The tragic drama Macbeth.

Macbeth coursework. In the tragic drama Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare in 1606 during the English Renaissance, the hero, Macbeth, constantly declines in his level of morality until his death at the end of the play. Because of his change of character from good to evil, Macbeth's attitude towards other characters, specifically Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macbeth, and the witches, is significantly affected. The first of the four characters is Duncan. Since Macbeth interacts with Duncan only a minimal amount before Duncan's death, Macbeth's attitude towards him changes very rapidly. Before Macbeth hears the witches' first prophecy, he is very close to Duncan, and would never even think of doing something against him. When the thought of murdering Duncan crosses his mind immediately after he finds that he has just been named Thane of Cawdor, he cannot believe he "yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs" . In scene 5 of act 1, however, his "vaulting ambition" is starting to take over, but partly because of his wife's persuasion. He agrees that they must "catch the nearest way" , and kill Duncan that night. On the other hand, as the time for murder comes nearer, he begins giving himself reasons not to murder Duncan: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,

  • Word count: 1265
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How Does Lady Macbeth Change During The Play?

How Does Lady Macbeth Change During The Play? Sally Marston 11DC As Lady Macbeth is clearly one of the most important characters in the play, it is interesting that there is a contrasting view of her from the point when she is introduced, up until the point when Malcolm describes her as a 'fiend-like queen' in Act 5 Scene 9. Shakespeare brings her into the play as a very mundane and normal person yet by Act 5 she has developed into something completely different. Fiend may be described as an enemy or foe; the archenemy of mankind' which is a great contrast from the everyday wife that she first represents. After Lady Macbeth reads the letter from her husband, she makes a speech which demonstrates one element of this change in her attitude towards power. 'It is too full o' the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way.' What Lady Macbeth says, shows that she thinks he is too full of the natural qualities that he inherited, of behaving like a decent human being, to take the quiet route into Kingship. When Lady Macbeth uses the words 'milk', it causes the reader to think of natural imagery as well as child imagery because it makes you think of his mother breast-feeding him as a child. This indicating that he inherited his good qualities from his mother. 'Thou wouldst be great; art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it: what thou wouldst

  • Word count: 2135
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Macbeth - A study of evil.

The play "Macbeth" written by Shakespeare explores the theme of good and evil. Shakespeare cleverly mixes these two themes within the play therefore creating a dramatic atmosphere. What is the true meaning of "evil" you ask? It is simply, "the urge to destroy whatever is good; the brooding presence of murderous intention and action". Macbeth was married to Lady Macbeth. Throughout the play there are some similarities between the two personalities. As the play develops so do the characters because both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth experience a change in their lives that they cannot forget. Macbeth in the beginning of the play shows his valour as a warrior in battle fighting for good (the king and country). However, in the captain's account of the battle, there is a disturbing suggestion of extreme violence. "Like valours minion carved out his passage Till he faced the slave, Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, Till he unseamed him from the nave to th'chaps And fixed his head upon our battlements." The captain also mentions the word "Golgotha", which would have an immediate impact on a religious audience, as the captain was referring back to the crucifixions of Christ. However, as the audience discovers later in the play and this account, despite his capacity for violence he is disturbed greatly by the news of Duncan's death, the king he had actually killed.

  • Word count: 3059
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Role of the Witches in Macbeth's Downfall

Macbeth Essay This essay is about the role that the three witches play in Macbeth's downfall. They are responsible for some of the events but not on there own, because ultimately Macbeth is responsible for his own actions for he had his own free will and a choice about how to conduct his life. In this essay I will be looking at the historical concert of the play, How the audience responded to the witches dramatic appearance, How the witches help Macbeth to commit murder and how the 3 weird sisters called upon the evil powers by chanting in riddle and rhyme. I will also include a conclusion. King James the V1 was at the thrown. James enjoyed plays and believed in witches and witchcraft. King James was fond of the play "Macbeth" which was written in the 17th century by the best dramatist of his time William Shakespeare. Shakespeare partly based the play from "The history of Scotland" by Raphel Holinshed, but didn't just re-write the historical facts; he added many more dramatic scenes and made changes to the storyline. In Shakespeare's time a huge amount of people believed in witches and their powers. All over Europe hundreds of thousands of women where accused of witchcraft. They were tortured and evicted. They were blamed for accidents, misfortunes and disasters. Shakespeare used witchcraft in his play possibly because he knew that this subject was both of public interest

