The three scenes I have chosen to analyse fit the pattern of a typical Shakespearean Tragedy perfectly: At the start, Macbeth is portrayed as a valiant, loyal hero. From that status, he shifts, in typical climax, to an evil, greedy murderer at Act three Scene five. In the final scene, we see some of Macbeth’s nobility return as he vows to fight till the death, knowing he will die.
Act 1 Scene 3 is where the evil presence, which runs throughout the play, is established- the witches are the first to appear and play a major part throughout the play. They represent the dark forces of evil that tempt Macbeth into committing his murders. Shakespeare dramatises this evil presence through crashes of thunder and eerie sounds, establishing a familiar sound that would precede the murders, signalling to the audience that the forces of evil were reaching a climax. The witches arrange to meet Macbeth.
The scene opens as they are casting a spell. Shakespeare is indicating that the witches could cast a spell upon Macbeth to control his actions, if they so desired, but they do not. The witches are like Lady Macbeth- both are evil characters (more so than Macbeth is) yet it is Macbeth that acts on his ambition/temptation. We sense an impression of freewill behind everything that Macbeth perpetrates (he is not compelled, blackmailed or forced) which means that a massive proportion of the blame is of his account.
The first time we hear from Macbeth, Shakespeare immediately makes the connection between him to the witches: “So foul and fair a day I have not seen”; he uses a phrase that the witches have previously used. After hearing their prophecies, we can assume that Macbeth considered the witches to be “fair” when in reality their intentions were quite “foul”. Macbeth asks the witches to explain their unfamiliar presence “Speak if you can: what are you?” The three witches then begin to chant their prophecies to Banquo and Macbeth. The first witch says, “All hail.........Thane of Glamis.” The second witch says the same but “Thane of Cawdor.” This “prophecy” is not really a new revelation; it was already known to the audience from previous scenes, however, because Macbeth was absent he knew no knowledge of it. The third witch says, “All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king thereafter”- Macbeth’s silence shows he’s confused at this. Banquo doesn’t believe the witches prophecy and claims it’s just a prediction: “My noble partner you greet with pleasant grace, and great prediction.” However, he seems intrigued and asks for the prediction of his fortune, “If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow, and which will not, Speak then to me.”
FIRST WITCH.
Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.
SECOND WITCH.
Not so happy, yet much happier.
THIRD WITCH.
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none:
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
He receives this contradictory and apparently nonsensical response. However, as the story develops, the audience begin to realise its implications as each prophecy proves true.
“Stay you...Speak I charge you”. This is the first time Macbeth utters any words. It’s clear that he’s quite mesmerized by all this, maybe an early sign of how great an effect outer influence have on him. He asks many questions:
“I know I am Thane of Glamis; but how of Cawdor? The king of Cawdor lives”. However, the witches simply vanish after inserting ideas in the minds of Macbeth and Banquo, leaving so many questions unanswered. This simple stagecraft lands the audience and Macbeth in great suspense.
Two of the king's men (Rosse and Angus) tell Macbeth about his elevation to the position of Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth and Banquo are taken aback by the accuracy of the witches' prediction. Banquo doesn’t believe the witches prophecies and when he sees how taken in Macbeth is, he asks “Were such things here as we speak about? Or have we eaten on the insane root”. His disbelief shines through in this quote when he suggests they might be delusional. When Angus informs Macbeth that he is now Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth questions “Who was...overthrown him”. He is clearly very surprised and happy but not as much at the fact that he has been placed Thane of Cawdor, but because he realises that the witches prophecies are not just a “great prediction” as Banquo had said, but a fact. For his part, Macbeth is by now inclined to believe that it is his fortune to become king and this strengthens his resolve. Unsatisfied with his new posting, greed begins dominate Macbeth’s thoughts and he begins to visualise the ghastly murder of Duncan.
At this point some critics argue that the witches actually plant the seed of evil within Macbeth in this scene. However, the reverse argument states that they only foretold the future so their role as to say that fate not only exists, but is inescapable would seem understandable. However their presence has more to do with signifying a dark, supernatural theme (fate that is) in the play, as we must remember that the witches are the first but not the last supernatural influence Macbeth experiences.
