Macbeth Research

This essay sample essay on Macbeth Research offers an extensive list of facts and arguments related to it. The essay’s introduction, body paragraphs and the conclusion are provided below.

Out of Shakespeare many plays Macbeth which was written in 1906-1606 is one of the best recognised plays around Britain and the world. Shakespeare mainly wrote three types of plays: * Comedy * Tragedy * History Macbeth is a blood thirsty tale of ambition and the evils we will go through to get what we want.

Macbeth is the main character, who we see plot and kill in order to become King of Scotland. As soon as we see Macbeth’s wishes fulfilled we gradually witness the world fall around him.

Macbeth is an historical account especially published for King James the first, it was also rumoured that King James was a descended of Banquo. Throughout Macbeth witchcraft and black magic lingers in every scene, this is cleverly used by Shakespeare because during the Elizabethan era, people were extremely superstitious and really believed in witchcraft and black magic.

Witchcraft and black magic also changes Macbeth’s character a lot over the three scenes: * Approached by witches * Seeing of the dagger * Ghost of Banquo

Macbeth is also considered unlucky to most actors, so they give Macbeth other play names like “The comedy of Glamis”, “the Scottish play” or even “The play”. Legend has it that an actor died on stage as well as many others. Macbeth has had so many interpretation over the years, for instance Macbeth has been filmed and adapted for the stage in so many ways that there has been a Nazi Germany version, Zulu Warriors and even a rock opera.

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Why Was Macbeth Written

In Act one Scene three Macbeth repeats what the witches say “Fair is foul, foul is fair hover through the fog and filthy air. To the audience they might think the witches might have planned all the killings. In act one scene three we see that the witches are capable of evil mischief “in a sieve I’ll thither sail, and like a rat without a tail, I’ll do and I’ll do” To Macbeth he instantly trusts their prophecies but in some way the witches are not tell Macbeth the whole truth. When Banquo and Macbeth see the witches for the first time they instantly recognise that there “supernatural” beings “What are these…… that not like th’ inhabitants o’th’ earth.

Macbeth quickly interprets and understands that the witches have magical powers to tell the future. As the witches carry on speaking, the more affected Macbeth is “You great with present grace and prediction of noble having and royal hope. ” Macbeth is then immediately open to suggestions of promotion and the crown. Banquo and Macbeth are both marvelled by the prophecies of the witches “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. So all hail Macbeth and Banquo. ” This quote suggests that the prophecies stay with both Banquo and Macbeth and gives them a lot to think about and act on.

To the king we see that Macbeth is loyal and a great solider “everyone did bear thy praises in his kingdom great defence. ” At this point Macbeth is loyal but the witches’ prophecies change him. Later on we see circumstances reward Macbeth with Thane of Cawdor “Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor. “The greatest is behind”. This promotion could either be a coincidence but Macbeth sees it as a sign that the witches are telling the truth, but this would have happened if Macbeth met the witches or not. Macbeth then weighs up the good and the bad which were presented by the witch’s prophecies “Cannot be ill, cannot be good, if ill”.

The evil thoughts are that Macbeth thinks of committing murder but the good is that he’s Cawdor. After Macbeth weighing his options, Macbeth finds himself considering murdering Duncan for the first time “my thought whose murder yet is but fantastical” in this quote we see Macbeth planning the murders not the witches. We also see Macbeth killing Duncan not Banquo “let us speak our free hearts each to other” Macbeth sees Banquo sharing the experience perhaps thinking the same. In act two scene one which is also known as “the dagger” scene is very important in Macbeth, in the scene we start seeing Macbeth character changing.

In the scene we can tell Banquo is unaffected by the prophecy “but still keep my bosom franchised, and allegiance clear” From this Banquo experiences the same supernatural event as Macbeth but Banquo is unaffected. Macbeth also experiences a second supernatural event “is this a dagger I see before me? ” It seems that the dagger is a product of Macbeth’s own creation or he’s being bewitched. Macbeth tries to hold the dagger, but cannot “come let me clutch thee still” Macbeth is open to suggestion here and blames his feverish state on what he’s about to do.

He begins to interpret the meaning for the dagger for himself “thou marshall’st me the way I was going. ” Macbeth was longing for approval and confirmation, Macbeth starts imaging that the dagger towards as a sign. Macbeth finds himself reminding the power of Hecate to grant their hearts desires “Witchcraft celebrate pale hecates off ‘rings and withered murder. ” By doing this Macbeth is summoning supernatural power himself. Macbeth longs for secrecy to hide the actions he’s about to commit “hear not my steps, which way they walk for fear.

This quote prove that Macbeth is forcing the prophecies to come true and not naturally, macbeth later on realises that he’s actually talking not acting “whiles I threat, he lives; words to heart of deeds too cold breath gives. ” Macbeth sees this as a sign for continuation but forces himself to kill. Within the dagger scene there’s a lot of reference to his senses, visions and Macbeth’s character. Macbeth uses the reference to visions, the supernatural and death “And yet I would not sleep; merciful powers” and “That summons thee to heaven or hell.

