How Does Shakespeare Present Religion In Macbeth

354 Words1 Page

Shakespeare consistently wove the motif of Christianity throughout Macbeth to accentuate the theme of betrayal. King Duncan stated that the Thane of Cawdor, “was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust” (27). Much to Duncan’s surprise, the Thane of Cawdor deceived him. Duncan next gave the title to Macbeth, assuming that he could trust Macbeth. But Macbeth too (quite literally) stabbed Duncan in the back! Similarly, Macbeth betrayed his religion. Macbeth was originally presented as a devout Christian; he respected the afterlife, and was devastated when he struggled to say “amen”. But as his power increased, his commitment to his religion deteriorated. Macbeth admitted that he gave his, “eternal jewel” to “the common enemy of man”-- the

Show More
Related

  • Comparing Guilt In Macbeth And The Tell-Tale Heart By Edgar Allan Poe

    1534 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Macbeth, there are direct references to the Bible and the Christian religion that support this idea, and quotes said by Macbeth: ‘list’ning to their fear I could not say “amen” When they did say “God bless us!” ... “But wherefore could not I pronounce “Amen”? I had most need of blessing, and “Amen” Stuck in my throat.’ Macbeth interprets this as a rejection from his religion and God; caused maybe because the Great Chain of Being or the divine right to rule had been broken from killing King Duncan.

    Read More

  • Ambition In Macbeth Essay

    926 Words  | 2 Pages

    Just like any of us, Macbeth’s ambition caused him to be easily influenced. Based on the text, the witches say to Macbeth and Banquo, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!” “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee Thane of Cawdor!” “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, that shalt be king hereafter!” After the witches speak his prophecy, Macbeth with great interest and desire then asks to here more about what the witches have to say. Soon after Macbeth was given the name Thane of Cawdor, he believed what the witches said had some truth to it causing his ambition to be influenced by the wicked weird sisters. When Macbeth tells his wife, Lady Macbeth about the prophecy, Macbeth’s ambition then faces Lady Macbeth’s influence. According to the

    Read More

  • How Is Judas Portrayed In Macbeth

    912 Words  | 2 Pages

    Macbeth is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare about a strong soldier who is deceived by his wife-Lady Macbeth- to kill his leader King Duncan to become King of Scotland. In the Holy Bible, in John 13:18-30 a man is first mentioned to us by the name of Judas. Judas was considered a man of faith. Judas was one of Jesus’s twelve disciples who traded Jesus into the Roman soldiers’ for 30 pieces of silver. Macbeth and Judas both were considered strong, worthy men. However, both was deceived to cause themselves tragedy. Macbeth and Judas were both men of character and trustworthiness. Macbeth and Judas both had choices to perform their duties to the fullest but chose the easy way out doomed by sin.

    Read More

  • Ambition, Greed, Power, and Wealth in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    618 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the beginning of the play, Macbeth was a kind and gentle person.  The only time he killed is when he was in battle.  Macbeth was loyal to the King (Duncan), and did as he wished.  In battle, he kills a traitor to the Scotland who was a high ranking individual.  For killing the traitor so bravely, Macbeth is awarded the title the Thane of Cawdor. The irony of this situation is that the title first did indeed belonged to 'a most disloyal traitor'(pg. 3, line 53). As Macbeth heads home with his new title and a lot more ambition. This is mainly because of the three witches who tell him he will be king.  With this new ambition, Macbeth did not know what to think and he wrote a letter to his wife.  By Macbeth writing this letter it showed at this stage he was still loyal because he still was sharing everything with his wife.  Macbeth at this point still did not have a lust for power.

    Read More

  • Betrayal In Macbeth

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    First of all, Macbeth betrays King Duncan by committing regicide. Macbeth says to himself when the bell rings during the night: ‘Duncan, for it is a knell /that summons thee to heaven or to hell.’[Act 2 Scene I] Macbeth

    Read More

  • powmac Macbeth’s Obsession with Power

    995 Words  | 2 Pages

    Macbeth is first introduced as a war hero, slayer of the Norweyans.  He is then introduced to prophesy by three witches.  They prophesize how he will become first Thane of Cawdor and then king.  "All hail, Macbeth!  hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!...Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter."  (Act 1 Scene 3).  Macbeth becomes thane and starts to believe in the prophesies if the witches.  What first started as inquisitiveness and doubt, soon became fate and truth as the Bible is to Christians.  Macbeth began to believe the next prophesy.  In fact, not only would he become king, he made it his personal obligation and responsibility to see that it became so.  With a little bit of nagging (that is the best term to use) from Lady Macbeth, Macbeth chooses to fulfill his de...

    Read More

  • Macbeth's Greatest Tragic Flaw

    633 Words  | 2 Pages

    Listening and believing the three witches was not a good move. When the witches tell him about being thane of Cawdor and king, he grows exceedingly desirous of these things. In the play the three witches say, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!” and “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!”(327, 49-50) Macbeth’s answer to these things is “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more: By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis; But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives, A prosperous gentleman; and to be king stands not within the prospect of belief, no more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence you owe this strange intelligence? Or why upon this blasted heath you stop our way with such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you.”(328, 70-78) He is willing to kill his king whom he has fought valiantly for. He used to be a hero with his loyalty to his king and being good against evil. He was selfless and strong, but the witches’ words were so enticing and irresistible to him that he could not help but fall into sin.

