Macbeth coursework
The play ‘Macbeth’ was first performed in 1606. The play was written by William Shakespeare, an English poet, who is widely regarded as the most influential, prominent writer to live. Shakespeare’s work ranges from romances to tragedies to comedies. Being Shakespeare’s shortest play, the tragedy ‘Macbeth’ almost replicated the events and occurrences that were unfolding in Scotland, during the time it was written. In the play Shakespeare tells the story of how Macbeth, the protagonist, worked his way from being a nobleman to being crowned the king. This path ends in Macbeth’s downfall. Macbeth is influenced by people such as the three witches and his wife but his own greed and yearning for supremacy leads to his inevitable self destruction. Macbeth’s downfall is a result of his excessive ambition and the influence of others, namely the three witches and Lady Macbeth. Shakespeare introduces Macbeth as a noble, brave and loyal Scottish nobleman who courageously battled the Norwegians and Scottish rebels. The captain names the nobleman as ‘brave Macbeth’ and compares Macbeth to ‘Valour’s minion, hinting at Macbeth’s courage. Prior to Macbeth being entitled the ‘Thane of Cawdor,’ he encounters the three witches who prophesise that Macbeth is destined to be ‘Thane of Cawdor’ and eventually King. Macbeth is skeptical about the prophecies but once he is dubbed ‘Thane of Cawdor’ he starts to believe the ‘weird sisters.’ During the seventeenth century, the general consensus was that witchcraft was the blame for all the wrongs in the word as they believed in the paranormal. In the play, Macbeth begins to believe in witchcraft after being skeptical. Macbeth’s insomnia, hallucinations and trances throughout the pl...
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...ions. Instead of feeling sorrow concerning his wife’s suicide, Macbeth ponders on how futile life is. In the lines ‘Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow / Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,’ Macbeth comments on how meaningless life is. Macbeth tries to show his wife how he loves her in Act 1 but when informed of her suicide, he shows little grief. This is evidence of his altered character and that Macbeth sacrificed his morals to become powerful. Macbeth was undoubtedly influenced by the three witches and their prophecies. Lady Macbeth, his desirous wife, also played a significant role in Macbeth’s ruin. Ironically, Macbeth could foresee further bloodshed and death. Though impelled by the weird sisters’ prophecies and influenced by his callous wife, Macbeth’s own actions and ambitions have lead him to his inevitable and tragic self-destruction.
The three weird sisters “witches” predicted that Macbeth would become the King of Cawdor. “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!”(Shakespeare, Macbeth 1...
Macbeth's Downfall in William Shakespeare's Play 'Macbeth' by William Shakespeare is a play set in 1040 about a Scottish general named Macbeth. It explores the transformation and effect of his ambition upon his life. Although it is set in 1040, it is written in the 1606 under the reign of James 1st. James' very recent accession to the English throne would have been of great contemporary importance and a play which focuses on Kingship would have roused interest too.
wink at the hand! yet let that be, /" (I, iv, 57-59). Macbeth is vexed
serious if his wife was not more anxious than he was. She, more than her
Macbeth is victorious; he has just returned from the battle ground as a brutal warrior; courageous, but what is more, heroic. At this point in the play, Macbeth's reputation is rapidly growing with the rampant spread of the word of his good deeds at war. This climaxes when his actions are acknowledged and rewarded by the title given to him by King Duncan,
The weird sisters (witches) have a great impact on Macbeths state of mind when he decides to follow through with many of his actions. The witches are responsible for putting the idea of Macbeth becoming king in his head. Faith in the witches compromises his honour since they are believed to be evil however Macbeth
There were several aspects of Shakespeare’s novel ‘Macbeth’ that led to the downfall of Lady Macbeth. The mentality of Lady Macbeth in the play changes dramatically from the wife a Noble General, to an evil aggressive murderer (brought upon by the witches predictions), and finally a woman who had de-graded to such an extent that she took her own life.
