The role of women in Macbeth is very negative, the main women are the witches and Lady Macbeth, and they are both evil in the play. They both play a bad influence on Macbeth

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Macbeth- coursework.

Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare, it was one of his most famous plays, for its great storyline and strong characters. One of the characters, Lady Macbeth has a great significance to Macbeth's downfall. To understand more about how the witches and Lady Macbeth have this great effect on Macbeth, we must understand the historical and social context. At the time when Macbeth was written, in 1605, James I was the king of Scotland and England. James was a protestant, and many Roman Catholics did not agree on this they wanted a Catholic ruler, many tried to plot against him, including Guy Fawkes. James liked drama and especially enjoyed Shakespeare's plays. So this was a way for Shakespeare to please James I. Shakespeare was also popular with his audience. In the C17th, people were great believers in supernatural beliefs, including witchcraft. It did not take a lot for people to believe that witches were real. So that the witches could have an evil influence on Macbeth was a believable concept to audiences of the time. The women in C17th kept a low profile, their only status was through their husband. If their husband was rich then they would be also.

The story of Macbeth is about a man's downfall due to bad influences and his ambitions and growing ego. The story is about three witches who prophesy that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor, thane of Glamis and King of Scotland. After telling Macbeth of this Macbeth becomes eager and ambitious to become king. His over-ambitious wife influences Macbeth to kill King Duncan so that he will become king. From then he kills his best friend Banquo and his family, because he is afraid of him. The witches make three more prophecies to Macbeth, which makes Macbeth think that he is unstoppable. Soon after Lady Macbeth goes mad and kills herself, and a group of rebellions go against Macbeth. Macduff then kills him, and Banqou's son becomes king just as the witch's first prophesised.cofd fdr sefdfdw orfd fdk infd fofd fd.

Macbeth's character starts off strong, brave, noble and loyal, everyone respects him and honours him. "For brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name" (1.2, line 16). He had become the hero of the war, defeated a traitor to King Duncan and became greatly respected. We hear all of this before Macbeth even enters the play; he is the centre of attention.

The play begins with the witches. They are introduced to the audience with thunder and lightening. They are seen chanting and they vanish in the mist. This short scene sets the mood for the rest of the play. When the witches say, "Fair is foul and fair is foul," it puts across that the witches are hags and are vile. This develops the plot as it suggests that sinister things will happen. We are made aware that the play focuses on the evil through the use of darkness, thunder and lightening and the witches.

                                                                                                                                                               

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Macbeth enters the stage with Banqou. He is portrayed the brave warrior                                                                                                                                                                                 ...

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