Shakespeare's Influence On Macbeth

Words: 1270
Pages: 6
Open Document
Throughout our lives, many people will influence us to follow different paths. They may be people who we trust, such as our parents, and our friends, and they may be the people who we do not get along with. We will grow close to the people around us, and they will often impact how we act, even when we do not realise it. If one has a positive relationship with someone, they may value what that person does, and try and act more like them. On the other hand, if one has a negative relationship with someone, one may try and avoid acting the way that that person acts. Whether you like it or not, the people who you live your life around will influence who you are, for the good or for the bad. For instance, take William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The main …show more content…
Shakespeare makes it clear that Lady Macbeth has strong influence over Macbeth’s actions. This is shown when he refers to Lady Macbeth as his “dearest love” (I.v.63). This implies that he has a positive relationship with his wife, meaning that he trusts her and values what she says. Lady Macbeth uses this steadfast love to her advantage, by convincing Macbeth to kill his king. She hints heavily towards what she wants, by telling Macbeth to look like a “flower”, but instead act like “the serpent under’t” (I.v.65-66). After contemplating the idea of killing his own king over the night, Macbeth decides that he will “proceed no further in this business” (I.iiv.29). Here we can see that Macbeth is trying to live up to his values and put up resistance against doing that which is evil. After hearing this, Lady Macbeth resorts to insulting Macbeths manliness - even suggesting that she may be more of a man than Macbeth (I.iiv.54-59). This seems to be the final straw as Macbeth, once again, has the courage needed to kill the king. Lady Macbeth caused Macbeth, at the time he was most unsure of his decisions to push forward and do what was needed to be done in order to be …show more content…
At the beginning of the play, we can see that Macbeth is fighting for his king, proving his loyalty and earning him the title of Thane of Cawdor. His wife also hints to Macbeths kindness, as she knows his character well after being married to him for a period of time (I.v.14-16). These positive traits show that Macbeth is not the horrible that monster that many people think he always was. The main reason that Macbeth turned into the vile king he was at the end of the play is because of the manipulation shown above from the witches and Lady Macbeth. In a sense, he began to beleive that “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (I.i.12). What this quote is trying to say is that what Macbeth originally thought was “foul”, or immoral, now becomes “fair” or justifiable in his mind because of the benefits it brings him. The first example of this is when Macbeth kills Duncan in his sleep and blames it on his guards. Obviously, this is “foul” because he is killing his own king, an innocent person who he is supposed to be indebted to. However, Lady Macbeth and the witches convince him to believe that is “fair”, because he will earn the title of king. After this point, Macbeth begins committing heartless deeds of his own accord to protect his power - such as when he murders Banquo and Macduff’s family. Banquo was a threat to Macbeth because the witches prophecy said that
Show More

Related Documents: Shakespeare's Influence On Macbeth

Lady Macbeth Feminist

witch. At the time the fables play Macbeth was written, a strong women role was almost mythical among society. The women back in that day had practically no power or authority, no right to vote, and even sometimes not allowed to hold a job. Women were constantly accused of being witches and regularly were being used in plays as the antagonist. That is however, until Shakespeare unraveled his fabled Macbeth and broke gender roles into a new frontier. Shakespeare's connection to the audience undoubtedly…

Words 1053 - Pages 5

English Assignment Essay

‘Shakespeare, a playwright for all time’ Shakespeare’s play Macbeth was written sometime between 1603 and 1607. He is renowned as an English playwright and poet, whose works are considered to be the greatest in English history. His characters never fail to amaze the audience with their complex yet interesting characteristics. In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, one might judge Macbeth as a prudent hero of the play, yet his ironic character reveals he is also the villain. It is the complexity of characters…

