In the play Macbeth we can argue that there are three possible choices for who is most responsible for the murder of King Duncan.

In the play Macbeth we can argue that there are three possible choices for who is most responsible for the murder of King Duncan. The first choice is the witches. In the whole of the play they seem to embody evil and make a morally corrupt atmosphere. In Elizabethan times they were regarded as evil so these prophecies would be thought to be evil. Macbeth first meets them after the battle against the Norway and they predict that he will be Thane of Cawdor and then King. At first he cannot believe this but when he finds out he is Thane of Cawdor he and Banquo are surprised. Banquo says, 'Can the devil speak true?' in surprise. This shows us they did not expect the witches to be telling the truth. After this Macbeth seems to be astonished and Banquo points out 'Look how our partner's rapt', which shows us Macbeth is deep in thought about the third prophecy. Therefore, we could argue that the witches make him feel that he will be king and that it is his destiny. He is always thinking about the prophecies after this and drops hints to Banquo, for example he says, 'Let us speak our free hearts to each other'. He is trying to see whether Banquo would be interested in helping him. It also shows his great interest and desire for the throne. However, we could argue that the witches put real ideas to him that are already in his head. He has great ambition and may already want to be

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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"this dead butcher, and his fiend-like queen". Are these words by Malcolm an appropriate epitaph for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

"this dead butcher, and his fiend-like queen". Are these words by Malcolm an appropriate epitaph for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth? Malcolm says this epitaph after Macduff has severed Macbeth's head and walks into the castle. Macduff then informs his companions to proclaim "Hail, King of Scotland!" signifying he is King, which all of his companions declare. Then Malcolm states that he and everyone else will not waste their time. Malcolm also says to his Thanes and Kinsmen to be hereby known as Earls, which is what the British Thanes were called. In the same speech he exclaims that the people that fled to England (himself, Malcolm, and his brother, Donalbain) knew what Scotland had produced and he describes Macbeth as a "butcher" and Lady Macbeth as a "fiend-like Queen", but is this true? Macbeth Malcolm describes Macbeth as a "butcher" as he feels he mercilessly killed people. Below are some points that support Malcolm's view of Macbeth. The first sign of Macbeth becoming a "butcher" is when Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plan to murder King Duncan whilst he is sleeping; this occurs in Act 1 Scene 7, although it is Lady Macbeth that persuades him to do it. In Act 3 Scene 1, we can see the first steps that Macbeth is becoming a "butcher" as he plans the death of Banquo and Fleance whilst they travel on horseback. He tells the murderers to take revenge on Banquo because it is

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Write about the theme of evil in the play 'Macbeth'

Andrew Jefferson G.C.S.E English Coursework Write about the theme of evil in the play 'Macbeth' The theme of evil in the play Macbeth makes a vivid impression on the audience. The play is structured around the theme of evil and is linked to many of the characters, especially Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is strong physically, but weak mentally as shown throughout the play. Lady Macbeth is depicted as a manipulative, greedy person, who will stop at nothing to gain wealth, and position for her husband and herself. This theme of evil in the play begins with the entrance of the three witches; witches are traditionally linked with evil and wicked deeds and the like. The scene is set on a dark, stormy windswept heath; so creating a dark powerful atmosphere. This is known as a pathetic fallacy, where the weather creates a mood and a setting. Throughout the play, the witches- referred to as the 'weird sisters' play upon Macbeths ambitions like puppeteers. The weird sisters are the most dangerous characters in the play, both being tremendously powerful and wicked. During Shakespeare's time, accused witches were examined for a 'devils mark' a mark on the body where Satan had sucked blood. King James was fascinated by witchcraft. By seemingly prophesying events they consolidate the audience view of them as evil doers. They give Macbeth the idea of murdering the king; they

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  • Subject: English
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To what extent do you agree that Macbeth fits the role of tragic hero?

