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character analysis macbeth
the play macbeth characters analysis
analysis on macbeths character throughout the play
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Macbeth is a very superstitious play filled with multiple supernatural scenarios that lead the reader into the mind of man controlled by evil. Throughout this play, the supernatural events that occur are the most important parts and main plot to the story’s timeline. If there were not any source of supernatural events, there would not be any way of knowing how they are as characters and their specific behaviors. The evil spirits not only show how much hatred and anger is inside of Macbeth, but they also reveal how easy it is to harm someone disliked by many. This marks the beginning of a horrible pattern of crime and injustice acts that eventually leads Macbeth to his one and only fate.
Although you can see how insanely crazy Macbeth is throughout the whole play (it is easily noticed in Act 3, Scene 4). Macbeth is slowly going crazy at this point in the play because at a dinner he is hosting at his house, he claims to have seen the ghost of Banquo, someone whom he allegedly killed. In this section of the play, Macbeth states the following can be found in Act 3, Scene 4 (Lines 75-83):
"Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time,
Ere humane statute purged the gentle weal;
Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd
Too terrible for the ear: the times have been,
That, when the brains were out, the man would die,
And there an end; but now they rise again, 80
With twenty mortal murders on their crowns,
And push us from our stools: this is more strange
Than such a murder is."
This really explains a lot and shows the reader how Macbeth is and the superstitious events that were happening in his world.
Throughout the whole play, the three witches are seen as evil. However, they only told Macbeth what was already inside his ow...
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...wer and above everyone else. Both Macbeth and his wife constantly strived for power and in the end, Macbeth was shown what happens when evil takes over your world. The use of supernatural abilities allows the play to end relatively well considering the amount of knowledge known. Without all of the apparitions, ghost sightings, evil action and of course, the witches, Macbeth would be one of the most boring plays to have ever been written. With all of the dramatic situations and supernatural occurrences, it helps the reader gain motivation in themselves to not only finish reading the play, but to enjoy every aspect of the story line.
Works Cited
"Macbeth Act 3 Scene 4 - Banquo's Ghost Appears." Macbeth Act 3 Scene 4 - Banquo's Ghost. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.
"Welcome to the Purdue OWL." Purdue OWL: MLA Formatting and Style Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.
Priscilla Asante J. Cousineau ENG 2D 21 December 2017 Influential Characters in Macbeth The author Napoleon Hill once said, “Without a doubt, the most common weakness of all human beings is the habit of leaving their minds open to the negative influence of other people”(Napoleon Hill, Az quotes). One should be careful of the people they decide to surround themselves with because they could influence you while having a hidden agenda that could impact your life negatively. In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the reader is introduced to the supernatural and Lady Macbeth. The supernatural deliver prophecies throughout the play to Macbeth.
Murder, ghosts, and floating daggers are the usual attractions for most that read William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and yet there is an important theme that some might overlook. Written in the early 17th century, Macbeth is believed to be based upon historical events listed in Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles of Scotland and other current events of the time. Shakespeare constructs the memorable world of Macbeth with a mysterious and sinister atmosphere, incorporating diabolical elements into this world with the appearance of Hecate, witches, prophecies and ghostly apparitions. Throughout his story, Macbeth becomes controlled by desire for power, by allowing himself to be influenced, using evil means to gain and maintain power to the point that Macbeth is blinded to all else. In Macbeth, Shakespeare vividly demonstrates a recognizable theme of the weighty pull that power holds over those with authority.
Anyone suspected to be a witch would be prosecuted/executed. Shakespeare knowing the witches reputation during that era, he used them for him play that eventually became the tragedy of Macbeth. He used the witches to create an eerie, dramatic atmosphere. In the opening scene,Shakespeare used Isolated place and strange weather conditions to show how wicked the witches really were. “When shall we three meet again in thunder, lightning, or in rain?” These three weather were known to be very grim and depressing.And anytime the witches met it was neither thunder, lightning, or in rain. The witches predict that Macbeth will be King and Thane of Cawdor, this was taken lightly until Macbeth was given title of Thane of Cawdor, much to his disbelief; “All Hail Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!” Directly after this scene, the unlikely odds of it becoming true happens, this foreshadows early on that the witch’s other predictions will come true. Macbeth was reconsidering the idea of killing the King to get the throne and the power. By using this three witches, shakespeare did not only set the mood of the play,but the tension and drama for the audience. In the opening act, the three witches were there talking about their evil plans/ deed and talk about when they will met again. This tells the audience that something bad was going to happen and the witches will be a big part of it. The witches uses the
The themes of love, supernatural, and tragedy in Macbeth make this tale loved by many. The supernatural ideas are most noteworthy and dramatic. Witches, apparitions, and hallucinations give the play the sense of the unknown. Shakespeare used the supernatural occurrences and witches to show humans wickedness and depravity. The characters in this play were not at all hesitant to do evil acts once prophecies had been given showing their innermost desires come true. In the end, while the prophecies may have come to fruition, it was not how the characters had anticipated.
Following this murder, Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost at the banquet. He is filled with feelings of regret and, as a result of his troubled mind, sees Banquo's ghost.
...Macbeth made them happen. With the encouragement of the witches and from Lady Macbeth, he made the destructive action of murdering Duncan. Paranoia and guilt start to take over Macbeth`s emotions, which cause hallucinations and multiple suspicions from his closest of friends. Finally anger and revenge cause Macbeth to fall into ultimate destruction and evil. He kills innocent people and everyone that comes in his way. These actions and thoughts are caused by his human nature that resulted into corruption because of temptation and ambition. His aspirations to be king were acceptable, but to kill his way to get the crown shows his inner character and how easily he can be swayed into dark and evil actions. Macbeth gives the audience a sense of how our human nature is naturally inclined to be dark, but how we must be strong enough to overcome evil and achieve greatness.