...it by his wife, Macbeth is plagued with guilt when he sees Banquo’s apparition, and him being panic-stricken by the prophecy all exhibit the fallacy of Macbeth’s character. Were it not for the external factors that surround Macbeth within the play, then maybe there was a chance that he would have never committed the acts. “Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more” (5.5.26-29). Macbeth reflects on his exceedingly ambitious life and how it really had no meaning to the world. Because Macbeth never got to enjoy any of his accomplishments in life, Shakespeare proposes that it is far better to achieve your goals fairly rather than foully. Also, if Macbeth followed his ethical instinct the result would have never transgressed into his death, or perhaps it was just meant to be.
The three witches use cleverly chosen words and prophecies to exert control over others. These prophecies seem to be more potent than any action, as they can be interpreted in any number of ways, and have the ability to provoke otherwise hidden thoughts and desires. For instance, upon hearing the first prophecies and seeing the first part come true, Macbeth says, “This supernatural soliciting, cannot be ill, cannot be good … If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs.” This shows the power of the witches, and indeed the supernatural in general. The prophecies, of which Macbeth is convinced are true, have provoked thoughts and ideas, both good and evil.
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is portrayed as a courageous and well-respected soldier who is loyal to his King and country. He is described by one of King Duncan's men as “brave Macbeth.” As a result of his bravery on the battlefield, Duncan decides to reward Macbeth with a new title – the Thane of Cawdor – as the last Thane was proven to be disloyal; however, Macbeth is unaware of this, and this creates tension in the audience. The opening scenes show that Macbeth is a powerful and courageous man who is not naturally inclined to do wrong, but is capable of being brutal when he needs to be. The meeting with the witches also reveal that Macbeth is a very ambitious man who craves an even greater power. There is contrast between Macbeth’s and Banquo’s attitudes towards the witches’ prophecies. Whilst Banquo dismissed the witches’ prophecies, Macbeth was “rapt withal.” This shows that Macbeth has thought about being “king hereafter.” Macbeth's first soliloquy reveals his deep desire to be king. His soliloquy also reveals that he would do anything to achieve it.
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth’s desire and ambition leads to her eventual downfall. When Lady Macbeth hears of Macbeth’s prophecy she dreams of the glory and high-standing that awaits being queen. She cannot withhold her ambitions and she is willing to manipulate fate to bring about Macbeth’s prophecy. She invokes evil spirits to be filled from head to toe with cruelty to do the evil actions necessary to make Macbeth king and to remove all remorse and pity for her action from her heart. She is initially able to be involved in the treacherous deeds that are needed to bring about the prophecy quickly, but as the play progresses the weight of the merciless deeds fill her with remorse. The remorse and pain she feels for her wicked ways cause Lady Macbeth to lose control of her life and wither away until the weight of her deeds causes her to die. Lady Macbeth’s wish is partially granted, her mind becomes evil and enables her to do horrific things, but her soul remains pure and unsure of her actions and her remorse for her wicked ways leads to her destruction.
MacBeth by William Shakespeare is a play which shows the uprise of MacBeth, the treachery and his eventual downfall. Witchcraft plays a major part in MacBeth's actions and his weak character is easily manipulated. Although being an honest and brave man earlier, his ambition clouds his judgement. His life is tragic and through some terrible deeds ends in catastrophe.
We see in the play Macbeth that when the motivation to succeed in life becomes overpowering, other people may easily influence one and elements and one may decide on wrongful actions to achieve a goal. Some of the influences on Macbeth include the witches and the apparitions, Lady Macbeth, and lastly Macbeth's own insecurities and misguided attempts to control his future.
In the beginning of the play Macbeth was given a new heading in act 1
In the Shakespearean era, there was an eruption of superstition and alleged witchcraft. The people of that time had strong hatred for the ‘devil worshiping’ witches and had various trials and tests to determine their fate. Shakespeare used this as inspiration for his play ‘Macbeth’