Macbeth Plot Analysis

A detailed Summary of Macbeth Plot Analysis

God and the devil have a strong presence in "Macbeth". The characters look to heaven and hell as places they have to try and strive towards or steer away from. God and the devil seem to be the driving and obvious force behind the happenings of the tragedy. They mold the characters into what they are. Even when things do not end up in their favor.

The witches have an impact on the whole theme of the play. They are the ones who start to label Macbeth with titles, which he does not yet posses. The witches predict the future, which is to Macbeth's liking. "All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis. All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor. All hail Macbeth, that's shalt be king hereafter!"(1.3.46-48).

Macbeth at this time was only the Thane of Glamis and he knew he had aspirations of becoming king, but wanted to know how these witches would know to say such things. "...tell me more...But how of Cawdor? The thane of Cawdor lives, a prosperous gentleman, and to be king stands not within the prospect of belief." (1.3.68-73) The witches at this point fade out and leave Banquo and Macbeth to speculate. Ross and Angus enter and tell Macbeth that that the Thane of Cawdor is going to be executed and that Macb

In the next scene there is a lot of comments on the weather and general atmosphere. Ross talks with an old man about darkness or something. By this time it is probably morning so the darkness of the night may have loomed into the morning hours. This would seem appropriate because God would want to give a sign that there had been wrongdoing and a murky sky seems appropriate for death. "Thou seest the heavens, as troubled with mans act...by the clock 'tis day, and yet the dark night strangles the traveling lamp."(2.4.5-7)

"In the great had of God I stand; and thence against the undivulged pretence I fight of treasonous malice" (2.3.126-127). Banquo is going to fight for the truth as a symbol of God and stand against the "devil" which is the murderer of Duncan. Banquo is not the only one that doesn't believe what is going on is totally true. Malcolm, Duncan's son, has a doubt that about what has happened also.

At this point Macbeth is overrun with the thought of killing King Duncan. He drifts into his thoughts and wonders how he easily believes the witches. It seems that he gave in to their omens quickly, but when someone tells you something that you want to hear it is very easy to believe them. Especially if what they are saying comes true moments after it is said.

"Come thick night...that my keen knife see not the wound it makes nor heaven peep through the blanket of dark to cry hold, hold."(1.5.48-52). Lady Macbeth is asking the devil to cast a dark cloud over the already dark night. This way she will be able to think about the murder and when Duncan arrives complete the murder without God seeing it. Does she really care if God could see the murder or just her thoughts? She has to be beyond caring about whether she will end up in heaven or hell. The impure thoughts that she is obsessed with will surely seal her fate.

"What can the devil speak true?"(1.3.107) This is Banquo's reaction after Ross "hails" Macbeth with his new title, Thane of Cawdor. Banquo starts to wonder if what the witches proclaimed, would actually come true. If what they said did come true for him it would mean his children would be kings. This quote is sort of strange to me. I am taking it as he refers to the witches as the devil. I don't know how he came to this conclusion; maybe it is just how he is trained to think towards anyone that can see the future.

Macbeth goes to see the three witches in act four. They tell Macbeth three apparitions that conceal his fate. The main apparition is telling Macbeth how he can be killed. ""Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth" (4.1.81). The witches are telling Macbeth that someone who is not born by a woman cannot harm him. Macbeth knows Macduff was not born by his mother. His attitude changes and he makes his plans to deal with Macduff to save himself.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Lady Macbeth, King Duncan, Macbeth Macbeth, Banquo Macbeth, Malcolm Duncan's, Cawdor Banquo, Excited Macbeth, Siward Siward, , Thane Cawdor, lady macbeth, thane cawdor, macbeth lady, banquo macbeth, kill macbeth, hail macbeth, macbeth lady macbeth, murder duncan, macbeth hail thee, hail thee, macbeth hail, directed towards macbeth, dark night, hail thee thane, hail macbeth hail,

Approximate Word count = 2426
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English