Shakespeare Coursework Essay.
Paragraph 1 to Paragraph 10.
Macbeth was set in Scotland around 1050. In 1050, Scotland was a violent place. Shakespeare got some good ideas from old history books and wrote the play. The characters name are taken from some real historic people, such as: Macbeth, Duncan and lots of other characters. Shakespeare wrote this play when James I was the King of England. He was descended from the real Banquo. The important places in the play are actually real places of Scotland. Macbeth's castles is the place where scenes happened most.
At the opening of the play, Macbeth and Banquo return from a victorious battle.
"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning or in rain?"(1:1:1-8)
The witches set the spooky mood, they agree to meet Macbeth after the battle is over. The witches can predict the future, that's why they are also called the weird sisters. Everything they say comes true in the play, except the prediction about Banquo's children getting the throne.
The play started with thunder and lightening and the three witches in a lonely, deserted place sets the tone for the whole play. Every time the witches appear, they tell Macbeth what will happen next or what he will be. They are not the same as other characters.
"When the hurley-burley's done, when the battle's lost and won."(1:1:3-4)
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair."(1:1:11)
It sounds like they're chanting, not speaking.
The witches speaker shorter lines than rhyme, which makes them sound different and sinister.
The witches call Macbeth Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland.
"All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis. All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor. All hail Macbeth that shalt be king hereafter."(1:3:47-49)
Macbeth asked the witches where they get the information from.
"Say from whence you owe this strange intelligence."(1:3:74-75)
Macbeth believed in the witches. Then, Rosse and Angus say how King Duncan is pleased with him, and he made him Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth think that because one thing that the witches said come true, maybe he will be the king of Scotland.
"Two truths are told, as happy prologues to the swelling act of the imperial theme."(1:3:127-129)
In Act 4 Scene 1, Macbeth returns to the witches because he wanted to get some advice and predictions from them.
"Macbeth doesn't know what will happen next. He is a bit confused and afraid, so he need to find the witches who can predict his future. I conjure you by that which you profess, however you come to know it answer me."(4:1:49-50)
The witches prepared a spell for Macbeth. When Macbeth went to the witches, he saw three apparitions. ...
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"Two truths are told, as happy prologues to the swelling act of the imperial theme."(1:3:127-129)
In Act 4 Scene 1, Macbeth returns to the witches because he wanted to get some advice and predictions from them.
"Macbeth doesn't know what will happen next. He is a bit confused and afraid, so he need to find the witches who can predict his future. I conjure you by that which you profess, however you come to know it answer me."(4:1:49-50)
The witches prepared a spell for Macbeth. When Macbeth went to the witches, he saw three apparitions. They tell him to beware of Macduff and that he can't be beaten until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill.
Macbeth is so confident that none of the things will happen.
"That will never be: who can impress the forest, bid the trees. Unfix his earthbound root?"(4:1:49-50)
Macbeth didn't know he is tricked by the apparitions whom know he will misinterpret.
The witches are pretty important in Macbeth. They are supernatural. They made Macbeth struggle between good and evil.
"What! Can the devil speak the true?"(1:3:106)
The witches have put the ideas of becoming king into Macbeth's head.
He's already been thinking about knocking off Duncan, and feels like the witches like read his thoughts.
"Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear things that do sound so fair?"(1:3:50-51)
They have made him do all the dreadful things. Macbeth was lead into a false sense of security. Macbeth is affected by the witches, when he is made Thane of Cawdor, he starts to believe them. By the end of Macbeth completely trusts their predictions.
Apart from the witches, Lady Macbeth also leads Macbeth t kill King Duncan.
Lady Macbeth is the other big character in the play, she is a very complicated character. She is as ambitious as her husband-when she gets the letter from Macbeth she assumes that they need to plan to kill the king. Macbeth has many doubts about killing the King. His wife persuades him to do it. She tells him he is coward and says she would kill her baby, if he doesn't kill Duncan. At last, Macbeth was persuaded by his wife and he planned to kill Duncan.
"I am settled and bend up each corporal agent to his terrible feat."(1:7:79-80)
His wife made Macbeth so depressed and made him kill the king.
"From this time, such I account thy love."(1:7:38-39)
Lady Macbeth has already thought of a plan to kill Duncan. This means two innocent people getting the blame for the murder.
"His two chamberlains will I with wine and wassail so convince that memory, they warder of the brain, shall be a frame."(1:7:63-65)
Shakespeare shows Lady Macbeth to be more ruthless, and calculating than her husband at this stage.
After the murder, the next day, when it is discovered, Lady Macbeth acts as if she doesn't know anything. When she knew the king was dead, she fainted in the floor to attract attention to herself and away from her husband.