  • Word count: 1300
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Compare the character of Macbeth before the killing of Duncan with the character he becomes during the rest of the play. Show how the language used by Shakespeare underlines the character changes

Ben Adams 17th November Compare the character of Macbeth before the killing of Duncan with the character he becomes during the rest of the play. Show how the language used by Shakespeare underlines the character changes The play "Macbeth" is about the man Macbeth, Thane of Glamis and warrior for the King at the beginning of the play he is shown as a brave hero and with valiant actions proves his loyalty. The play shows the process of the change in his character and how the witches and his wife's ambition corrupt him. Shakespeare uses a series of images to underline the changes: sleeping and the dead, day and night, good and evil, clothes that the people wear and the weather. In Macbeth we hear of his brave deeds before we even meet him if you will, his brave actions are described to us planting the idea of a valiant hero in Act 1 scene 2 we hear a conversation between a Captain and King Duncan the captain talks to Duncan of a brave and noble warrior by the name of Macbeth "For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name- Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel Which smoked with bloody execution, Like Valour's minion carved out his passage" In this it says that Macbeth with immense bravery killed many of the kings enemies relentlessly. This praise is well deserved if it is true, he is described valiantly as a hero of the battle when suddenly the captain

  • Word count: 2053
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Macbeth - The Dramatic Effectiveness of Act 2 Scene 2.

Macbeth The Dramatic Effectiveness of Act 2 Scene 2 Act 2 scene 2 is a pivotal scene in the downfall of Macbeth and the disintegration of Lady Macbeth. It is the scene where Macbeth commits the greatest crime of all; regicide. A Jacobean audience, and indeed James I, would have been deeply shocked and appalled by these actions so the dramatic impact of the scene is very important. Not only does it turn the noble, brave Macbeth 'Bellonna's Bridegroom'{1:2 54} into a murderer, it also contains key themes and motifs that drive the play forward. The scene comes immediately after Macbeth's famous soliloquy where he talks himself into killing Duncan. Prior to this point the audience are unsure if Macbeth would follow his wife's instructions. He dithered and she is the one we demonise as evil, 'fill me from the crown to the toe top full of direst cruelty'. The alliteration and shocking metaphor is reminiscent of the witches' opening scene when they too call on evil; 'fair is foul and foul is fair'{1:1}. It's almost as if Lady Macbeth is aligning herself with the instruments of evil and this would be abhorred by the contemporary audience. Macbeth's soliloquy creates a mood of foreboding, he alone on the stage, allowing the audience access to his thoughts. The soliloquy is a dramatic convention often used by Shakespeare to enable a character to voice their most innermost

  • Word count: 1457
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Who is to blame for the death of King Duncan?

Who is to blame for the death of King Duncan? This essay will be analysing the question 'Who is to blame for the death of King Duncan?' This question however is rhetorical in the fact that Macbeth is the only person to blame for the murder of King Duncan. However there are many people whom contribute to his downfall as a loyal kinsman and warrior. Macbeth's character experiences greed as a result of entailing premonitions, which dethrone him from the many titles awarded to him accordingly by the King. Macbeth is firstly recognised as the protagonist, after winning the tough battle for Scotland and being emphasised as a brave warrior furthermore. This label of Macbeth being the 'brave warrior' continues throughout the play but in retrospect can be seen to be diminishing with his fervent belief in the supernatural. Macbeth's lustful greed is understood after his conversation with three witches as they awaited his presence on the 'lonely moor'. The witches provided Macbeth with an insight into his future. The three witches hailed Macbeth 'Thane of Glamis', a title which Macbeth already had, followed by 'Thane of Cawdor' and ultimately 'King of Scotland'. The latter two titles are the ones that had not been awarded to Macbeth, but were the ones which had left Macbeth's conscience to lie astray. It's important to remember that the words of the witches are like an axiom, not the

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Look carefully at Lady Macbeth in Act I; Scene v, and Act V; Scene i. How do her character and attitudes seem to change between the two scenes?