    Read More

  • Appearance and Reality in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    1162 Words  | 3 Pages

    King Duncan trusts Macbeth too much. Macbeth appears as a superhero and faithful to King Duncan. He fights against the traitor Macdonwald, and he helps the king to solve a great problem that wins the war. Duncan trusts Macbeth very much because of Macbeth’s heroic efforts and he gives Macbeth the title “Thane of Cawdor”. In actuality, Macbeth is not as faithful to the king as he appears.

    Read More

  • Christian Symbolism & Biblical Imagery in Macbeth

    2145 Words  | 5 Pages

    Many authors share a common thread in their writing, allusions to biblical concepts. The Bible is one of the most influential texts of all time and its presence can seen seen through countless pieces of literature.. One of the best examples of a literary work that has been fashioned after biblical elements is The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare. “Christian philosophy' says Walter C. Curry ' recognizes two tragedies of cosmic importance: (1) the fall of Lucifer and a third part of the angelic hosts, who rebelled against God and were cast out, and (2) the fall of Adam who was originally endowed with perfection and freedom but who set his will against God and so brought sin and limited freedom upon mankind. ‘.... ‘The fall of Macbeth draws in the combined power of those of Lucifer and Adam."(Coursen 318) In, William Shakespeare's Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the rise and ultimate demise of Macbeth to describe the Biblical concepts known as the " Fall of Man" and ' Victory in Christ'.

    Read More

  • Troubles Macbeth Faced

    591 Words  | 2 Pages

    People might say that the importance of religion to Macbeth gradually decreases to a point where he no longer refers to God in his thoughts or actions. For he had killed Macduff's wife and children for no logical reason. Moreover, Macbeth proves that he no longer has second thoughts about killing people when he says,

    Read More

  • Religious Themes in Macbeth

    1419 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare wrote the play Macbeth in approximately 1606. The play is a tragedy and this can be often identified before we have even read the play. The title “Macbeth” alone suggests the genre of the play is a tragedy as it is the name of a character. Life in Shakespeare’s time was very religious and the play was written in order to please King James I who was on the throne at this point. The idea of the theme of religion and witchcraft fitting into the play was also to please King James I as he was interested in witchcraft. The majority of people living in Shakespeare’s time were Christians and they believed that if you lived a good life, you would go to Heaven and if you were bad in life, you would go to Hell. At the time of the play, King James I was on the throne and this is significant as he makes Banquo a good character as he is the King’s Ancestor. This influenced Shakespeare’s writing because he had to write a play to please the King so Shakespeare included witchcraft as King James I was interested in witchcraft. The text of the play is based on “Chronicles: History of England, Scotland and Ireland” published by Raphael Holinshed in 1577. In Chronicles, Banquo is an accomplice to Macbeth in the murder of the King rather than a loyal subject of the King who is seen as an enemy by Macbeth. Shakespeare could have changed Banquo’s character in order to please King James I. The witches fit into the theme of Macbeth as the play is very religious and involves witchcraft and the powers of evil.

    Read More

  • Macbeth Deception Analysis

    657 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conversation with his son Malcolm, Duncan speaks of the execution of the Thane of Cawdor. Malcolm tells King Duncan that the Thane of Cawdor had admitted to being a traitor in which Duncan could have never believed to be true. The Thane of Cawdor’s trust was very deceiving and was a traitor to the King of Scotland. He was executed because he was disloyal to his country. Because of Macbeth’s courageous act in battle, he was given the title Thane of Cawdor. The Thane of Cawdor was a traitor and deceived his country which lead to him having to be executed.

    Read More

  • Importance of the Witches Prophecies in Macbeth

    1020 Words  | 3 Pages

    “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to you, thane of Glamis. All hail, Macbeth! Hail to you, thane of Cawdor. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!”(1.3.51-53) and also goes on to tell Banquo that his descendents will be kings even though he won’t become one. At first Macbeth dismisses these claims, and Banquo suggest that they were just hallucinating, but the idea of becoming Thane of Cawdor and king of Scotland has been implanted in Macbeths head. Coincidentally just before Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches Duncan announces to Ross that Macbeth will be the new thane of Cawdor “No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death, and with his former title greet Macbeth.”(1.3.76-76) When Macbeth finds out that he will become thane of Cawdor from Ross and Angus he starts to truly believe that he can and will become the new king. The witches use this previously announced fact “Hail to you, thane of Cawdor” as a catalyst, to trick him into believing that he will become king which makes him take action towards the prophecy, but which was really his free will maki...

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Presentation of Macbeth

    470 Words  | 1 Pages

    In this essay I am going to discuss if Macbeth is evil. First I will

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Moral Values In Macbeth

    1302 Words  | 3 Pages

    Macbeth had a feeling of deep regret and felt as if he didn’t have the right to say ‘Amen. “I could not say ‘Amen’?/ When they did say ‘God bless you’” (2.2.37). Amen is said after a prayer, which is a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God by definition. Since Macbeth didn’t have the integrity to say such a holy word, it can only mean he felt as if he was unworthy and would be disrespecting God. Macbeth is then seen to have a feeling of remorse after the murder when he realized his wrong-doings, “I am afraid to think what I have done./ Look on’t again I dare not” (2.2.66-67). Macbeth clarifies that he is already in regret about killing Duncan for he is shocked by what he was capable of. A small transition is being witnessed since he is ‘daring’ not to look back on the past and foreshadows how he is going to refuse to feel guilt again. By committing murder in order to gain the crown, Macbeth starts to lose the value of what his morals meant to

    Read More

More about How Does Shakespeare Present Religion In Macbeth

Open Document