Macbeth

A detailed Summary of Macbeth

In William Shakespeare's Macbeth, Macbeth starts as a loyal subject of Duncan. Macbeth is ambitious, and this ambition is a weakness that allows him to be manipulated by his wife and evil powers throughout the play. Macbeth's manipulation is formed in speeches, thoughts, and abnormal behaviour from many charcaters.

When Shakespeare first tells us about Macbeth in the sergeant's report, Shakespeare leads us to believe that he a virtuous person who does only what is right. Given this, the perception is that Macbeth does what is right, and makes all his own decisions. However, this belief proves to be wrong.

From the beginning of act 1 scene 5 until the murder of Duncan in act 2 scene 2, it is evident that Lady Macbeth manipulates and convinces Macbeth into murdering Duncan. This is the only part of the play where Lady Macbeth has control over Macbeth. After Duncan's murder, Macbeth is driven by evil powers.

Furthermore, Lady Macbeth's knowledge of Macbeth's ambition allows her to manipulate him. Proof of this is visible in her thoughts "[t]hou wouldst be great, / Art not without ambition, but without / The illness should attend it" ( I.v.17-19). This speech and small implications from the letter, shows that

Later on, the witches provoke Macbeth to do evil himself. When the witches show Macbeth the first apparition in act 4 scene 1, it tells him "beware Macduff, / Beware the Thane of Fife" (IV.i. 80-82). In the very same scene, the first witch say that the masters "know thy thoughts" (IV.i. 79). Certainly, the witches know he fears Macduff and warned him about Macduff to manipulate him to attack Macduff's castle. Once again, in act 4, scene 1, he meets the witches and this time, he finds out that he will not be hurt unless "Birnam wood [move] to high Dunsinane Hill" (IV.i. 105), and "for none of woman born" (IV.i. 90) meets him in battle. Upon hearing such reassuring news, Macbeth now believes he leads a charmed life; and is adamant even when the English army and the enraged Macduff attacks his castle.

Later, in the play, Macbeth decides not to murder Duncan but rather, carry on serving as his Thane. However, Lady Macbeth starts her persuasion again, but this time she questions his manhood, saying "[w]hen you durst do it, then you were a man; / And to be more then what you were, you would / Be so much more the man." (I.vii.55-57). Had she not challenged his manhood and his love for her, he would not have usurped the throne, and she would not have become a Queen. Not only did she get him to think about the murder, she even knows what to say after he starts thinking about the murder. This allows Macbeth to easily be manipulated by Lady Macbeth.

Macbeth is ambitious enough to want to be King, bu

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Approximate Word count = 1023
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English