Macbeth Coursework.
MACBETH COURSEWORK 1T The witches are seen as being evil. This is because at the time, witches were accepted as being real and evil. Shown in the play because the first scene is thunder and lightning, which is associated with terrible happenings and things so suggests witches are terrible things. They speak in rhymes and use many equivocal terms e.g. 'Fair is foul, and foul is fair´. This suggests reversal and unbalance, which leads to chaos and disorder in Macbeth´s life. This is suggested because they immediately mention Macbeth so he is already associated with the witches and seen as being evil. The chaos is also shown in the natural world by the weather and natural events. Act 1 Scene 3, there is thunder when the witches meet again. The idea of them being evil is reinforced because in this scene because they are cursing a sailor. This suggests that Macbeth will also face a similar type of treatment. The mystery of the witches is increased in this scene because they know Macbeth is coming when the third witch tells the other two, 'Macbeth doth come.´ This raises the question of how they knew he was coming and reinforces the link between Macbeth and the witches, which suggests to the audience that Macbeth is evil from the beginning of the play. This link is further reinforced when Macbeth´s first line using the same equivocal as the witches, 'So foul and fair a day I
Macbeth Essay
Macbeth Essay I will be writing about how William Shakespeare has written Macbeth which changes the attitudes of the reader to a central character and varies at different stages of the play. I will be writing about the techniques to how he does this and the skill in executing them. Macbeth at the beginning of the play is told by the captain to King Duncan how fearless and brave he was. 'Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel' (Act 1 scene 2) This makes us feel admiration towards Macbeth and also highlights how fearless he seems. 'Disdaining Fortune' is Macbeth defying luck with 'brandished steel' fighting through the horde of the enemy in battle. The captain also says 'Like Valour's minion carved out his passage" (Act 1 Scene 2) Macbeth is described to be a soldier who is brave and strong fighting his way out of a group of enemies towards his main objective. 'carved' is effective because it gives us a image which shows how he seems to be fighting through, as if he with his sword is easily swiping away the enemy that are foolish enough to face up to him. This also highlights how ambition is a trait of his character. This makes him seem admirable because it then tells us how he is strong and brave and this is without even being introduced to the character in the play. Macbeth when we are first introduced to him is seen walking across the battlefield with his
Macbeth's diary.
Ceri Davies 07-02-02 Macbeth's diary On the day that the battle had ended, I galloped through the misted heath on my valiant steed. Along side my trust worthy, noble partner Banpuo. The battle had been against the traitors of the king's victorious country. As I galloped I looked apon the heath as if it was my own. Our clothes dripped with the blood or the rebels. One clear image remains, an image of McDonald, and I, Macbeth, unseaming him from the nave to the chop. In the distance were three figures. As they became clearer I sensed that Banpuo became unsteady on his horse. As we continued the figures also continued to become clearer. The figures were not man or women. Not black or white. An expeditious decision led me to believe that the figures were witches. At that point I became uneasy on my steed as my fear grew. I stepped down from my horse closely followed by the brother I never had. Banquo gasped I breathed in deeply and stepped forward. He then asked how far isn't called to Forrest. He rapidly stepped back, I followed his eye movement and it was at that moment I realised that they were not to be taken lightly. Then as I stared in horror and a slight fear, Banquo began to speak. I then stood straight demanded for them to speak unless it was beyond their ability. They stepped forward and then they began to reveal themselves to us. They called upon me as my
Is Macbeth a Tragic Hero?
Is Macbeth a Tragic Hero? Aristotle defined a tragic hero using a series of points, these points showed what characteristics or situations a tragic hero would define himself/herself by. The first point was 'A Hero whose status means that his downfall will be significant, affecting many people'. We know that Macbeth's downfall will affect the future of Scotland as he is a prominent person in Scotland's society; the King. 'Do we but find the tyrants power tonight, Let us be beaten, if we cannot fight?' This shows the tyrant - Macbeth - holds so much power within his hands. Macbeth also has a good name, 'This tyrant whose sole name blisters our tongues, was once thought honest; you have loved him well;' His climb to power has affected many people as his position heightened. Now at this point, when Macbeth has reached the top of the ladder, he has the lives of many people and his downfall will being freedom to those close to him. 'Those he commands move only in command, nothing in love.' The people around Macbeth feel forced to bow to him; this is an example of this power and status over people. The second of Aristotle's points is 'A tragic hero is one whose suffering reveals essential truths about humanity.' These truths show themselves within Macbeth throughout the play. One of these truths is greed. This develops throughout the play and his want for power gets greater.