In Macbeth the Witches are shown as being evil, conniving, and cruel. "Here I have a pilot’s thumb, wreck’d, as homeward he did come." The Witches play a major role in convincing Macbeth to kill Duncan. They give Macbeth and Bonquo three prophecies: "all hail Macbeth hail to thee, thane of Cawdor" "all hail, Macbeth that shalt be king hereafter" "thou shalt get kings, though be none." Bonquo doesn’t take these prophecies seriously, but Macbeth shows some ambition for power. "If chance will have me king, why, chance will crown me." Macbeth becomes more dependent to the Witches. In Act 4 scene 1 Macbeth returns to the weird sisters, demanding what the future would bring. The Witches gave him three prophecies: "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff, beware the thane of Fife." "none of woman born shall harm Macbeth" "Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill."
The witches can predict the future and impact Macbeth, but they cannot control his fate. Macbeth’s demise was perhaps planned by the witches, but it was his own free will that led him to evil. Macbeth would never have thought seriously about killing Duncan without the witches. The witches are responsible for putting the idea and thought into Macbeth’s mind. As a brave leader of the king’s army, Macbeth’s main goal should be to serve and receive his reward heaven. After his encounter with the witches this is not the case anymore. Ambition is what drives Macbeth, and he only needs the suggestion of what could be his for him to go get it. The sisters enjoyed seeing the downfall of Macbeth by his own selfish actions.Without the witches, his desire to be king would have not been great enough for him to commit murder; the witches are his evil side.
From the very beginning of the play, supernatural and unnatural forces have inspired and encouraged Macbeth. They interfere with natural events and completely change the character of Macbeth and his wife. Witches, apparitions, ghosts, and other unnatural images are used to demonstrate the evil effects and consequences those forces can have. Shakespeare is successful in telling his audience that only evil will come when Macbeth or any other person tampers with natural forces for personal gain.
In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the supernatural and the role they play in motivating characters is apparent throughout the duration of the play. The supernatural is what causes conflict in the play and the prophecies from the witches in act one scene three is the inciting action in the piece. The supernatural causes the future conflict by motivating Macbeth to kill Duncan so he could become king of Scotland. Through temptation, the supernatural motivates characters to think arrogantly and for their own benefit. The supernatural in Macbeth presents prophecies which tempt Macbeth and Banquo with the idea of power. This leads Macbeth to contradict his loyal and courageous personality by planning a treacherous murder on Duncan with the arrogant intention of becoming king and later killing other characters in the play with the only purpose of keeping his own powers. Both Macbeth and Banquo were also tempted by the original prophecies and showed clear motivation to act upon them. However, there is a clear contrast between the immediacy in which the two characters began taking actions and the logic put into their decisions.
Banquo's ghost appears in act 3 scene 4 of the play. It comes and leaves a couple times. It sits in Macbeth's seat, yet his comrades call for Macbeth to take the same spot. (III 4, ll. 37-46) This establishes that only Macbeth can see the ghost. The ghost is bloody, as is consistent with Shakespearean era ghosts, as established by the "gory locks." (II 4, l. 48) This whole vision takes place shortly after Macbeth had his friend murdered by three men. It is also important to note that the ghost never utters a sound, an important difference between him and Shakespeare's other ghosts, as will be established later.
However, this experience is not one that gives him courage or ambition but one that gives him fear, enough to make a man go mad. At the party, Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost which he describes as “a bold one that dare look on that which might appall the devil” (III.vi.63). He begins to act like a madman in front of all those loyal to him and reveals that Banquo is dead. Despite Lady Macbeth’s attempt to cover up his act by blaming it on a childhood illness, Macbeth’s followers begin to lose question their king, lose trust in him, and even wonder if he is the one who murdered Duncan. After the banquet, Macbeth seeks the witches out of their cave so that he can learn more about his future and silence those who are plotting against him despite what the consequences may be. This reveals that Macbeth has completely fallen for the witches prophecy. There, he sees a line of eight kings followed by Banquo’s ghost. The last king holds a mirror to reflect a never-ending line of kings descended from Banquo. When he sees this, he exclaims“ thou art look like the spirits of Banquo: down!” (IV.i.123). This vision confirms that Banquo’s descendants inherit the throne and contributes to Macbeth’s anxiety, fear and to his further loss of control. He becomes even more insecure about his position as king and can no longer make his decisions
To begin, Macbeth’s superstitions affected many of his everyday actions. Some people believe the witches made him make all these rash choices, but it was all Macbeths doing. Even tho the witches were trying to get into his head when they told Macbeth his later three proph...
...he supernatural is one element in Macbeth that was used cleverly by Shakespeare to get various messages across to the audience. The messages are brought across between the lines of the plays which requires audiences to reflect critically to get the underlying meaning of his play. Shakespeare did not merely show ghosts and witches in the supernatural as a thriller, but also tied in the political and religious aspects of the society during his time.
To conclude Shakespeare used the supernatural, to show how easily someone’s fatal flaw can be exploited to bring them to an end. This is extremely relevant to his audience at that time as well, no one knows, but Shakespeare could have been a non believer in the supernatural and wanted to show it as a figment of the mind, that can only result in insanity or he could have believed the popular opinion that the supernatural did exist and caused terror and evil throughout that period. Either way he wrote Macbeth in such a way to leave questions about the supernatural in peoples mind.