To what extent is Macbeth responsible for his own downfall?
English Coursework- Sophie Garrod 5MCG To what extent is Macbeth responsible for his own downfall? During this time in British history, there were many violent battles and plots used in everyday life. It was not wrong to barbarically kill someone using extreme methods during a battle. In fact, if the person was an enemy, rewards were entitled. Many people were also greatly affected by the Kings views on certain issues, and no one really had an opinion of their own, and if they ever spoke out against the King, serious punishments would have been applicable. I think that this was one of the reasons Macbeth committed the crimes he did. The surroundings, in which he was in as Thane of Glamis, influenced him greatly and he became bloodthirsty and excessively ambitious, even to the point where he was willing to kill another human being in order to get what he wanted. In my essay, I will begin to explain the people, the circumstances and certain aspects of Macbeth's own personality, which drove him to commit such horrific crimes. In the first scene of the play, the witches are firstly introduced to the reader. The detail of this scene urges the reader's imagination to sense a confusion of the usual human nature. The scene is a reverse of human values, and the readers mind enters a world of darkness and becomes a sinister challenge to ordinary goodness. The last lines of scene one,
Tragic Hero.
Tragic Hero Tragic heroes first originated from ancient Greek tragedies. As the name suggests, tragic heroes are exceptional beings, with characteristics which should have led to them achieving greatness, however they all have a fatal flaw, which always ultimately leads to their downfall. Some sort of human weakness too is always present in a tragic hero, which again plays a great part in the transformation from being admired to despised. Tragic heroes have very much become part of the literary tradition, and have since been conveyed in plays from many different cultures. Macbeth has all the essential characteristics for being called a tragic hero. At the beginning of the play everyone has nothing but admiration for him. He is described as the ideal soldier; brave, valiant and above all loyal, you could say he was the perfect role model. However his meeting with the three witches took its toll on his character as it led to his fatal flaw; his ambition to become King, which contributed immensely to his conversion to the dark side. The human weakness that Macbeth clearly possesses is that which his wife triggers to persuade him to carry out his dreadful acts. His human weakness is simply the mocking of his manhood, which when done drives Macbeth towards committing the dead. Everyone's perception of Macbeth in the early stages of the play is very positive. He is depicted as
Was Macbeth a victim of the witches, or did he have control over his own destiny?
Was Macbeth a victim of the witches, or did he have control over his own destiny? I believe that Macbeth was only partly responsible of his own downfall. Christianity and religion connect all most Shakespeare's plays in some way. Christians today believe that you are in control of your own destiny and we can choose our own paths whether it is good or evil, right or wrong. We also believe that that with good comes evil: heaven and hell, because if there was no evil you would not be able to define good. In Shakespeare's time, Christians would have believed that the witches and the Devil would have taken over Macbeth's body and that Macbeth was a victim of evil. The advice Christians today would be to give him up but in the Shakespearean times, Macbeth would have been hanged for being in the league with the devil. So I believe that Macbeth was only partly a victim the three weird sisters gave Macbeth ambition but Macbeth chose his own path, he could of left the three prophesies up to fate or take them into his own hands, which of course he did. In the first scene of Act I the three "weird sisters" meet at the moor and plan to meet Macbeth "There to meet with Macbeth. So in a way, Macbeth here is targeted as a victim because it was the witches that chose him, he did not choose them. When Macbeth and Banquo met the witches they gave them three prophesies. "All hail Macbeth!
What factors contribute to his change in character and which dramatic devices help the audience become aware of this descent into evil?