Look carefully at Lady Macbeth in Act I; Scene v, and Act V; Scene i. How do her character and attitudes seem to change between the two scenes? In Shakespearean England, women's role in society was very different to what it is today. Today, women are allowed, and in fact, almost expected to be educated, independent, confidant, outspoken, and to go to work, to provide for themselves. In the 1600's, it wasn't like that. Women were gentle, kind, and fragile. If they were well off, they were expected to stay at home and sew, whilst their husbands went out and earnt the money. Poorer women still had to stay at home, and they had to cook, clean, and generally look after the house. Women were submissive; to be seen and not heard, and it was unusual for a woman to be educated. Lady Macbeth is not typical of a woman from Shakespeare's time, and we see that when we first meet her in Act I, Scene v, where she is reading a letter from Macbeth, telling her of his experience with the 'weird sisters' and their predictions. The fact she is able to read shows she is educated and literate, unlike most women. Her immediate reaction to the letter is 'thou shalt be what thou art promised'; the letter has sparked something inside her, and has decided straight away that she wants to be queen, and therefore she will make Macbeth's prediction come true, and he will be king. The attendant then

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How Does Macbeth turn from fair to foul? In the play 'Macbeth', the words 'fair' and 'foul' appear many times. These words are used by the witches

Macbeth How Does Macbeth turn from fair to foul? In the play 'Macbeth', the words 'fair' and 'foul' appear many times. These words are used by the witches and these words symbolise good and evil. These witches will play a game which will turn Macbeth from good to evil. In the first scene of the first act, three witches plan their next meeting in which they will encounter Macbeth. It is in this scene that the motif is first presented and it sets the scene for the rest of the play, as the three witches chant, 'fair is foul, and foul is fair, hover through the fog and filthy air'. The witches meet again in scene three of act one. One of the witches discusses a curse she has placed on a woman's husband who she refused to share her food. This display of evil supernatural powers and spitefulness suggests that the witches may have some influence on the development of the motif. Macbeth enters this scene along with Banquo, arriving from a victorious battle. He uses the motif to describe the day, 'so foul and fair a day I have not seen'. Macbeth repeats the words which were already used by the witches earlier on in this scene, and he does this to emphasise the link the witches now have with Macbeth. It is almost as if the witches have control over Macbeth's soul. Macbeth and Banquo simultaneously encounter the witches and Macbeth is immediately fascinated about the witches,

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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With reference to at least one version you have watched consider the dramatic effectiveness of Act III scene IV of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’

With reference to at least one version you have watched consider the dramatic effectiveness of Act III scene IV of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' is a storey, which tells us about the downfall of 'Macbeth', who was a brave Scottish Warrior. To become King of Scotland he kills his King as a result of the predictions witch the three witches had made to him. The play 'Macbeth' represents power, evil, ambition and revenge. Macbeth's paranoia later leads him to murder his best friend Banquo. Act III scene IV, the banquet scene was probably the best and most dramatic scene in the whole play. It shows just how vindictive Lady Macbeth was and that 'Macbeth' was not really born to be a murderer. Macbeth had just been crowned king and was holding a banquet in his castle, or, in the version that I was studying, 'Macbeth on the Estate' the banquet was presented as a party in a local pub. 'Macbeth' was just making everyone welcome when the first murderer enters the pub. "There's blood upon thy face." By now 'Macbeth is certain that the deed has been done, but then to Macbeth's disappointment the first murderer says, "Most royal sir, Fleance is scaped." At this 'Macbeth' is very angry and lashes out at the murderer. Macbeth's worries build up again and is scared about what might happen in the future. "But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in To

  • Word count: 688
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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