Macbeth.
Macbeth The main part of the play involves 3 witches, who are important as they deliver dramatic, significance to the play which creates the atmosphere, which Shakespeare wanted, for the public. The witches have this dramatic part in the play because during Elizabethan times people believed in witches. They were part of life: people were scared of them because they believed that witches could communicate with the dead. They even believed some witches could see into the future. So to see a play about witches would be alarming. People were frightened but it would still attract people to come and see it. It would be a once in a life time opportunity, to catch sight of a play about witches. During the play Macbeth comes across the three witches. They predict that certain thing will happen to Macbeth. The witches take control of Macbeth and bring the evil in Macbeth out of him. In Shakespeare's time there were probably not more than 5 public theatres for the whole of the country, they were all in London. The plays were performed in courtyards, or inns. This is where playhouses originated from. Stagecraft during Elizabethan times was very well done with music very often used, as a simple sound affects for example: dropping of a cannon-ball for the noise of thunder. Trapdoors were used for the sudden disappearance of ghosts. Belief in witchcraft was wide spread. In 1604 it became
Macbeth
Ambition is often the driving force in one's life. It is supposed to be the motivating factor that drives one towards success. Society also deems ambition a necessary quality of their leader. It can be said that Macbeth exhibits this quality of ambition. He is the strong, valiant warrior who has won in battle and brought victory to Scotland. However, Macbeth's quest to acquire more power-his ambition-ultimately leads to his tragic demise. How can one allow himself to be destroyed by such a thing? Before Duncan's murder, Macbeth questions and second guesses his ambitious tendencies and actions. Despite his anxiety, he succumbs to these tendencies and finds himself in an increasingly precarious situation, with his back against the wall and growing ever closer to his almost inevitable end. There is no doubt that Macbeth is a noble man. He risked everything he had to protect Scotland from Norway, and single-handedly took down the treacherous Thane of Cawdor: "Till that Bellona's bridegroom, lapped in proof, Confronted him with self-comparisons, Point against point, rebellious arm 'gainst arm, Curbing his lavish spirit: and, to conclude, The victory fell on us." (1.2.54-57) Macbeth was seen as a brave and noble man by all of his peers, and even King Duncan himself. This is why Duncan proclaimed "What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won," (1.2.67) referring to the fact that
Macbeth; A Tragic Hero
Key Question #25 Ruthless Ambition A Tragic Hero There are many heroes in this world, whether it's a fireman or a mother. A hero is chosen from their courage, nobility and strength. However, to contrast the idea of a hero, there are tragic heroes. Macbeth is the perfect example of a tragic hero. Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero is one that is of greatness and nobility but makes an error that leads to his downfall, someone who despite their greatness, is flawed, someone who is punished more than deserved and someone who can relate to an audience. There are three parts to the downfall of Macbeth; the prophecy told by the witches, Lady Macbeth's influence upon Macbeth and Macbeth's burning desire to be King. At the beginning of the story, Macbeth is returning from Scotland after winning the war for Duncan. This shows that he is a noble person; one of the requirements of tradgedy. The prophecy told by the witches to Macbeth was the very beginning of Macbeth's downfall. They told him that he would be Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis and eventually 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!" (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 48). This immediately sparked the corruption in Macbeth due to his curiousity and faith in what the witches said. If Macbeth had never
The Role Of The Witches In Macbeth.
The Role Of The Witches In Macbeth Macbeth is a play created by William Shakespeare. He wrote the play in order to please King James I by entertaining his host, King Christian of Denmark. The play is strongly related to witchcraft and demonology. Audiences of its time believed without a doubt that witches did exist, unlike today where it is thought to be a myth by most. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth I witchcraft was recognised by law. In 1564 a law was passed making a murder by witchcraft punishable by death, thus acknowledging witches and their supernatural powers. This law was regularly enforced and in Scotland alone it is estimated that 8000 witches burned to death between 1564 and 1603. In 1604 an additional law was passed in Scotland, which stated that if anyone found guilty of practising witchcraft in any manner, should be executed. James I was acquainted with this phenomenon, when a coven of witches practised against him on a return voyage from Denmark to Scotland in 1590. He was almost shipwrecked. In the aftermath of his ordeal he published a treatise named Demonology in 1597. Shakespeare was quite sure that he could capture the minds of the King and play on his emotions by using witchcraft within his play. The witches open the play in Act one scene one on a deserted place with disruptive weather. This implies the unnatural negative atmosphere surrounding the