Words 1331 - Pages 6

Macbeth: Macbeth and Macbeth Analytical Essay

Macbeth Analytical Essay Macbeth is portrayed in two different versions, in Polanski’s film version (1971) and in Shakespeare. In Shakespeare’s version Macbeth is depicted as a victim of his own actions, and in Polanski’s, Macbeth is characterized as a victim of fate. This is shown in Act Two, Scene Two and Act Three, Scene Six and Act Five, Scene Five. These scenes give a close analysis of Macbeth’s behaviour. Observing the juxtaposition in these two scenes with Polanski’s Macbeth with the influence…

Words 1086 - Pages 5

Comparing Macbeth To Shakespeare's Play

historical account of macbeth to shakespeare's play. The original macbeth was nicknamed the “Red King.” Macbeth was the king of the scots and known as the king of Alba. Although he was first king of moray and then Fortriu. Macbeth spent much of his time at war with his cousin Duncan. Duncan was king of Pitgaveny. This is how Macbeth was able to gain so many titles and land in his name. However, there is still much of a mystery to way Shakespeare’s tragedy. After Duncan’s death macbeth becomes the King…

Words 742 - Pages 3

Change: William Shakespeare and Lady Macbeth Essay

individual’s lives. It is imperative for humans to encounter the complex nature of change regardless of the ambiguity of its upcoming repercussions. In William Shakespeare’s theatrical work ‘Macbeth’, the notion of change is conveyed through the alteration of the protagonist’s state of mind initiating a destructive influence towards Macbeth and the people around him during the Jacobean Epoch. Meanwhile, Miroslav Holub’s poetry ‘The Door’ abodes its emphasis on the optimistic facet of change as an…

Words 1285 - Pages 6

Examples Of Mental Illness In Macbeth

illnesses. Macbeth was one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays that had this feature. Many have agreed that not only Macbeth, but also his wife, Lady Macbeth, suffered from mental illnesses. When a member of Shakespeare’s audience watched these characters in Macbeth or another play that discussed mental illness, he or she probably connected the behavior of that character to multiple different things. Due to the little knowledge known about mental illness during that time period, Shakespeare’s references…

Words 740 - Pages 3

Gender Roles In Lady Macbeth

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the most commanding character within the tragic play is arguably Lady Macbeth. Through the use of detailed observation and explained motives, this unlikely woman is able to be the recking force and the downfall of even the most powerful characters. During the story Lady Macbeth breaks the gender roles by being the dominate spouse in the relationship, which is atypical during the time in which the play takes place which allows her to display her ruthless planning, manipulation…

Words 630 - Pages 3

Macbeth: Anakin Skywalker's Transformation Into Darth Vader

William Shakespeare’s play MacBeth has influenced many great stories to come after. His characters possess traits that went on to inspire characteristics of many of the most popular and beloved characters. Darth Vader is one of the most infamous and well-known characters throughout the world. He is known for his dark aura and evil demeanor that fans have come to recognize. Despite being known for being one of the greatest villains of all-time, he is also widely acknowledged for the captivating story…

Words 1100 - Pages 5

Essay on Macbeth: Macbeth and Tragic Hero

Tragic Hero is a common figure in many of Shakespeare’s works. A Tragic Hero is usually a figure of royalty, fame or greatness. This person is predominately good, but falls from prominence due to personality flaws that eventually lead to self-destruction. Macbeth’s major flaws are his ambition and impressionability. Due to their flaws, a Tragic Hero’s actions are often atrocious and cause them to battle with their conscience after their desires have been accomplished. These battles with their conscience…

Words 301 - Pages 2

The Role Of Guilt In Macbeth

Macbeth is a tragedy play written by Shakespeare. Most of Shakespeare’s writings have moral stories, for example “Othello” is based on the decisions of characters and the actions after them involving guilt and supernatural causes that can foresee events in the near future. “Macbeth” Is a play revolving around Macbeth whom happens to stumble upon three witches. They tell Macbeth and Banquo a prediction of how he will become king and start to praise him. This will influence him to commit the ultimate…

Words 659 - Pages 3