macbeth

A detailed Summary of macbeth

From national hero to vicious tyrant; Macbeth's fall from grace

In this essay I intend to examine the play "Macbeth" and how the central character changes. I will attempt to explain these changes with reference to the events of the plot.

The play is set in medieval Scotland where the Scots are under attack from the Norwegians. Macbeth, Thane of Glamis, leads the Scots to victory. Duncan, King of Scotland, is very proud of Macbeth and has a great liking to him. He is rewarded with another title Thane of Cawdor. He is seen as the saviour of Scotland.

Macbeth has by three weird sisters (usually it is presumed they are witches although the play never states that they are) that he will become King of Scotland. Duncan is going to stay at Macbeth's castle, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth (his wife) plot to kill Duncan so that Macbeth can become King. Once Duncan is killed a few suspicions are raised. This leads Macbeth to go after people he feels threatened by. He ends up killing people to cover up the original crime. He declines to a very evil person.

Macbeth becomes a dictator. He rules by fear, also he does not treat his men fairly. The three weird sisters have foretold Macbeth's futu

Throughout the play Macbeth is apt to change of opinion around him, he follows what he has been told. Being happy with what the King had given and told him was enough for him and he was very pleased with it but Lady Macbeth had greater ambitions in mind, she persuaded him to commit high treason and kill a friend - Duncan.

It is a problem for Macbeth not being able to quite fully understand or explain the prophecies as it means he cannot make any real plans to protect himself. This leads him to thinking he is invincible, and this makes him blind to see the need to respect the rights and feelings of his fellow peers and countrymen.

Macbeth becomes more and more ruthless in his efforts to keep his power even though he has been told that he will fall only when "Birname wood moves to Dunsaine" and he can only be harmed by someone not born of woman. Both of these are impossible to happen, from Macbeth's view so he believes he is invincible which, I think is why he became a megalomaniac.

The three weird sisters were most likely to have been seen as something that could have possibly happened. Most people in Shakespeare's time would have probably not even questioned it. It is only since scientific advances that we can prove what is happening that we are able to question such theories. The three weird sisters help kick start the play with the first of their prophecies. This also gives Shakespeare an easy way of making Macbeth act in the way he does. The weird sisters and the visions help link the plot. Banquo's ghost which, frightens Macbeth, is also there to help link up the plot, this is another part of the supernatural world which occurs in many of Shakespeare's plays.

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Approximate Word count = 2121
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English