In committing Duncan's murder and organising the murders of other influential characters, Macbeth's character changes from good to evil. What factors contribute to his change in character and which dramatic devices help the audience become aware of this descent into evil? The play 'Macbeth' gives the audience plenty of opportunities to consider the reasons for the main character's actions. In this essay I will consider the deterioration of Macbeth's character from good to evil. I will be looking into the factors that cause this change, and the dramatic devices that make the audience aware of Macbeth's downfall into evil. Throughout the whole of Act 1 Scene 2 it is apparent that Macbeth is a brave war hero as it says, 'For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name'. From the report by the Captain, it is obvious that Macbeth was a major fighter in the battle and was a decisive part in the victory for King Duncan who is also full of praise, 'O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman'. Macbeth is constantly referred to as brave and loyal. This is ironical, as by the end of the play he has altered into exactly the contrary. In Act 1 Scene 3, as the witches speak, Macbeth's ambition is clearly seen as they tell him of what is to come, 'Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more'. Here Macbeth's ambition comes to the fore and it shows that he must kill the king 'Whose horrid image doth
What do you admire in Macbeth? How does Shakespeare influence your views about his character?
What do you admire in Macbeth? How does Shakespeare influence your views about his character? Macbeth's character is very different at different stages in the play. Through out the play my opinions of him change. At the beginning of the play, Shakespeare lets you believe Macbeth is a hero and someone to be admired for his bravery. To win battles was interpreted as the ultimate heroic act that earns one credits from loyalty, as quoted by Macbeth's captain: - "For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name" At first I was led to admire Macbeth for his actions and his loyalty to King Duncan. As the play develops and Macbeth meets the 3 witches upon the heath and he is told of the 3 prophecies and his strong yearning to become a king, I admire Macbeth at this point for his ability to have such high objectives, but I loose my admiration for him as Shakespeare persuade us that the heroic character is more of a cheating coward. The witches have a big role in creating the atmosphere that is set for the audience, because in the 16th century witches were thought of to be powerful and wicked, when the witches enter they enter in 'thunder and lightning' this would have terrified the audience and added to the tension, they also created fear when they used there strange language such as the paradox: - "Fair is foul and foul is fair" Shakespeare uses this to finish of the scene and
What is the dramatic impact of Act 1 scenes 1 and 3 of Macbeth, and how do these scenes relate to the play as a whole?
4th August 2000 What is the dramatic impact of Act 1 scenes 1 and 3 of Macbeth, and how do these scenes relate to the play as a whole. In this essay I will be looking at two scenes from the play Macbeth, the two scenes act one scene one and act one scene three both include the three witches. In the first scene the witches talk about Macbeth and in scene three they meet him, this links Macbeth with the witches and gives the plays audience the impression that Macbeth must be evil. The two scenes I am looking at are very dramatic and the audience find them appealing because of their beliefs in witches and the supernatural. These beliefs change greatly between the time when the play was written (sometime between 1603 and 1606) and the present day. In Shakespear's time people believed witches were people who had supernatural powers, they were considered evil and servants to Satan. Witches were outcasts of society and were connected with open desolate spaces. Witches were traditionally women and wore black clothes. In the sixteenth century being a witch was a crime and anyone convicted of being a witch was killed. The king at this time was James I and he strongly opposed witches, he wrote a book called "demonology" in 1597. One reason for him disliking witches was the fact that the witches of Berwick brewed up a storm and nearly shipwrecked his boat in an attempt to kill him.
What dramatic effect does Shakespeare aim for in act 2 scene 2 and how does he achieve it?
