Preview

Macbeth - Hero to Butcher Essay Example

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
3472 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Macbeth - Hero to Butcher Essay Example
The play ‘Macbeth' is a very tragic one. It is about the downfall of a hero who is led by temptation to mass murder and cruelty. Shakespeare uses various styles and techniques to display very evidently how Macbeth's character develops as the story progresses, and thus we see how Macbeth turns from good to evil, from a "valiant cousin" and "worthy gentleman" to a "bloody butcher."
<br>
<br>The first we hear of Macbeth is with praises to his name. He is called ‘brave Macbeth', ