Macbeth Analysis Essay

Submitted By cheesegabe
Words: 821
Pages: 4
Open Document
Gabe Aichholzer
Period 1

Macbeth was a cruel, ruthless leader, and was fully deserving of his bloody fate.
His rise to power was marked by corruption, betrayal, and murder. However, Macbeth’s actions can be traced back to the influence that external forces had on him, most notably his wife, and the witches. The witches gave Macbeth the idea that he can become king, and it was Lady Macbeth who put the plan in motion. Lady Macbeth, in the first half of the play, manipulated Macbeth to do the things that he did. It is the actions that he committed under the influence of his wife that led to the further atrocities he commits later in the play. In the end, it is Lady Macbeth that is most responsible for the death and destruction in
Macbeth
.
The witches, while being a major influence on the play’s events, are not the most culpable for the devastation. They create the idea that Macbeth can become king, but they don’t necessarily carry it out. The witches prophecy serves as a sort of guideline for the characters. The events that the prophecy details may come true if the characters will it to happen. The prophecy stated Macbeth would be king, and Banquo’s sons will be kings as well(P. 17). Macbeth and his wife worked aggressively to make the first part of the prophecy to be true, not the witches. This theory on the characters’ having the ability to determine whether the prophecy comes true is supported with the case of
Fleance. After escaping death from Macbeth’s assassins, Fleance is never heard from again (P. 97). It is Malcolm, not Fleance, that becomes king. Shakespeare did this to show that the prophecy is not necessarily an exact prediction of the future, rather it is

showing what could happen, under the right circumstances. Though their predictions had great weight on the events of the play, it is not the witches that carried out the events necessary to fulfill the prophecy, which makes them not the most responsible.
Lady Macbeth’s influence over Macbeth in the first couple of acts set the foundation for the brutality of Macbeth’s reign. It is her that is responsible for the death and destruction. After receiving her husband’s letter, which detailed the witches prophecy, she is the one who creates the plan to kill Duncan (P. 33). She describes her plan in Act 1 Scene 7, saying that she will slip a sort of poison into the drinks of the guards, temporarily making them sleep. This allowed Macbeth to sneak in undetected, and murder Duncan.As a result, Macbeth was crowned king. However, it took some convincing on Lady Macbeth’s part to will her husband to commit the murder. Macbeth was very close to backing out of the plan, but Lady Macbeth responded by questioning his manhood and courage (P.43). After this, Macbeth came to grips with the idea. Lady
Macbeth, because she was the one who set the events in motion that led to Macbeth’s reign of terror, is the one that is most responsible for the death and destruction in
Show More

Related Documents: Macbeth Analysis Essay

Analysis Of Macbeth

In the film of Macbeth, the setting was changed from a Renaissance era to a more modern society, mostly likely in the 1900 during World War 2. This film takes place in an underground bunker, where the ceiling was crumbing, where they were under heavy enemy attack. However, the main difference was how the witches were portrayed. The witches in this movie rendition were depicted as nurses during the war rather than ugly, old hags. The witches make their appearance in nursing outfits, with the masks…

Words 465 - Pages 2

Analysis Of Macbeth

Sayson, Mae Ann Mr. Conte ENG3U1-02 November 18, 2014 Synopsis: Macbeth Act IV Scene I Macbeth talks to the three witches again to know more about his future. The witches said that Macbeth needs to beware of Macduff; No one born from a woman can defeat Macbeth; and He will not be defeated until the Birnam woods walk against him. Macbeth is seeing again the ghost of Banquo together with the kings who are marching who which he believes Banquo’s descendants. Scene II Macduff flee to England that made…

Words 562 - Pages 3

Macbeth Vs Macduff Analysis

In the beginning of the Shakespearean story “Macbeth”, many characters change throughout the story, often times through the deception of others. Whether they’re the ones being deceived or doing the deceiving, Macbeth and Macduff are two characters similar in name, and the similarities just about end there. Some may beg to differ, as in the beginning of the story, both are held to a high position, one worthy of being praised even. Sadly, as any Shakespearean play goes, you’re either pure at heart…

Words 826 - Pages 4

Macbeth Soliloquy Analysis

Shakespeare’s Macbeth, shows how ambition and desire can be a destructive force. The play is set in Scotland where three witches meet to plan Macbeth’s demise. They tell him of great prophecy that stirs Macbeth’s ambition. He internally struggles with his ambition and eventually it overcomes him as he makes many sacrifices to fulfill his prophecy. Macbeth’s sacrifices for the throne show how ambition can corrupt and lead to the ruin of morality and happiness. The soliloquy in act one shows how…

Words 522 - Pages 3

Macbeth Evil Analysis

King of Evil Macbeth is a nefarious man who commits the most evil deeds. His power hungry attitude tops other characters evil minds in the story. Macbeth has taken the authority to wipe out people to become king of Scotland. Massive amounts of bloodshed were at the hands of Macbeth and his reason being to stay with the crown on his head. In 1040 based in Scotland, William Shakespeare created Macbeth to show a savvy lesson of abuse of power. Lastly, the acts of evil of Macbeth were caused by the…

Words 680 - Pages 3

Macbeth Quotes Analysis

Norway. King Duncan luckily has Macbeth, Thane of Glamis, to lead his army to victory. Macbeth and Banquo, also a Thane, hear prophecies from the witches that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland. Banquo’s prophecy was that he will be the father of kings. Macbeth’s first prophecy becomes true as he becomes Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth, plots to kill King Duncan, so her husband can become king. From that point on, Macbeth grows more ruthless and kills…

Words 476 - Pages 2

Macbeth Sanity Analysis

vast expanse. Macbeth by Shakespeare, explores the idea that nothing comes without a cost especially when it comes to sanity. In terms of this correlating with Macbeth himself, he chooses the throne over his sanity. Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as having an ill mind, after hearing his prophecy from Weird Sisters. Macbeth turns from an honorable war hero to a paranoid tyrant killing anyone he believes will oppose him. There is a well known low point for both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in the story,…

Words 826 - Pages 4

Macbeth Rhetorical Analysis

This is apparent in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. In the play Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have apparent role reversals. In the beginning Macbeth is hesitant to follow through with the evil plans of his wife, but then he begins to take charge with the use of evil and manipulation all while excluding his wife and by the end of the play he…

Words 704 - Pages 3

Macbeth Power Analysis

man’s heartfelt desire. Such is the case for the protagonist, Macbeth, in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. After three crones inform him of three prophecies: thane of Glamis and Cawdor, king hereafter, and Banquo’s children will become king, Macbeth is not content with allowing fate to run its course. Soon enough, he joins with his wife to commit murder and ensure that the most sought after prophecy is fulfilled, a kingship. As Macbeth attempts to protect his ambition, his actions go from that of being…

Words 1051 - Pages 5

Macbeth Monster Analysis

Where is the fine line that separates a man from being a monster? The famous play that Shakespeare scribes which everyone knows of is Macbeth. Macbeth is one of his most famous and thought provoking plays that is exceedingly tenable. This play is about a monster who shows no clemency and has no reason for existence other than causing misery. Macbeth is a monster rather than a man who just needs a little push to blossom into the monster he is and this is shown by how he is evil the core, tries to…

Words 926 - Pages 4