To what extent do you agree that Macbeth fits the role of tragic hero? The play 'Macbeth' by William Shakespeare charts the rise and fall of the Scottish general Macbeth, through a tale of treachery, deceit and death. First performed in 1606 'Macbeth' is inspired by a story of the Scottish monarchy. A tragic hero is one who at the outset is not wholly good or bad but has a character fault that causes them to make tragic mistakes resulting in their eventual downfall. 'Macbeth' is a renaissance tragedy and we can see that Macbeth's decisions to move away from war hero to noble aggressor as an example of him being an archetypal renaissance tragic hero. We can define 'Macbeth' as a renaissance tragedy because Macbeth determined his own fate by deciding to sin, for example, killing King Duncan. Macbeth also had a tragic flaw or hamartia, which was his vaulting and uncontrollable ambition. To the Greeks hamartia resulted from ignorance, something the hero could not control. Macbeth was responsible for his own fate and was not a victim of a cruel trick played on him by the gods. This alone proves that Macbeth is a renaissance, not a Greek tragedy. Throughout the play there are a number of ongoing themes which include how the desire to have power and unchecked ambition can make people corrupt, for example Macbeth's ambition for kingship overpowers his principles and his

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  • Subject: English
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In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, appearance and reality is of vast importance. It is shown from the starting point and goes throughout the play.

Appearance and reality in Macbeth In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, appearance and reality is of vast importance. It is shown from the starting point and goes throughout the play. Even in the very opening scene of the play we are introduced to the theme of appearance and reality. First, the witches say their spell "Fair is foul and foul is fair (1.1.12)". This seems to mean that what appears good can be evil, and what appears evil can be good. Banquo is confused he says, "you should be women/ And yet your beards forbid me to interpret/ That you are so (1.3.43-44)." Later in that scene, Macbeth says that "what seemed corporal,/ Melted, as breath into the wind." The witches seemed tangible, but later the vanished into the air. As well not only might the witches not be what they appear to be, their words might not mean what they appear to mean. Banquo warn Macbeth "The instruments of darkness tell us truth;/ Win us with honest trifles, to betray's/ In deepest consequences (1.3.126)." In the same way that Banquo warns Macbeth that he might have failed to see the reality of the witches, Duncan has failed to see the reality of Cawdor whom he has "built/ An absolute trust (1.4.13-14).", when Cawdor rebels against Duncan. When everyone is congratulating loyal Macbeth after winning the battle for Duncan, Macbeth has already had "horrible imaginations", but does not want "light" to

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Relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth analysis.

MACBETH RELATIONSHIP ANALYSIS I found the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth very interesting in the play. In Act I they are completely devoted to each other. Love, respect and trust are the contents of their relationship. The trust in the relationship is revealed right at the beginning when Macbeth sends his wife a letter telling her about the witches and the predictions "This have I thought good to deliver to thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thee mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee." (I, v, 10-13). The affection between the two is clearly shown when Macbeth salutes his wife with "My dearest love" (I, v, 58) and also on the letter where he says "...my dearest partner of greatness..." (I, v, 11). The respect comes when Macbeth listens to his wife, which talks about the murder. He respects her opinion and gives her a polite answer "We will speak further." (I, v, 71). In Act I, ii we see that King Duncan considers Macbeth a brave soldier and good man "O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!" (King Duncan, I, ii, 24). This can be considered a weakness or, perhaps, strength in the relationship, it depends on the point of view. It is a weakness if we analyse Macbeth's side. He is "...too full o' the milk of human kindness...that wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false..." (I, v, 16 & 21).

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Macbeth essay on Duncan

Historically Duncan was a weak king. To what extent do you think he is a good king or an ineffective king in Shakespeare's presentation of him in Macbeth? Historically Duncan is a weak king but in Macbeth, Duncan is seen as a popular monarch. In Shakespeare's time the standards of a king were higher than they are now, one of the reasons why this may be is because the commoners and king believed that the king was God's representative on earth, and so the people looked up to the king and expected him to know everything. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, Duncan is seen as being a good king but also as an ineffective king. In Macbeth Duncan is seen as a fair king, he promotes justice in his kingdom, he does this by punishing the 'bad' i.e. sentencing the Thane of Cawdor to death because he betrayed Scotland. Duncan also promotes what he sees as 'good,' "My worthy Cawdor" the positive adjective 'worthy' shows that Duncan isn't just promoting good but he is also grateful to Macbeth as well. He also promotes 'good' by giving Lady Macbeth a diamond as reported by Banquo, "this diamond he greets your wife with withal." This line draws attention because of the alliteration. Duncan is also shown as being a caring king. "O worthiest cousin" the superlative adjective "worthiest" shows that he really cares about Macbeth as he could have just said cousin or something else and that he wants

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Is Macbeth evil or was he pushed in being evil ?

