Preview

Explore the Ways Shakespeare Presents Macbeth as a Changing Character Essay Example

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2448 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Explore the Ways Shakespeare Presents Macbeth as a Changing Character Essay Example
Explore the ways Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a changing character

Introduction:
Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare from approximately 1603 to 1607. It is possible that it was specifically written to attract the attention of King James I who had a well-known interest for the supernatural, so much so that he wrote a book on it. Shakespeare captures the King’s interest by producing a large role for the three witches. Although, in this period of time witches were believed to have existed and the practicing of witchcraft was a capital punishment; so by using witches in his play Shakespeare adds a more frightening and relatable supernatural aspect to the play. The play follows the experiences of Macbeth, the Scottish lord of Glamis, through a short time of his path to becoming King. We observe his fall on the Elizabethan idea of the wheel of fortune, leading to his external and internal position tumbling.
The Elizabethans had this idea about a wheel of fortune which symbolised your internal and external position. When at the top of the wheel you are of a high status good morale, and have healthy mind. Macbeth falls on the wheel of fortune after committing regicide and therefore develops insanity and loses all respect from anyone that had previously followed him.
Macbeth is a tragic hero in this story, an idea created by the ancient Greeks. Aristotle wrote a book called ‘poetics’ which gave instructions on how to write a tragic hero play:
Firstly at the beginning of the play, they are a person with exceptional qualities that inspires awe and wonder in others because of their achievements as we need to like and respect this character at the start. They are also very significant characters and so their deaths will create huge disruption to their nation, causing the character to create a bigger impact on the World around him and lastly, they have a hamartia, a fatal flaw, which ultimately leads to their internal and external downfall and then their

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In 17th century England, witches foretell the tragic ending of an ambitious and power stricken nobleman, Macbeth. The Tragedy of Macbeth begins with the admiration of the nobleman…

    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The play "Macbeth" shows how the character Macbeth changes through the choices he makes. Throughout the play, it describes how Macbeth changes into a tyrant after hearing his prophecy.…

    • 328 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Renowned play, “Macbeth” written by William Shakespeare in 1606, is one of the most prestigious dramas to date. Valiant and truthful soldier, Macbeth experiences dire changes of evil, in order to gain his thriftless ambition for king. His immoral change might have been influenced by Lady Macbeth and the witches’ prophecies suggesting Macbeth is a tragic hero who had no intent of abhorrent deeds. Once honourable Macbeth pledges glory to his king and gained honour through valiant accomplishments. Fear strikes him as his mind starts to deteriorate into utter chaos by his treacherous actions. His self-conscious mind transforms him into a superstitious villain who suffers in despair as he implicates regret.…

    • 349 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Over the course of the play Macbeth the main character, Macbeth, advances the plot by believing the prophecies given by the witches’, trying to kill the king, attempting to kill people who could be king, wanting more prophecies, and struggling to stay king of Scotland.…

    • 444 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Macbeth is a Shakespearean tragedy, written between the years of 1599 and 1606. It tells the story of a Scottish general, known as Macbeth who receives a prophecy from three witches claiming that he will, someday, become king of Scotland. The play demonstrates two main themes through the desires of kingship and power Lady Macbeth has for Macbeth and the numerous murders committed by Macbeth in order to fulfill these and his own want for power. The two main themes of Macbeth include ‘the corrupting nature of unchecked ambition’ and ‘the relationship between cruelty and masculinity.’ The first and most common theme, ‘the corrupting nature of unchecked ambition,’ initially arises when Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth of his new title and how he is…

    • 554 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    William Shakespeare ‘permeates almost all aspects of our society,’ and speaks ‘to us through his plays’ by commenting ‘on his life and culture as well as our own’ (Sir George Williams University, 2000). This is no different in his acclaimed play Macbeth, which tells the story of nobleman Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth who plot and murder the king of Scotland in order to obtain the throne, exposing “human nature, ambition, evil, gender, human relationships, kingship,” (Sir George Williams University, 2000) and supernatural forces. The play explores the ideologies and cultural assumptions of witchcraft, gender roles, the great chain of being, divine…

    • 2044 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    At first Macbeth was kind, noble, courageous, and loyal. At the beginning of the play the wounded soldier was saying how loyal Macbeth was, in battle when he was fighting for the King, and slaying the enemy. The solider says , ‘For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name- Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valour's minion carved out his passage Till he faced the slave; Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps, And fixed his head upon our battlements’. He was respected a lot as even King Duncan praised him, ‘O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman! ’ All these titles prove that Macbeth was very popular in Scotland before he started committing the murders.…

    • 683 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare’s witches, or the “three weird sisters” (1.3.32) serve several purposes. With their persuasive techniques and ability to either see or influence the future, their most important role seems to be their power to influence decision-making and cause the initial deterioration of Macbeth. By providing five prophecies, the witches “provide Macbeth’s ‘call to action’ and drive his thirst for power”, (Jamieson). However, by not telling Macbeth the full truth, they give him false hope, and expectations that ultimately lead to his demise. The witches influence him so greatly, that without their presence, it is possible that Macbeth would never have even committed the murder of King Duncan.…

    • 1007 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    “A tragic hero is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction” as said by Aristotle, a Greek philosopher and a scientist who came up with the characteristics of tragic hero. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a play about a tragic hero named Macbeth who was told about his prophecy by three witches and one of them was him being king, in which he succeeds by killing all in his way. The term tragic hero applies to Macbeth. Through three witch’s predications, Lady Macbeth’s encouragements, and the fact that he is a courageous man.…

    • 871 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout the play, Macbeth is presented as an unstable character who is driven by ambition and his lust for power.…

    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.” In the play The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth goes from a guy that wouldn’t hurt a fly to killing serval people just to become King of Scotland. We all wonder if power can change people for the worse and in this play Macbeth did just that. This vicious act later results in Macbeth becoming a king who battles with guilt and fear, continuously murdering individuals believing this will satisfy him and his desires.…

    • 412 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shakespeare's Macbeth, considered as one as of his most brilliant plays, is a definite pleasure to read, particularly for fans of the "medieval-setting" and Old English literature. His style is unique and creative, which, all in all, makes for a very appealing storyline. Regardless of such optimistic facets, Shakespeare's signature mark within most of his plays is his combination of various assorted themes merged together within one captivating scenario. In this case, Macbeth is an ideal paradigm representing this talent. Unlike most his past plays, this particular storyline consists especially of gloomy and sinister themes: infidelity, treachery, lust for power, and ironical situations used to emphasize scenes of tragedy form most of Macbeth's foundation.…

    • 789 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Lady Macbeth's Decline

    • 207 Words
    • 1 Page

    Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s roles shift throughout Macbeth by the way the characters change in their actions and…

    • 207 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth - Supernatural

    • 716 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In Shakespeare's Macbeth, specific scenes focus the readers' attention to the suspense and involvement of the supernatural. The use of witches, apparitions and ghosts provide important elements in making the play interesting. Examining certain scenes of the play, it can be determined that as supernatural occurrences develop, Macbeth reflects a darker self-image.…

    • 716 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth by William Shakespeare is the story of how one mans hubris destroys him. From it, we can extrapolate and comment on how in society people have a choice. We can live a life of altruism, valour and nobility or one fuelled by ambition, greed and violence. Macbeths journey from the former to the later showcases to the audience the dangers of selfishness. It prompts us to question our view of life – do we succumb to the false promises of evil, as tempting as they are, or do we remain defiant and true to ourselves. Shakespeare’s play is a very clear warning against listening to the dark forces that are constantly around us.…

    • 2769 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Good Essays