Exploring the human subconscious, Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' is a dark and sinister insight into one man's "vaulting ambition". Shakespeare explores the human condition and psyche by integrating themes such as ambition, desire and guilt. These main themes are closely aligned and are used to consider jealousy, love, identity, evil and the notion that appearances can be deceptive. The fall of the eponymous hero is interlinked with the demise of a once powerful and intense relationship. Macbeth and his "dearest partner of greatness" lose the equality that is the basis of their love, resulting in an inversion of their roles. The disorder of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's relationship mirrors the chaos brought to Scotland by "this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen".

Opening upon a wild and desolate moor, Shakespeare promptly establishes a sense of darkness and foreboding. The Weird Sisters are ambiguous, speaking in paradox to emphasise the untrustworthy premonitions of which they speak. It is from these contradictory statements that Macbeth is introduced. Th

Lady Macbeth attempts to re-establish her role as matriarch, she scolds Macbeth for having "displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting". Intimidated by the horrific images of the spectre of Banquo, Macbeth seek solace in the Weird Sisters and their untrustworthy prophecies.

Even though Lady Macbeth is a dominant, matriarchal character, after Duncan's murder she is increasingly isolated from Macbeth's life. The consequences of this isolation are that Lady Macbeth's conscience consistently returns to disturb her. This is reiterated by the fact she can no longer sleep peacefully. Sleep is a result of innocence. The innocence that Lady Macbeth lost after the murder has caused a decline in the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and decreasing comprehension of reality.

The prose that follows the murder is monosyllabic. The stunted conversation shared between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth uses no poetry or iambic pentameter. The dramatic change in style of language also represents the dark atmosphere, rise in tension and fear. It is then Macbeth becomes hysterical with guilt and dread, the sudden comprehension of what he has done places guilt heavily on his conscience.

Lady Macbeth speaks in prose, there is no rhyme since the murder, it is disordered and contains no poetry. It is her inability to rid her conscience of the guilt that she possesses which finally drives Lady Macbeth into taking her own life, thus ending her guilt and enabling an undisturbed sleep.

is selective use of description given by the Weird Sisters arouses curiosity. It is from the contrasting depiction that the Sergeant gives of "valours minion", that a sense of almost confusion is created as to Macbeth's true character. Macbeth and Banquo are heroes returning from war; their loyalty towards their king is not questioned, until Macbeth dramatically echoes the words of the Weird Sisters with:

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Approximate Word count = 1988
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)