This call to the supernatural helps Macbeth commit murder. In the dagger scene we see that Macbeth character become more deceitful to close friends and impatient “I dreamed last night of the three sisters; to you they have showed some truth. I think not of them. ” The next major scene is when Lady Macbeth and Macbeth hold a banquet for the noblemen. Macbeth also hires an assassin to murder his close friend Banquo, so during the banquet the assassin enters telling him the news about Banquo’s death and unexpectedly Fleance escape.

Later on the ceremony Macbeth has vision of Banquo’s ghost, Lady Macbeth tries to regain Macbeth sanity but fails, Macbeth is this then convinced he’s going back to see the three witches. The guests who leave the banquet start suspecting Macbeth killed Duncan and Banquo. In the scene we see King Macbeth and Queen hosting a big banquet “Ourself mingle with society and play humble host; our hostess keeps her state, but in the best time we will require her welcome” In this quote we see a new side of Macbeth character of boastfulness.

When Macbeth sees the assassin he is quite happy until he is told Fleance had escaped. He knows the danger Fleance represents “Thou-art the best o’th cut-throats, yet he’s good that did the like for Fleance, if thou didst it, than art the non-pareil” Macbeth is happy to hear that there’s no longer a threat until he’s told Fleance has escaped. When Macbeth speaks to his guest about Banquo his ghost appears “were the graced person of our Banquo present. ” By this Macbeth is lying to his guest by mocking him as if he was alive, he also tries to care for Banquo.

When a nobleman tells Macbeth to sit down Macbeth thinks every place at the table is filled “The table’s full” Macbeth mind plays on him and imagines Banquo’s ghost. The ghost strategically sits in Macbeth seat, this event could be supernatural. As Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost, Macbeth widely denies what he sees “Thou canst not say” and “which have has done this” Macbeth thinks that the guest are playing on him, Macbeth becomes paranoid by denying the accusation of killing Banquo but no one is accusing him. Before Macbeth tells the nobleman of crimes Lady Macbeth tries to talk sense to Macbeth “Are you a man!

This is the very painting of your fear; this is the air dagger which you said led you to Duncan”. Lady Macbeth things that Macbeth is going to commit to what he’s done, so she intervenes by making up a medical condition. This draws a lot of negative attention to him. Macbeth becomes more aware and tries to recover a little control “I do forget Do you not muse at me, my most worthy friends. I have strange infirmity which is nothing to those who know me. ” Macbeth tries to calm his guests and tries to cover-up his visualisation by inventing a condition.

As the ghost reappears, Macbeth convinces himself that it’s just his imagination, to the audience this could be a sign of guilt [Enter Banquo Ghost] and “And to our dear friend Banquo who we all miss. ” After the ghost scene, Macbeth is beyond consolation and that he’s going to visit the witches for some answers “I keep a servant feed, I will tomorrow – and betime I will-to the weird sisters”. For Macbeth to return to the witches tells the audience, that the supernatural has affected Macbeth’s way of thinking.

In conclusion we see that Macbeth’s character has changed drastically this has been due to: * Macbeth’s influences Changes through out the play Macbeth’s Influences Macbeth has had many influences from all aspects but the main influences are from the supernatural, this is mainly seen when Macbeth and Banquo first meet the witches. From this part of the scene Macbeth is immediately intrigued when the witches mention the prophecy of Macbeth being king. After analysing what the witches say Macbeth is then very affected by the witches words and starts plotting on how he can claim the crown. In act two scene three Macbeth visualises a dagger which is conveniently pointing towards the room of Duncan, Macbeth sees it as a sign.

This sign immediately approves and confirms Macbeth’s influence of killing Duncan. Another influence in Macbeth character is Lady Macbeth, she pushes Macbeth into murdering Duncan just become king, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth prematurely forces change instead of it becoming natural. Occurred changes in Macbeth’s character From the beginning to the end of the play we see Macbeth’s character transform. In the beginning of the play Macbeth is portrayed as a loyal, humble and popular figure to the king and other noblemen.

As we read on from where Macbeth meets the witches we see a new dimension of Macbeth’s character of being inpatient. Macbeth impatience and some persuasion from Lady Macbeth and supernatural events lead’s him to kill the king. In the beginning of Act two Scene one Banquo; Macbeth’s best friend who is loyal and caring to Macbeth is concerned that he’s been affected by the prophecies, which he is so Macbeth lies to Banquo. Macbeth then interprets that Banquo wants to become king and in his head thinks Banquo is a threat to his crown hence Macbeth hires an assassin to kill him.

Later when Macbeth is King he holds a banquet, we see Macbeth’s new character of being boastful and self-centred. The supernatural also shows the weak side of Macbeth’s new character for example when Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost that he’s terrified of his own actions also before the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is weak, scared and almost retreats before he is bullied into killing. Through out the play I have seen some prophecies which have come true for example the witches saying that Macbeth being King. This particular prophecy has effected Macbeth in many ways particularly his judgement and his character.