Banquo’s absence from the scene could have still allowed the play to complete its full course and elaborate in exactly the right places. However, Shakespeare plants him there like a “control in an experiment”. Banquo’s presence proves that even though he is exposed to as much as evil as Macbeth, he doesn’t actually become evil- Banquo never really trusted the prophecies and sensed a great evil in the revealing source. Shakespeare draws attention to that fact that the path of evil Macbeth endures is his own choice. The sense of caution practiced by Banquo is constantly emphasised by Shakespeare to highlight the freedom of choice Macbeth and Banquo have. In lines 128-142 we can see how Macbeth is clearly wrapped in his own thoughts and fantasies on being king. Macbeth already had ambitions and desires; maybe that’s why the witch’s prophecy took such a powerful effect on him. Macbeth wants to believe he will be king but he sees a terrible way to achieve his ambition (murder). He is aware that even thinking the thought “murder yet is but fantastical” is dreadful. But Macbeth also says, “If chance will have...my stir”; signifying that this temptation is growing stronger within Macbeth. Here, the battle of wills takes place- He tries to block out his thoughts, “Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.” His honour speaks of how sinful and dishonourable it would be to murder Duncan, but his ambition and greed try to drown that voice out by setting up a blind fantasy in Macbeth’s mind.
Soon after this incident, he writes to his wife who immediately believes the whole happening, without any substantiation, and proceeds to embrace the forces of evil and darkness by figuratively transforming herself into an unnatural, desexualized evil spirit. Lady Macbeth requests that the, "sprits that tend on mortal thoughts," to unsex her, and fill her with the "direst cruelty…" (I, v.). The supernatural world will aid her in the hardening of her heart and make it possible for her to carry out her malicious plan. Lady Macbeth wishes to throw out her morality for the sake of gaining a title. With the help of invisible sprits, she wants to make herself able to commit a heinous act of murder to make her dreams of the royal life come true, without having reservations or remorse. She approaches Macbeth with her intent to kill King Duncan. Macbeth, although wanting the prophecy to come true, and become king, lacks the enthusiasm his wife has, to commit the murder. Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to act on his desires or he will later think of himself as a coward. All of this goes straight into Macbeth’s mind, which is full of ideas for glory and honour (after all he is proclaimed a great warrior). Maybe the dishonour that cowardice would bring is too great a burden for “brave Macbeth”. Lady Macbeth’s orchestration of the murder exemplifies the twisted atmosphere in Inverness. Both a woman and a host, she should be the model of grace and femininity. She is described, however, as a “fiendlike queen” (Act 5, Scene 6, Line 69) and exhibits a cold, calculating mentality.
Act 1, scene 3 is really where his tragic flaw is exposed for the first time.
At the banquet held in honour for the inauguration of Macbeth as the new King, is possibly where the most alarming occurrence for Macbeth and the most awkward moments of discomfiture for Lady Macbeth coincide. It’s a vital scene to the play because it shows how Macbeth’s sense of guilt reaches a climax along with the tragic consequences of the tragic flaw. From here, Macbeth’s undoing begins.
The scene opens as Macbeth is welcoming his guests when one of the murderers comes to the door. He informs Macbeth that Banquo is dead: Macbeth asks him “There’s blood upon thy face”. He is clearly pleased with this news. He praises his wickedness warmly “thou art the best of the cut-throats”. The absence of any remorse or compassion in Macbeth’s speech shocks the audience and suggests that he become truly evil. The murderer continues his speech mentioning Fleance’s escape. Macbeth is shaken because the possibility of Banquo’s descendants being rulers still remains, but more concerned at how the prophecy of the sisters has come true yet again, “Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect; whole as the marble, founded as the rock”; he panics. Macbeth has an illusion that if Fleance was dead, he would be completely safe. Murder is his preoccupation now, not the banquet and the celebrations of kingship. “I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in to saucy doubts and fears”. Macbeth feels trapped in this whole scenario and cannot see an escape.
However, he decides not to let that show in front of his guests at this symbolic banquet; he believes he has achieved what he desired (to be King) and looks upon it as a productive path as opposed to a path of evil destruction. Macbeth has become so sinful that he can no longer perceive the moral consequences of this path he is travelling, maybe because they are so dire, so he begins to ignore them. We know there has been an internal struggle within Macbeth but, at this point in the play, we feel all the nobleness in his heart has been strangled by his evil deeds. He is aware that no one knows of his crimes and those who had clues are now executed. However, as this scene will go on to prove, the moral consequence of such a crime many not come from the outside but from the inside where his guilt is eating away his conscience. Macbeth has escaped in public, but suffers inside his own castle; he has become King but also a madman.
