Act 2 Scene 2 as a Turning Point in the Play for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

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Act 2 Scene 2 as a Turning Point in the Play for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

On the way home from a courageous battle the play begins with Macbeth

and Banquo's noble and victorious return. During their journey they

are greeted by 3 witches whom prophesize Macbeth's rise to power as

King.

Macbeth is very curious about these strange beings and their message

and starts to wonder if it really is quite possible to find himself in

such a kingly position. He soon shrugs off the idea however as he

realizes there is nothing that he could do as Duncan - the king

already and dear friend to Macbeth - is still in his position and will

most likely stay there for the next couple of decades. Macbeth also

realizes that any attempt to thwart Duncan's reign would be highly

dishonorable and ruin his noble and dignified reputation and respect.

I would imagine that King James and the Shakespearian people of that

age in time would have greatly recognized this act of loyalty and

appreciate Macbeth's worries that any action he could take would

object with the Divine Right of Kings - a view that treason is

sacrilegious and a sin against God - and therefore damn him to hell.

Macbeth shrugs off any such nonsense and decides to leave such matters

to when he can discuss them with his wife Lady Macbeth. I think this

already shows a great deal of trust and confidence in their

relationship in that Macbeth would share this kind of information with

Lady Macbeth and confide in her to help him decide an answer and

solution.

He however cannot wait to talk to Lady Macbeth face to face and

therefore decides to write a letter to her explaining his ordeal with

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... unmoved and

shows no form of mourning. We can obviously see that the relationship

between the two has come to a diminishing end and affection had died

long before Lady Macbeth did.

Macbeth then faces Macduff, but is not fearful, as he has been told

that he will not die from anyone woman born. But then Macduff tells

him that he was not woman born; he was "from his mother's womb

untimely ripp'd". When Macbeth realizes that he has been tricked, he

gives up and is killed. Macduff decapitates him and King Duncan's son

becomes the new king of Scotland.

I think in conclusion King James and the Shakespearian audience would

have been very pleased with the outcome of the play, as the would have

appreciated the Divine Right of Kings and understood that justice must

prevail. "Sacrilege must, and will, be punished by God".

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