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How does Shakespeare present kingship
Character analysis of macbeth
An analysis of characters in Macbeth
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Many kings and queens meet their downfall due to the matter of their craving for additional power and their extreme ambition. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, Macbeth was more to blame for his downfall than his wife due to the fact that he was cold-blooded, impulsive, and over-confident. One reason that Macbeth was more to blame for his downfall than his wife was due to the fact that he was cold-blooded. For example, Macbeth went along with his wife's plot to kill Duncan. This occurred when he announced, "I have done the deed" (Act II, Sc 2, L 14). Another example of him being cold-blooded was when he had the murderers attack Banquo and his son due to the Witches' prophesying that Banquo's sons would become kings. Unfortunately for Macbeth, Fleance
The dream of becoming king has ironically changed from a bright future to a tragic end due to some of the crucial decisions Macbeth has made during the course of his journey, and a number of his actions will backfire on him. The first of his actions that backfired was when he murdered King Duncan, which he regrets afterwards. Another action that backfired was the murder of the guards, which could've drastically changed the outcome of this entire story since he could've gotten away with King Duncan's murder if he didn't commit it. The third action that backfired on Macbeth was when he ordered the murderers to murder Banquo and Fleance at which they failed to eliminate Fleance. The murder that he committed was a necessity for Macbeth in order to secure his spot as king.
In the play, Macbeth was responsible for his downfall and let his greed take over. He was always ambitious, but ended up abandoning his loyalty from King Duncan, the King of Scotland and slowly changed him from a trustworthy, brave and loyal soldier to a merciless tyrant. Lady Macbeth and the three witches are responsible for Macbeth’s downfall. The prophecies changed Macbeth for the worst and is willing to remove any threats that stand in his way. Macbeth, although a loyal warrior, had always possessed ambitious motives that finally turned him into a murderer.
Macbeth's state of delusional paranoia is the repercussion of his crimes too. Unlike Lady Macbeth however, he is physically responsible for Duncan's murder. This act alone is enough to exemplify his tendency to commit vile acts of betrayal and treachery. However, he further goes on to send murderers after his once-good friend and fellow Lord Banquo, and Banquo's son Fleance, betraying their trust. Banquo did not pose a direct threat to Macbeth's life; Macbeth simply wanted to guarantee his uncontested rule over all of Scotland. As prophesied by the witches, Banquo's family would gain the throne after Macbeth. In an effort to prevent losing his family's claim to the throne and defend his own life, Macbeth chooses to kill Banquo and Banquo's son Fleance to cease their line of family, ensuring the continuation of royalty in Macbeth's family. Although this second murder was unsuccessful, the principles behind ordering it remain treacherous and evil. These crimes represent once again another disruption to the natural chain of being, with emphasis on the murder of King Duncan. By choosing to elevate his own position in this chain by murdering other people, he once again contributes to his destruction farther along in the play. This natural order is extremely important in Macbeth, and changing it causes negative repercussions to directly affect the person or persons responsible. This inexcusable betrayal is
wink at the hand! yet let that be, /" (I, iv, 57-59). Macbeth is vexed
In act one after meeting the witches and telling Lady Macbeth about what the witches said he is forced to murder King Duncan. “Duncan’s naïve and misplaced trust shows that none can be believed or truly relied upon” (Macbeth Appearance Vs. Reality Essay Plan Para. 2). Before killing Duncan, Macbeth begins to have second thoughts about what he is planning on doing. That is until Lady Macbeth starts to yell at him and she soon tells him to be “the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” (Wiggins 336). After killing Duncan, “Macbeth sees a floating dagger, but cannot decide if this “air-drawn dagger” is real or a figment of his imagination proceeding from his “heat-oppressed brain” (Bookstove RSS Para. 1). As Macbeth becomes more and more lost in his own mind, he slowly begins to lose his grip on reality and starts to suspect that everyone except Lady Macbeth is against him. He decides that Banquo and his son need to be taken out, not only because Banquo knew about the future of Macbeth, but also because Macbeth does not want Banquo’s legacy to take thrown. After the murderers kill off Banquo and report it to Macbeth they reluctantly inform Macbeth that Fleance managed to escape before they were able to kill him. Macbeth goes back to the table and to his surprise sees a familiar face. Macbeth says, “Avant! and
Soon Macbeth learns of heirs to the throne that may interfere with his power, and he immediately orders the death of both Banquo and Fleance. He tells the hired murderers to "leave no rubs nor botches in the work . . . Fleance, his son . . . is far less material" (III.ii.153-155). With this, he allows these undermining and evil ways to get the better of him, corrupting his being.
