effect on him. Macbeth was obviously responsible for all the murders, and Lady Macbeth played her part in them too, but I think the people most responsible for the murders were actually the witches. Before he met them, Macbeth led a perfectly normal life, free of any thoughts of treason or murder. But when he met the witches they planted all sorts of thoughts into his head via the prophecies. He wouldn’t have thought of being King of Scotland, let alone killing the current King, if he hadn’t heard the prophecy about him being King. He wouldn’t have killed Banquo and attempted to kill his son if the witches hadn’t told him that Banquo’s children would one day be kings. Macbeth wouldn’t have ordered that Macduff’s family be killed and his household destroyed if the witches had not told him to beware Macduff. Therefore I think I can safely say that the witches were the ones who were most at fault for the murders, and for the downfall of Macbeth. How to cite Macbeth, Essay examples Macbeth Free Essays The struggle for power lies at the heart of the drama Macbeth. It shapes and changes the title character Macbeth, leading him down a path of moral corruption, crime and tyranny; eventually to his death. Ambition; stirred by the three witches’ prophecy of Macbeth becoming King, Is the fatal flaw that causes this tragic hereof downfall. We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeth or any similar topic only for you Order Now Lady Macbeth shares her husband’s longing for power and uses him to achieve control. The murderous actions of Macbeth and his wife have dire consequences, particularly he tremendous guilt that clouds their consciences and the deaths of innocent lives. Shakespeare comments on the negative effect that the struggle power has through the dramatic techniques of the characterization of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and the symbolism of the crown. Macbeth explores the destructiveness that a longing for power can have through the characterization of Macbeth. Macbeth is a perfect example of a tragic hero, as his character begins as a well-respected Thane, who has fought bravely for his country. However, Machete’s ambition is the tragic flaw that causes his downfall, as he becomes so thirsty for power that his moral views are obstructed and he commits the murder of King Duncan, and orders the murders of Banana and Macadam’s family. Machete’s desire for power overrules his morality. This is shown through his speech: â€Å"l have no spur/ To prick the sides of my Intent, but only/ Vaulting ambition which erleaps itself/ and falls on the’ other (Act 1, SC. 7, II. 25-28) Macbeth regrets that he is motivated only by ambition and not by some more rotor motive. Those propelled by ambition often end up worse than they were before, once the deed is done, which is evident in Machete’s case. As Macbeth undergoes change throughout the play, he becomes a ruthless and ambitious man who loses sense of his conscience and sanity – willing to go to extremes for what he wants. The development of the character Macbeth presents self-destructiveness as a result of desiring power. The playwright’s main focus In Macbeth is concentrated on the demonstrating the struggle for power, which Is highlighted by the horse-trading of Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth eclipses her husband’s desire for power, and uses his ambition to achieve her own goals through manipulation. Using the female approach Lady Macbeth cleverly influences her husband to murder King Duncan, by questioning his manhood; â€Å"When you durst do it, then you are a man† (Act 1, Scene 7). Because Lady Macbeth is even more ruthless and ambitious than Macbeth, she is able to push him past his good morals, convincing him to kill King Duncan, and consequentially creating the conflict in the play. Lady Machete’s desire for power is so strong that she asks the gods for her to be made more like a man, as she sees the male sexes the holders of power. Expressed through her speech: â€Å"Come you spirits/ That tend on moral thoughts, unsexes me here/ And fill me, from crown to the toe, top full/ of direst cruelty†¦ † (Act 1, Sc. 5, II. 42-44) The length at which Lady Macbeth Is willing to go to gain power, and the consequences of her evil actions, conveys the fatal consequences of seeking power. The symbol of the crown In the play supports Machete’s fatal flaw of ambition as detrimental. The crown represents the natural order and is usually associated with authority, kingdom and in Machete’s state of mind. It seems that he is still not content after becoming king, as he feels that his power is threatened by Banana. In Act 4, Scene 1, Macbeth is haunted by visions of the crown. Macbeth recognizes through the image of the crown that his ambition† has the potential to destroy him. It is Machete’s unconscious knowledge that he has acquired the crown through evil and despicable means that ensures he is haunted by his fears and unable to rest in his kingdom. The symbolism of the crown reinforces the idea put forth by Shakespeare that desiring power is dangerous, as the metaphor refers to natural ascendancy and the order of things, such as they are supposed to be. The struggle for power is demonstrated negatively by Shakespeare in the play Macbeth, through the characterization of the two main characters; Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Their lust for power proves to be the cause of tragedy in the play, as it leads to the death of hose two characters. The technique of denouement displays a catastrophic ending not only for Macbeth, but for many others: The death of Macadam’s family, Duncan, Banana, and oppression of the people of Scotland. Macbeth and Lady Machete’s selfish ambition therefore brings devastation and the desire for power is conveyed as a destructive quality, as it can lead to fatal consequences. The plot of the play Macbeth revolves around the struggle for power that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have. How to cite Macbeth, Papers Macbeth Free Essays Why does Shakespeare includes the Porter at the beginning of act 2 Scene 3? how could these lines have affected an Elizabethan audience, and what is the effect on the mood/atmosphere of the play at this time? Shakespeare includes the Porter at the beginning of Act 2 scene 3 as s source of of comic relief. These lines may have seemed very humorous to an Elizabethan audience. And at this time the reader is allowed a small period to reflect on what has happened so far in the play 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeth or any similar topic only for you Order Now The â€Å"night has been unruly† (line 61)list examples/ signs of disorder in the natural world Examples of disorder in the natural world would be:- The chimney’s (blown) to produce ‘strange screams of death’- Combustion and confused events – The ‘obscure bird’ clamcred the live long night (birds screeching all night long)- The earth was ‘feverish’ and did shake 3. In this scene Lady Macbeth faints at a very convenient timea) Whats happening in the play at that specific time (Refer to dialogue)In the play, at this specific time, Macduff has just found the king dead, also Macbeth has just returned from killing the guard(s). ) Do you believe Lady Macbeth fainted because she was truly overwhelmed, or does she merely wish to create a diversion? I believe Lady Macbeth fainted just to create a diversion.4. a) What reasons do Malcom and Donalbain give for fleeting Scotland? Donalbain and Malcom fleet Scotland in fear that (because someone has killed their father) they will be next. b) Malcom goes to England ;amp; Donalbain goes to Ireland ACT 2 SCENE 41. ) List 2 of the unnatural occurrences described by the Old man and RossIn Act 2 Scene 4, Two unnatural occurrences described by the then Old man ;amp; Ross were:The fact that it was so dark outside is seemed asthough it was nighttime, when really it was the middle of the day, ;amp; Duncan’s horses, who were always tame, broke-out of their stalls and were attacking eachother b) Why might these strange occurrences be happening at this time? These strange occurrences mights be happening at this time due to the death of Duncan 2.What does Mcduff’s comment that he will travel to Fife (his home) instead of Scane (Macbeth’s orientation) reveal about his character and of his view of Macbeth? The comment that Mcduff, made about returning to Fife instead of Scane, reveals that Mcduff is not totally convinced that Macbeth is innocent. Ifso, it is possible that McDuff dose not want too see Macbeth receiving the crown. It also reveals that he needs time to go home and reflect on what has happened. How to cite Macbeth, Papers