Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy concerning Macbeth, a general in 11th century Scotland, and his ambition to become king which ultimately leads to his demise. Shakespeare denounces Macbeth as a character with numerous weaknesses throughout the tragedy, but Macbeth is also revealed as a character with distinct strengths in particular parts of the play. As Shakespeare exposes these strengths and weaknesses, the credibility of Macbeth’s actions is affected and Macbeth is seen as character incapable of overcoming difficult moral situations and as a character who is easily influenced by others. One way that Shakespeare causes Macbeth’s character to affect his credibility is through Macbeth’s numerous flaws. Throughout the tragedy, …show more content…
Macbeth did not think about the malevolent intentions of the witches, but rather thought about how he would fulfill the next part of the prophecy when he considered the “horrid image” of killing King Duncan. The witches were not culpable for this horrid act that Macbeth was contemplating. Rather, Macbeth himself was responsible. Shakespeare included this aside and foreshadowing so that the audience could see that Macbeth’s actions were not completely influenced by others but rather his actions were mostly influenced by himself though his gullibility. Furthermore, Shakespeare exploits Macbeth’s gullibility with the aid of Lady Macbeth who convinced Macbeth to execute the horrid deed, although she was not entirely the reason that Macbeth went through with the deed. It was Macbeth who made the choice to murder King Duncan, not Lady Macbeth. This reaffirms the idea that Macbeth’s actions were directly determined by him and not by others. Moreover, Shakespeare shows Macbeth’s gullibility after he becomes king when he goes to the witches for more predictions about his future. Macbeth readily accepts the witches’ prophecies and with great arrogance, uses personification to convey how he believes …show more content…
While Shakespeare described Macbeth as an overall weak character throughout the play, Macbeth had a few redeeming qualities at certain parts of the play. The audience originally sees Macbeth referred to as brave Macbeth, “[deserving] that name” because of what he did to save Scotland during the war with Norway. King Duncan described Macbeth as a “valiant cousin [and] worthy gentleman” and even the witches began their exchanges with Macbeth with the phrase “all hail Macbeth”. This flattery influenced Macbeth’s future actions as he saw how people thought highly of him and he likely thought of himself as capable of being king. Macbeth’s inflated ego led to his poor decision of killing King Duncan which ultimately led to his downfall. Furthermore, Shakespeare uses ambition to convey the reasoning behind Macbeth’s actions. The audience first sees Macbeth’s ambition when he learns about the witches’ prophecies and impulsively reflects on how he will fulfill it. Macbeth’s ambitious thoughts may have been aroused through the witches’ prophecies, but his ambitious actions were entirely a result of his free will. Most of Macbeth’s tyrannical actions throughout the play were a result of his ambition which he willingly allowed to influence him. Hence, Shakespeare uses Macbeth’s valiant character and his ambition to further increase
Although Macbeth commits the murder, Lady Macbeth shows that she has just as many dark and corrupt thoughts as him. The one who comes up with the murder plan is Lady Macbeth, directly after she learns about the prophecy. After Macbeth informs her of the king’s overnight stay, Lady Macbeth’s first words are “O, never/ Shall sun that morrow see!” (1. 5. 67-68) as her plan to kill the king is already being put into motion. If Lady Macbeth had not made the plans Macbeth may not have gone through with the murder. Lady macbeth becomes a driving, manipulative force to Macbeth. She justifies why killing Duncan is good and shames him into committing horrible deeds. When Macbeth tries to refuse she says “When you durst do it, then you were a man;/ And, to be more than what you were, you would/ Be so much more the man.” (1. 7. 54-56), challenging his masculinity. In the end, Lady Macbeth isn't the only one who’s mind becomes corrupted, she drags Macbeth down with her. Finally, Lady Macbeth pretends that the guilt doesn’t really bother her, she simply tells her husband that he is weak. She tries hide her corruption through lies and by putting Macbeth down, but in the end she falters, realises her guilt and drives herself insane.
Through his thoughts, actions, and decisions Macbeth demonstrates his overwhelming guilt. Macbeth’s desire to become king drives him to introduce plans for Duncan’s murder. Macbeth puts power into the hands of Lady Macbeth by sending her the letter that informs her of the prophecies. Lastly, Macbeth acknowledges his guilt in several places in the story. Macbeth is aware that his thoughts are corrupt and he knows that justice will somehow punish him. However, even with all his power, Macbeth makes no attempt to reverse the situation and is thereby responsible for the loss of his life.
Shakespeare’s famous play “Macbeth” is about Macbeth taking his fate and others into his own hands. Ambition is a prominent theme that affects Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as they seek the royal crown. First, The three witches tell Macbeth what could happen in the future for example they say he will become thane of Glamis, thane of Cawdor, and finally future king. He takes it into his own hands and speeds up the process. “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!”~~~. This quote from the text fuels Macbeth's ambition for more power.
Macbeth just could not shake Lady Macbeth’s manipulative words or the three witches promising prophecies. He knows what he has to do next. The only question is, can he really commit murder? Or will he fold at the last minute? Lady Macbeth is a very manipulative and greedy woman. On the other hand, her husband, Macbeth, is the complete opposite. Macbeth was a very loyal and well respected general in the beginning of the play. Also, the three witches in this play are incredibly conniving and powerful. Lady Macbeth, the three witches and Macbeth are all ultimately responsible for King Duncan’s murder due to each one of their personalities and actions throughout the play.
