William Shakespeare's Macbeth

William Shakespeare's Macbeth

Shakespeare wrote "Macbeth" around 1606. This was a very violent time

for the newly recognised British Isles. Just three years earlier,

after nearly half a century in power, Queen Elizabeth I had died. She

was succeeded by James I (or James VI of Scotland). James was of

Scottish heritage and his style of rule was very different to that of

Elizabeth who had been strong and imposing character. It would seem

that James was a weaker monarch and in 1605, just two years after

being crowned, there was a plot to destroy the houses of parliament, a

symbol of his power. This is famously known as the Gunpowder Plot and

is still commemorated every year on the 5th of November.

Most agree that Shakespeare wrote "Macbeth" (or "The Scottish Play")

to comment on the underlying mood of the time. He sets his play in

Scotland to try and win favour with King James and furthermore, makes

the subject matter that of assassination and regicide ending in

overall failure, to try and warn other possible plotters against the

king. King James was renowned for his fascination and hatred of

witches and during his reign tens of thousands of "witches" were

killed. Shakespeare thus makes all the carnage and murder in the play

the result of the witches' prophecies.

Our first impression of Macbeth is a very good one. In only the second

scene, before we even meet Macbeth, we hear him referred to as "brave

Macbeth - well he deserves that name." Again, before Macbeth is even

introduced to us, King Duncan remarks (with regard to Macbeth and

Banquo) "they smack of honour both." Although we are also told that

Macbeth's sword was "smoked wi...

... middle of paper ...

...afted semantic fields such as

clothes ("why do you dress me

in borrow'd robes") and a man's face ("There's daggers in men's smiles").

These all work as clever imagery to further entice the audience.

Apart from being a tragic hero, Macbeth is also one of the most

complicated of all of Shakespeare's characters. He goes through almost

every emotion that we have a word for, and his feelings always

contradict. First we think he is a fearless warrior, and then we see

him bullied by his heartless wife. This serves a superb dramatic

purpose for Shakespeare as the audience are never sure what to think

or what to expect next. The conclude, the play "Macbeth" is

undoubtedly one of Shakespeare's greatest masterpieces and is a

timeless piece of theatre - with its core, being the dramatic enigma

that it the character, Macbeth.