What Dramatic Effect Does Shakespeare Aim For In Act 2 Scene 2 And How Does He Achieve It? 'Macbeth' was written around 1606 for King James. It begins with Macbeth, a valiant warrior, meeting with three witches who in turn, give a prophesy that he will become 'Thane of Cawdor' and then King of Scotland. "All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane Of Cawdor" "All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter". He sends a letter to his wife, telling her about this meeting and then returns home, after being made Thane Of Cawdor by King Duncan, the current King of Scotland. On hearing this news, Lady Macbeth begins to make plans for the death of King Duncan who is coming to stay at Macbeth's castle. She persuades Macbeth to kill the king in cold blood in order to fulfil the prophesy. In Act 2 Scene 2, the murder of the king takes place. This is the climax of the play and the rest of the plot centres around this scene. Here, we begin to see the development of the two main characters, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Shakespeare gives the audience insight into the characters by using soliquoy and changes of viewpoint. We can begin to observe Lady Macbeth's true character and Macbeth's path to becoming a cold-blooded murderer and the tyrant of Scotland. I will be focusing on Act 2 Scene 2, particularly the dramatic effect created by Shakespeare and how he achieves it. This includes
Women in Macbeth
Literature is a mirrored image of different ideas and conditions of humanity. Similarly, Shakespeare's plays have frequently been argued to portray a more than biased gender viewpoint towards women. The story and relationships in Shakespeare's Macbeth promote his female characters, while portraying his male characters as the weaker sex. Men, being the more gullible characters, rely heavily on the women for advice, while women are the one in control of most situations. It can be stated that Shakespeare is a feminist writer. Women dictate the future for society in Macbeth. Despite Macbeths role as the main male character, he does not believe in himself; instead, he trust prophecies by female witches with who he has just met. First Witch: "All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis." Second Witch: "All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor." Third Witch: "All hail Macbeth, That shalt be king hereafter." [Act 1, scene 3, lines 46-48] Macbeth's visits to the witches makes him think that he truly will succeed in becoming King, resulting in his committing murder upon murder to fulfill the supposed prophecy. Shortly after meeting the witches, Macbeth soon discovers that he has been awarded the titles "Thane of Glamis" and "Thane of Cawdor". It is proof enough for him that the witches prophecies are truths. So why doesn't he merely wait to become King as they
William Shakespeare's MacBeth.
William Shakespeare's MacBeth 'Thunder and lightning : Enter three witches.' The first scene of Shakespeare's classic "Macbeth". The story of a cowardly nobleman's rise to power, and his collapse to death. Can a person's ambition, in a dark world, lead them to murder, just to obtain power? I propose to respond to Shakespeare's "MacBeth" in a critical response to this play. "MacBeth" is the tragic tale of a frail man who must face murder just to earn power, but cannot cope with the side-effects it can bring. The key character is Macbeth. Macbeth is a noble man, who although may appear strong and brave is actually a very cowardly and frail man who needs lots of guidance, which is expressed very clearly throughout the play. Lady Macbeth, Macbeth's wife, plays a strong, masculine character in the play. She is more masculine than Macbeth himself. She guides Macbeth to help him climb the ladder to power, but she herself cannot handle the guilt either. Macbeth goes through several stages in the play, his original state, his tragic flaw, then his pre-death stage. These three stages help us understand how un-controlling Macbeth is of his own life, and how he was in a way bullied into his action. At the beginning when Macbeth is in his original state he is an anti-hero who has no strength in mind and relies on Lady Macbeth. He may be a soldier on the outside but on the
William Shakespeare's Macbeth
William Shakespeare's Macbeth William Shakespeare was born on April 23rd 1564 in Stretford-on-Avon. William Shakespeare died on April 23rd 1616, he was exactly 52. In 1606 William Shakespeare wrote the famous play "Macbeth", this play is one of Shakespeare's best-loved plays. Nowadays the play is performed many times every year and has been made into several films. Here is a list of the characters: Duncan, King of Scotland- A vulnerable and well-liked king that is brutally murdered by Macbeth so that he can realise the witches' prophecy and become king. He is killed while staying at Macbeth's own castle. Macbeth- The Main character, and is the Thane of Glamis, he ultimately becomes Thane of Cawdor. The witches predict that he will become king, but his friend Banquo's posterity will later have the crown. He kills Duncan to become king, murders Banquo and all of Macduffs family. He is brutally killed in the end by an unforgiving Macduff. Lady Macbeth- Macbeth's wife; she urges him to kill King Duncan so that he will have the crown. She later loses her resolve and courage and begins to sleepwalk because of the stress of the crime and later kills herself. Banquo- Friend of Macbeth and nobleman of Scotland. The witches predict that his sons will be the future kings of Scotland; Macbeth murders him because of this prediction. His ghost haunts Macbeth at his coronation
