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Loss Of Power In Macbeth Essay

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In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth the main character, Macbeth, follows a dreadful journey of murder and power hungriness. In this essay close attention will be paid to the given extract of the interaction between the infamous three witches and Macbeth. These characters along with Lady Macbeth and Macbeth himself, serve as the main influences that lead Macbeth to the end result of the play. Throughout this extract many things shift due to the words shared. Macbeth's attitude changes from fearful to fearless as he interprets what he is being told to his benefit. Macbeth foolishly does not recognise the double meaning of the words as he is blinded by his ambitions. The double meaning of the ambiguous words spoken by the witches is spurred on by their …show more content…

The focus shall be on the catalysts of the play that encourage Macbeth’s behaviour that ultimately result in him losing his power.

The seeds of Macbeth’s downfall are first planted near the beginning of the play by the three witches forecasting his future. The witches begin their influence by telling Macbeth that he shall be the Thane of Cawdor and eventually King, “ All hail, Macbeth, the future king!” (I. iii. 3). If the witches did not tell Macbeth that he would be Thane of Cawdor he would be less inclined to believe their other prophecies. But as presented, these prophecies proved to become a reality. This belief was mixed with his thirst and craving for power. Looking at the extract, the witches clearly play on Macbeth’s fears and insecurities. This is where the term equivocation enters the play, equivocation entails the use of ambiguity with the aim to deceive. The witches thrive on this tool and use it when they converse among themselves and say “ Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” (I. i. 11-12). This not only encompasses equivocation but also their supernatural bad luck and deceiving nature. This is also displayed years after the play is written, as Garber describes the play as a tragedy, “The tragedy of Macbeth is the great Shakespearean play

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