There is no question that Macbeth is a character of many flaws, despite having overcome such great obstacles in his remarkable rise to power. The status of king is one that Macbeth had neither deserved nor utilized as he should have, to lead his people towards prosperity. Instead, Macbeth coveted and later used the power of the throne out of selfishness, under the delusion that it was a position that he was destined to achieve by any means necessary. Through the path from captain to king, Macbeth demonstrates greatness through the realization of his capabilities in murder, deceit, and determination. Yet, Macbeth’s continuous lust for power and his reliance on others such as Lady Macbeth finally unveil the flaws in his character that doom him to his death.
Shakespeare's "Macbeth" holds many hidden themes within its already exuberant plot. The first of these surrounds the murder of Duncan and the role that both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth himself played. However, the true guilt of the murder can fall on either character. Although Macbeth physically committed the crime, it was Lady Macbeth that pushed him to his limits of rational thought and essentially made fun of him to lower his esteem. With Macbeth's defenses down, it was an easy task for Lady Macbeth to influence Duncan's murder and make up an excuse as to why she could not do it herself. The guilt of Duncan's murder can be placed firmly on the head on Lady Macbeth.
The play ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare, is known as one of the Four Great Tragedies of Shakespeare. Tragedy defines the protagonist of a high rank who is essentially good, plummets because of a fatal flaw and causes consequences for everyone. The protagonist Macbeth, is controlled by others and this results in him being hopeless at the end. He is strongly induced by the prophecies the witches foretells, also, Lady Macbeth exerts her will on his choices. Thus, in the end, Macbeth feels hopeless and undervalues his life as a result of being controlled by others.
The tragedy Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, follows the rise and fall of a loyal Scottish warrior. Macbeth is portrayed as a man of multiple sides, presenting three main traits – bravery, ambition, and self-doubt – throughout the play. The character is an example of how ambition and guilt can have terrible effects on an individual lacking in strength of character. Although some people may perceive Macbeth as malicious, his weak character shows that he is incapable of conquering guilt and self-doubt. The prime themes of the play are: ambition, loyalty and betrayal, good and evil, appearance versus reality, supernatural and fate. Shakespeare presents these themes through the actions of Macbeth and their results: the corrupting effects
Many of people have heard the tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare. The story revolves on a sequence of misfortunate events that take place when Macbeth makes immoral decisions to be king. In the play, Shakespeare shows how power can cause corruption in a human’s brain. Macbeth himself was not a very confident person, though he had a kind soul to begin with, he was easily influenced and gullible. Through the prophecies of the evil beings, an insignificant seed was planted in Macbeth. That spark of wealth and fortune caused the tyrant within him to awake. Which eventually lead to his fatal death. His ambition lead him to murder, go insane and become very superstitious.
The tragedy takes place in a dark world. For the most part, it takes place at dusk and during the night. The night is the time where demons haunt the dreams of humans. This is the biblical place where mankind, left to itself and the darkness of error, is doomed to death. During the night, God, the Sun of Justice, seems absent, the world seems delivered to unlimited evil.
Whilst the character of Macbeth is initially portrayed as a noble kinsman, his ambition and motivation, directly influenced by the witches and Lady Macbeth, ultimately transforms him into a corrupt and ruthless tyrant. William Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy “Macbeth” clearly depicts this notion of change, illustrated through Shakespeare's utilisation of literary techniques. The tragic downfall of Macbeth is mainly attributed to Macbeth’s own greed and hubris.
In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the character of Macbeth is discovered to be a classic example of a tragic hero. Macbeth is a very ambitious and courageous person who lets three main things turn him into a violent individual. Two of the points, which most greatly contribute to Macbeth’s fall, are the prophecy, which were told to him by the witches, and how Lady Macbeth influenced and manipulated Macbeth's judgment. These two factors along with his tremendous ambition to be king is what caused him to fall from a noble man who was loyal to his king to a violent man who would kill his king to become king!
Truth of Macbeth The tragedy, Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, is based on actual people and events that took place throughout Scotland. Although it is based on true events, the factual history of Macbeth is uncertain and often debated by many historians. There are many pieces of factual evidence to show how exaggerated Shakespeare’s account of the history of Scotland is, and the true story of the people and events.
The most interesting aspect of Macbeth’s character is that it is flawed. The audience can identify with his human frailties. Despite the fact that Macbeth commits evil and is drawn to the successes he thinks evil can provide him, one can tell he has goodness in him. Shakespeare reveals Macbeth’s moral development through the use of symbolism in the soliloquys which portray
The witches cannot be blamed, nor Lady Macbeth, for Macbeth himself acting on his ambition and making his desires become reality. When the witches tell Macbeth of his future, his first thought is how murdering Duncan would be "fantastical". This shows that Macbeth is prepared to kill simply to climb the hierarchy. Although the witches give predictions and Lady Macbeth persuades him, neither have actual control over Macbeth. He recognises that he is "so far" in blood but instead of changing his ways, he decides that it would be "tedious" and pointless. He realises after killing many people, he can never go back to the man he was before. His ambition continues to drive him forward and he embraces evil. Macbeth chooses not to tell his wife about his plans and slowly begins to cut off connection to her. Even when she dies, he shows little remorse by saying "she should have died hereafter". This demonstrates that he has little human emotion left. By the end of the play, Macbeth has fallen from a hero to a