Macbeth coursework Is Macbeth evil or was he pushed in being evil ? In this essay I will discuss whether Macbeth was evil from the beginning or if he was being pushed by something or someone. I will do this by studying his character and his emotions, feelings and actions throughout the play. The tragedy of Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare in about 1606, during the reign of James I. James introduced the idea of the supernatural in a self composed book called demonology. The supernatural was a big and popular, public topic, this may be a reason why it is worked in the play and has a lot of influence. Macbeth is first introduced by the witches (333). The three three's are the symbol of the witches, explained by being half as bad as the devil, 666. Witches, at this time were associated with the devil (666). This suggests, and lets us think that Macbeth has a connection to the evil and supernatural. The witches want to meet up with Macbeth "There to meet with Macbeth" Next a wounded soldier is brought to the king to deliver a report about the situation, the standing of the war. He tells us that Macbeth is a brave, ambitious and loyal soldier.. "For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name), Disdaining Fortune, with his banish 'd steel, which smoked with bloody execution, like valor's minion, carv'd out his passage..." "As cannons overcharged with double

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I plan to show you how William Shakespeare uses dramatic techniques to develop tensions between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

How does Shakespeare use dramatic techniques to develop tensions between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth? I plan to show you how William Shakespeare uses dramatic techniques to develop tensions between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, as you can probably tell my source of evidence will be Shakespeare's play Macbeth. Upon the audience's earliest encounter with Lady Macbeth, their initial reaction was most probably that she was a conniving yet intelligent lady. Immediately after her introduction to the play, she is seen as controlling Macbeth, this is shown through the reading of his letter, Macbeth's first word in the play are read by Lady Macbeth, this suggests that Macbeth has no real independence as his wife can control and manipulate him easily. This is the first dramatic technique we see and is very suttle yet very effective. When I got my first insight into the characters, I saw that Lady Macbeth was a very smart women, in the questioning of Macbeth's manhood as to whether he is "man enough" to commit a murder she is manipulating him to as she pleases. In there very first scene, Lady Macbeth is seen trying to change Macbeth into whatever may suit her, which is of coarse for the worst. I must note that at this stage there is no tension between the two characters and Macbeth has no plans of killing anyone and is happy with his current life. In the beginning Lady Macbeth believes that

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Consider the ways Shakespeare creates an atmosphere of evil in Act 1 of the play, paying particular attention to the witches and their influence upon Macbeth.

Consider the ways Shakespeare creates an atmosphere of evil in Act 1 of the play, paying particular attention to the witches and their influence upon Macbeth. The play I have been studying is Macbeth by William Shakespeare. It tells the story of a Scottish thane who rises to the thrown of Scotland by committing terrible murders. He follows the prophecies of three supernatural sisters (the witches) and becomes the king of Scotland, and his reign is full of tyranny and deceit. His wife Lady Macbeth plays a big role in his rise to power by constantly being prepared to be the more ruthless of the two, but she eventual goes mad from the pressure of the several murders and kills herself. Macbeth's eventually downfall comes when he begins to completely trust the witches, which in the end has dire consequences. William Shakespeare wrote this play in 1606 for the entertainment of King James ? who at the time was the king of England, but had also been the king of Scotland. In the essay I will be looking to examine how Shakespeare creates an atmosphere of evil by analysing his use of paradoxical language, the use of settings, his use of familiars, dramatic irony, soliloquies and oxymorons to do so. Paradoxical language is used in the play, which contradicts what the character is saying. We first come across this when the three witches first appear at the start: When the hurly-burly's

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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