In Macbeth, Macbeth’s tragedy is sealed by his ruthlessness that is a result of envy and anger. Succeeding the kingship, Macbeth does not find contentment in it. He yearns to have a future like Banquo who will be “father to a line of kings. /” (III. i. 65), but he is cursed with a “fruitless crown” (III. i. 66). Being the ruthless man that he was, Macbeth decides that if you cannot have children ascend his thrown then Banquo will curse with the same misfortune, so he has murderers kill both Banquo and his son, Fleance. Though killing Banquo is unforgivable, Macbeth’s ruthlessness was more evident when he also sends the murderers to kill Fleance. Macbeth’s ignorance of Fleance being a helpless child who cannot defend himself makes him more ruthless. Banquo could have defended himself from the attack of the murderers, as he is a great and experienced solider. Trying to have Fleance killed is unfair as he had no way of defending himself. Fortunately for Fleance, he was able to escape his death. The ruthlessness of Macbeth is also demonstrated when he chooses to kill the people who were present in Macduff’s castle, after hearing from Lennox that “Macduff is fled to England. /” (IV. i. 161). Macbeth had good reasoning to kill Macduff who was planning to attack Macbeth’s castle with army from England, but the killings of Macduff’s family were insensible and a result of anger: “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, /
Macbeth was also responsible for the deaths of Duncan’s guards when he said “O, yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them.” (A2, S3, 100-101) He had no reason for killing them but his rage enabled him to be irrational. When Macbeth became suspicious about Banquo knowing that he had killed Duncan, Macbeth ordered him and his son Fleance to be killed. Banquo was killed and Fleance escaped, which upheld the witch’s prophesy that Banquo’s future would not be happy and that his offspring would be kings. Macbeth showed his true evil when he ordered Banquo and his son to be killed. It showed that he had the ambition to act in a way that would protect his lust for power by retaining the throne of Scotland. When Macduff fled to England, Macbeth ordered that
In everyday society, there are movie stars, celebrities, athletes and powerful figureheads that are looked up to. In every generation people experience downfalls due to individual choices, personal conflict, and family problems, . These people develop a tragic flaw that usually leads to their ruin. In William Shakespeare's, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Macbeth, the main character develops a tragic flaw, and ends up experiencing a downfall. In this play, there are people who can be blamed for his eventual demise, but in the long run, people are truly responsible for their own choices and actions. Macbeth is responsible for his own downfall. Macbeth is responsible because he abandoned his morals, he was easily persuaded, and he became too hungry for power.
Macbeth may have been a bad king, but he was not responsible for his collapse. The first reason is because Lady Macbeth questioned his manliness and drove him to kill Duncan which led him to murder more people as he got away with the first murder. The second reason is because of Banquo’s suspicion causing Macbeth to be fearful and later on, insane. The final reason is the witches as they encouraged him to let his guard down and they told him he was going to be king which led him to kill Duncan. These three influences were the main causes of Macbeth’s fall. If they had not been there he may have been a fair and just king. These evil outside influences drove a great man down into the ground. But as Geoffrey Chaucer said, “All great things must come to an end”
The organization of downfall in Shakespearean tragedy borrows much from that of Greek tragedy. The points of variation between the two forms of the genre are often drawn not in tangible literary differences, but in premise of manner of downfall. One distinction observed between the two dramas is that of the roles of destiny or lack thereof. The disputed definition of hamartia helps explain and expand this. Either type of tragedy can be distinguished by the feature of a hamartia, a tragic flaw and ultimate determinant of a hero’s downfall, as being built on by an unavoidable force or event, as opposed to being directly caused by a hero’s wrongdoings, or vise versa. In order to draw a contrast between the differing roles of the element of determinism
At the beginning, Macbeth is seen as a heroic man that is well liked by his cousin/the king, Duncan. He thinks back to the witches prophecies, and remembers the prophecies the witches gave to banquo. Scared that he will lose his throne to Banquo’s son Fleance, he appoints two murderers to kill them. In act three, scene three, the murders successfully kill Banquo, but not Fleance.
MacBeth is Responsible for His Downfall. There were many wrongs committed in "MacBeth." But who should bear the major responsibility for these actions? The witches prophesying the truth? Lady MacBeth's scheming and persuasion?
and scheme to go and meet him. This shows that it is important for the
Factors Contributing to Macbeth's Downfall in William Shakespeare's Macbeth In William Shakespeare's famous play Macbeth, there are many reasons for Macbeth's gradual downfall. Numerous factors contributed to Macbeth's ruin, such as his own character flaws and his demanding wife, Lady Macbeth. The Three Witches, however, caused Macbeth the most trouble. First, the sisters stirred up his dormant ambitions to be king.