Macbeth returns to the feast. Standing next to the table, he announces that the banquet would be perfect if only Banquo were there. At this point, unseen by any, Banquo's ghost appears and sits in Macbeth's seat. The guests urge Macbeth to sit and eat with them, but Macbeth says that the table is full. When Lennox points to Macbeth's empty seat, Macbeth is shocked to see Banquo sitting there. He addresses the ghost, saying, "Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake / Thy gory locks at me." The guests, confused by his behaviour, think that he is ill, but Lady Macbeth reassures them, saying that he has had "fits" like this since youth, and that he will soon be well. Macbeth has lost his sanity and is blurring his imagination with reality. At the time, the audience would believe in ghosts, but Shakespeare makes a clear distinction; none of Macbeth’s can see the ghost- only him; this must be madness.
Lady Macbeth draws Macbeth aside and tries to talk some sense into him, telling him that this is just a hallucination brought on by his guilt, like the dagger he saw before he killed Duncan. Ignoring her, Macbeth charges the ghost to speak, and it disappears. Disgusted, Lady Macbeth scolds him for being "unmanned in folly." Turning back to his guests, Macbeth tells them that he has "a strange infirmity" that they should ignore. This is the first time Macbeth has gathered all the important lords of Scotland and this incidence has surely caused many guests to lose confidence in Macbeth’s leadership as King. For a Shakespearean audience a King is wise, firm, compassionate and all about control, so this spectacle must have shown the audience that Macbeth is completely out of control. Macbeth’s paroxysm also gives away another clue about his crimes. The nobles believed Kings were appointed by God and therefore divine, but Macbeth isn’t- God obviously hasn’t placed Macbeth there because God never gets things wrong, so Macbeth as King must be the result of an evil interference.
Just as the party begins again and Macbeth is offering a toast to Banquo, the ghost reappears, and Macbeth again yells at it. Lady Macbeth again tries to smooth things over with the guests. So Ross tells the guests that Macbeth isn’t well and they should leave. “Gentlemen rise, his highness is not well”- Lady Macbeth tells the lords to do the contrary to what Ross has said “Sit worthy friends and pray, you keep seat”. The lords do not know how to react to such an extraordinary interruption. The ghost exits again and Lady Macbeth scolds Macbeth. This time Macbeth responds in kind, telling her that he is shocked that she can look on sights such as this and not be afraid. However, she like Macbeth hits madness later on, but the fact that she can handle the guilt for longer shows she is more evil than Macbeth in addition to the fact that she has also embraced the forces of evil. We also see how Lady Macbeth immediately tries to cover-up Macbeth’s foolhardy behaviour and succeeds, therefore we can assume evil is in control. Ross asks what sights Macbeth means and their curiosity spills into interrogation. Lady Macbeth is then very eager to get rid of the lords. She insists that they go, and go very quickly, “At once, good right. Stand not upon the order of your going; but go at once.” It seems that not only is Macbeth struggling with his morality but also his sanity which plays a major role in the downward spiral of Macbeth. This is the beginning of Macbeth’s undoing- the people have lost respect for him and become fearless, which would make it easier to conspire against him. This is the initiation of a process which leads to all the nobles deserting him.
The guests leave, and Macbeth, frightened, says that he takes this appearance as an omen. He decides that he will go back to the Weird Sisters the next day and ask to hear more.
The banquet, which began very formally, ends in chaos. Macbeth has disgraced himself in front of everyone. Lady Macbeth is ignorant of the secrets he is leaking; the same secrets that will later entrap them both. The only way Lady Macbeth can respond to Macbeth’s speech 130- 140 by suggesting what he needs is sleep, “You lack the season of all natures, sleep”
The next scene I will discuss carries a lot of insight into how psychological factors such as guilt have taken their toll on Macbeth. Shakespeare shocks the audience by suggesting Macbeth has become Neolithic in the end, as his desperation allows an emotional numbness to prevail. However, as a device to illustrate how Macbeth has become totally void of righteousness and sanity, this works well. Macbeth also displays the last hint of a tragic hero when he decides to fight his attackers till death, which would draw a little compassion from the audience and consequently redeem himself, a little, in their view.
