William Shakespeare's Macbeth

William Shakespeare's Macbeth

Shakespeare first showed Macbeth in the court of a newly crowned King

James the First. Some people would argue that in places this was

written as a piece of flattery for James the first. James was meant to

be a descendant of Banquos' and therefore Shakespeare shows Banquo to

be a valiant and heroic character throughout the play. However,

Shakespeare had to be careful what he said in the play, as he didn't

want to upset the King. This play could be written as a piece of

propaganda or a warning to anybody who went against the King. The play

supports the Stuarts doctrine of the "Divine Right" of kings. This

states that kings are appointed by God and therefore going against

them is as sinful as going against God himself, the greatest

punishment should be put against anybody who does so. This is shown

all the way through the play up until the death of Macbeth himself.

Macbeth starts the play as a great hero and is well respected by his

fellow lords and friends. He has shown himself to be a great warrior

and is referred to by some as "Bellona's Bridegroom" who helped to

save Scotland from invasion by the King of Norway and an attack by

MacDonald. Macbeth is highly regarded by the King, who calls Macbeth a

"valiant cousin, worthy gentleman". Macbeth is rewarded, by the King,

the role of Thane of Cawdor after the previous Thane proved to be a

traitor and tyrant. However, by the end of the play Macbeth is hated

by all and is considered to be a traitor and tyrant. I believe that

had Macbeth not have murdered Duncan, he would have carried on his

good name and maybe gained the role of King without having to do

anything to gain it.

We can see that Macbeth starts to suffer from the murder almost

directly after when he says that he thinks he hears a voice:

Methought I hear a voice cry 'Sleep no more!

Macbeth does murder sleep',