Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in the sixteenth century. Macbeth is the last of Shakespeare’s four great tragedies. The themes in the
play were written because this play had been wrote for Shakespeare’s new patron who had an interest in witchcraft. However, this is a relatively short play. It doesn’t have a major subplot. Nevertheless, this is considered to be Shakespeare’s darkest work. In Macbeth, Shakespeare adds a supernatural dimension that deliberately conspires against Macbeth and the whole kingdom. Many people in this play affect Macbeth’s
actions. Though his vaulting ambition is what caused all the pain and destruction to unravel.
Macbeth’s reactions differ from character to character corresponding to their gender. Throughout the play he seems to give more respect to women. However, as the play went on, Macbeth travelled up the social class searching for more power along the way. This made him believe that he was far better than everyone else. With the influence of several characters in the play Macbeth was soon led to his own demise.
The three sisters, also known as the
witches, are the first people that have an affect in Macbeth’s life. The witches are only present in four scenes in the play. However, Macbeth’s fascination with the witches and other women motivates most of the plays actions. Macbeth, upon hearing the three prophecies was manipulated by the three witches.
During Macbeth’s time witchcraft had become very serious which would have caused the dramatic influence towards Macbeth’s feelings and actions. When Macbeth first met the witches he didn’t seem so sure about them and he didn’t seem to trust them. He also thought they were ugly and unpleasant. After the first of the three prophecies came true Macbeth’s outlook of what the witches had said changed. He started to believe them and made himself think it was his destiny.
The witches manipulate him and put pictures in his
mind, as his ambition and greed grows. However, as Macbeth starts to doubt his own actions he returns to the witch’s heath. Then he begins to challenge them when he says “How now, you secret, black and midnight hags! What isn’t you do?” Nevertheless, in the end Macbeth regrets listening to the witches and despises them for there cruel deeds.
Macbeth’s friend Banqou was also present when Macbeth encountered the witches. Banqou was also told a prophecy that his son would be
king. However, he laughed the words from his mind and left it up to fate. This confused Macbeth a great deal. He is left thinking how he would become King and Banqou’s son become the heir. Macbeth’s ambition continued making his mind grow wild with the help of the witches.
Macbeth decided to kill Banqou, because the witches told him that his children would become king. He thought that if he killed Banqou it would stop them from becoming king. Macbeth twists his mind around so he can see the world in the way that he wants. He told himself that Banqou was not an honest friend, but a man who would bring on children to steal his crown, when he set out to kill him.
However, nothing was right after Banqou had been murdered. Macbeth felt guilty after the
murder and Banqou’s ghost came back to haunt him. Which appeared to be a sign from his subconscious that he had done something really wrong. The sight of Banqou’s ghost had agitated him as he had reached the point of insanity. His
wife, Lady Macbeth is left to try and cover up for her husband as Macbeth becomes overwhelmed by guilt and regret and everyone begins to doubt Macbeth’s word.
In the 1600’s it was commonly known that men held the dominant soles compared to women. However, in this play it is easy to see that Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth had become the more dominant between the couple. There relationship is not based on love. It is based on the fact that their minds were linked and they thought in nearly the same manner.
Macbeth filled his wife’s mind with tthe idea of killing King Duncan when he had written her a letter of his thoughts. Later on Macbeth contemplates with himself whether he should commit the crime or not. When Macbeth meets with his wife later in the play she challenges his manhood and dares him to commit the murder. This would have caused Macbeth a lot of pain because the manhood of men in those times would have been very important. However, Lady Macbeth refused to commit the murder herself because ‘Duncan resembled her father’.
Macbeth told his wife “We will proceed no further in this business” because he knew it was the wrong thing to do. This didn’t stop Lady Macbeth threatening him, making Macbeth feel harassed and fearful of his wife. In the end he agrees to commit the murder after his wife challenged him with her ambitious, aggressive and cruel words.
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