The scene begins inside the castle where Macbeth prepares to do battle with Malcolm and Macduff. Although the invading army has besieged the castle, Macbeth’s attitude suggests he is still in a defiant mood, retiring to the sisters’ prophecy, “No man born of a woman shall be able to defeat Macbeth.” However, this disturbs the audience because they are aware of how something which sounds so “fair” is really very “foul”. Macbeth’s false sense of security introduces an atmosphere of suspense and he’s not comfortable. He’s resigned to being invincible, but he feels bitter at how his Kingship is concluding- he doesn’t feel like a powerful ruler and distrusts every one of his servants. He doesn’t rely on support from them to help him. Instead, he relies on the witches, placing a trust in evil. Shakespeare is trying to focus the audience on what kind of King Macbeth has become- that is to say a lonely, powerless one.
He soon learns that Lady Macbeth has committed suicide and hardly mourns her death. I believe Shakespeare writes an appropriate death for her. She had sinned the gravest sin of all and sold herself to evil. In the end she could not handle her own conscience, which seems pathetic. Thus, Shakespeare has shown how her madness and sleepwalking/talking has driven her to the pathetic death of suicide.
However, it is Macbeth’s reaction to this which stuns the audience and reveals in great style, how his emotional state has been reduced to a deadened melancholy. He is hardened by his newfound life as a criminal and is thus devoid of all proper emotion and compassion for his wife. All he can say is that she should have died in better circumstances, almost as if he knew that their guilt would kill them both. However, this eerie emotional numbness that occupies Macbeth shows, more than anything else in this scene, how his mind and soul have been deprived of compassion by his sins.
A messenger interrupts Macbeth’s reverie and tells him, “I look’d toward Birnam, and anon methought, the wood began to move”. In reality, this is Malcolm’s army carrying the trees before itself. Not believing what the messenger says, Macbeth calls him a liar and a slave (he does not trust anyone around him). So, he looks out the window to verify the statement. To his horror, the messenger is right. He begins to realise the riddle in the witches’ prophecy, ”When Birnam Woods begin to…”. The audience assumes that he would also realise that he would now die, but Macbeth still believes he’s invincible. This would be down to his tragic flaw again – a literal and unimaginative mind. However, the scene continues and he makes a most memorable speech about everything that he’s endured, everything he’s risked, everything he’s gained, everything he’s lost: “To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day…” This speech reveals how Macbeth feels life is meaningless; life seems as if it makes sense, but it doesn’t. He relates it to a story told by an idiot making lots of loud noise. In doing so, he’s denying God and adopting a Neolithic, atheistic attitude. This would sicken a Shakespearian audience and suggest to them that Macbeth has descended so low, that his soul has lost all its virtue and meaning. Macbeth has achieved Kingship, but only for a short lived period in which he has sold his soul, risked his sanity, lost his wife and gained an empty title in return.
Shakespeare ends Macbeth’s speech with an effect which may induce sympathy for his hero “Life’s but...signifying death” Everything that had seemed so important to him before -ambition, hopes, desires, victories, and bravery, now adds up to nothing. However this scene contributes immensely to the play as a tragedy, mainly because we realise that Macbeth is repentant of his sinful acts.
He immediately resolves to fight Malcolm and Macduff, even after Macduff tells him that he is not born of a woman in the normal way, and dies honourably. By doing so, he redeems some dignity as a warrior. Macbeth is seen as at his lowest b4 this action and this lifts him a little. He wished to die as warrior. This reveals a streak of heroism within him, thus a source of nobility.
Macbeth ends exactly how it began: with a victorious battle in which a noble hero kills a traitor and displays his head. In act one we hear of Macbeth's bravery and how he cuts off a traitors head. Here at the end of the tragedy Macbeth himself who was a traitor to Duncan and his family gets his head cut off. It’s a cruel twist!
Macbeth, as a Tragedy, has been a very carefully composed play with each theme, minor and major, playing a significant role in the outcome. In conclusion, I have to say that Macbeth, in spite of his horrible murders, is a pitiable man. His saving grace is that he did not initially want to kill Duncan but later changed his mind after listening to his wife. In addition, Macbeth internally suffered because he could not enjoy his royal status. Fear, paranoia, exhaustion and sleeplessness plagued him despite his sovereignty. Lady Macbeth is also a tragic hero. Her initial courage and daring did not last long, and she quickly deteriorated into a delusional, hapless somnambulist.
On concluding the part played by a fate in this play, I believe it has not been investigated sufficiently enough for further analysis. However there are recognisable limits to this issue- Shakespeare has left many unanswered questions in various parts of the play, relating to fate, that he believes can only be answered by the individual their self. On one hand I think the evil fate of Macbeth was pre arranged by the supernatural and on the other I am saying that people are responsible for there own actions. It all comes down to the question- do you believe in fate?
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