After the new king was crowned, Macbeth tells the lords that he wishes Banquo was there. Banquo's ghost walked in and sat in Macbeth's seat. Macbeth saw him and went barmy. Lady Macbeth has to do is to dismiss all the guests when she can no longer control her husband.
"Think of this, good pears, but as a thing of custom. Tis no other, only it spoils the pleasure of the time."(3:4:97-99)
Early in the play, Lady Macbeth is the strong one but later she goes mad, possibly with guilt, horror and maybe commits suicide. She keeps on washing her hands, hoping that she can wash away the guilty feelings she has, just as easy as washing away the blood after King Duncan's murder. In the end, she was so mad that she killed herself.
"Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One: Two: why then, 'tis time to do't. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie!
Despite Macbeth not planning the murder, he is still the one who carries out the actual murder and kills the king. The real questions is, "Why did Macbeth do it?" The reason of why he ends up doing so many terrible things because he wanted to be king. After the witches told him that he will be king, he used different methods to make his ambition successful. When Macbeth hears the prediction from the witches, he didn't react by saying dismissive words. He was a bit confused and wonders if it is really true. Even his best friend Banquo doesn't believe what he heard from the witches.
" Are ye fantastical, or that indeed which outwardly ye show? My noble partner you greet with present grace and great prediction of noble having and of royal hope." (1:3:52-55)
Macbeth trusted and relied on the supernatural too much and led him to do so much terrible things. Macbeth isn't completely evil, because he knows killing terrible things. Macbeth isn't completely evil, because he knows killing the king will be put to death and it took him a long time to decide what he wanted to do. At last, he chose to kill King Duncan. Macbeth was a soldier led by King Duncan. A captain says that Macbeth bravely fought to Macdonwald then kill the rebel army.
"Like valour's minion carved out his passage till he faced the slave."(1:2:19-20)
The king was impressed what Macbeth did in the battle. He heard from the captain that Macbeth fought the battle as well as the king, sword against sword and weapon against weapon.
"Confronted him self-comparisons, point against point rebellions, arm 'gainst arm.(1:2:55-56)
The king was happy after he heard those words. He is proud of the army, especially Macbeth and Banquo.
"Great happiness" (1:2:59)
He gave Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth, because he is such a brave soldier in the battle.
"No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death , and with his former title greet Macbeth." (1:2:64-66)
Shakespeare structures his story to ensure the audience knows that Macbeth will receive the title of Thane of Cawdor before Macbeth will receive the title of Thane of Cawdor before Macbeth hears it, to create suspense and ensure greater involvement of the audience.
After the second prediction came true, Macbeth immediately thinks of the third prediction and thinks if it will come true or not. This alerts this audience that Macbeth will consider murder in order to achieve what he wants.
After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth goes to pieces. He kills his closest friend Banquo. Macbeth is worried about Banquo. Macbeth is worried about Banquo because he is brave amd wise and he is the only man that Macbeth is afraid of.
He hates the fact that Banquo's descendents will be future kings, Macbeth feels he needs to secure his kingly position. He is afraid after Banquo is dead. When the feast comes, he saw Banquo's ghost.
Macbeth goes to see the witches for help. The witches prepare a spell and Macbeth sees three apparitions: He seeks for his help from the supernatural. He is persuaded by the witches that he is safe unless one of the three apparitions will happen to him.
Macbeth isn't too worried about Macduff, but he plan to kill his family. Macbeth asked some murderers to kill Macduff's family. Murderers then arrive and kill Macduff's son. He killed an innocent child, that shows the extent of his cruelty by this stage.
Macbeth has done so many bad things, that led himself into certain death.
The first thing from the start of the play is Macbeth the brave solder. He is the main character of the whole play. The play was named using his name. He fights bravelyuntil the end and was killed by Macduff, even though he he know he is going to die. The reason he was killed was because Macduff and the other soldiers found out that Macbeth actually killed King Duncan.
"Yet I will try the last. Before my body I throw my warlike shield." (5:8:32-33)
Macbeth is a cold killer, he murders Duncan because he wanted to be king. He believed in the supernatural, he wouldn't be king. He would still be a brave soldier who fought a great war and the king will still be Duncan. Macbeth is the most to blame on, because of all the crimes he commits. He didn't think carefully before killing Duncan, he was persuaded by Lady Macbeth, her wife. He also killed Macduff's family and Banquo because he is afraid of losing his king position, he needed to make it stable. The reason why he was made to do such things is because of his ambitions.
Macbeth did so many bad things, which are affected by either Lady Macbeth or the witches, but he actually did it himself. He is such a complicated character in order to make the whole play interesting.
Gary Wong 1