The play Macbeth is plagued with murder, deceit, and desire for power.

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Cristina Hall

December 18, 2002

Literature: Block C

Macbeth Essay

        The play Macbeth is plagued with murder, deceit, and desire for power.  As Macbeth eliminates many of people who trusted him most, the question is raised whether or not Macbeth was at blame for his actions or was he merely controlled by the will of the three wicked sisters?  In the argument made by the acclaimed critic Harold Bloom, Macbeth was controlled and used as nothing more than a puppet of the witches.  In contrast, Macbeth, had listened to the advice and warnings of the three witches, but when the time comes for a decision to be made, Macbeth is in control of his actions.

        The first example of Macbeth acting according to his own free will is seen in Act II, scene 2, when Macbeth goes through with the murder of Duncan.  In Act I of the play the witches tell Macbeth that he will be king.  Macbeth decided not to act because he believes the witches prophesy will come true.  Right away this tells us that Macbeth has given thought to possibility of dangerous action, but holds off.  The witches did not interfere in his ultimate decision to kill Duncan, such as presented in the soliloquies.  When Macbeth says, “In this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?  Come let me clutch thee!” (lines 33-34) it suggests that Macbeth wanted the throne from the start.  This soliloquy reveals Macbeth’s planning of harm to come to Duncan, and although he may not have intended death, it was a result he chose to go along with.  In the article by Harold Bloom, he brings up an interesting point that the reader can not help but be taken into the mind of Macbeth, “in a rapt aside, quite early in the play, Macbeth introduces us to the extraordinary nature of his imagination” (Bloom, 535).  It is an interesting point he makes about how Macbeth thinks of these murders and then acts upon them.  After giving much thought of murder and the (short-term) benefits of becoming king, Macbeth becomes nervous after Malcolm is declared heir to the throne.  He wishes for the witches prophesy to come true, but his own apprehension causes him to take action.  While actually committing the crime, Macbeth is in a haze.  After the first murder and power has been given to him, things become clearer to Macbeth and his decisions become more forceful and impulsive.

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        The second example of action with planning comes shortly after the death of Duncan, when Banqo becomes highly suspect of Macbeth and his intentions.  Because of Banqo’s waver of loyalty, Macbeth hires two murderers to kill Banqo and his son.   Unlike the other two murders the witches gave no warning that Banqo would be an interference; only that his crown was fruitful.  When Macbeth talks to the murderers of Banqo, his mind is once again thrown into haze as he speaks, “Know Banqo was your enemy… so he is mine, and in such bloody distance; That every minute of ...

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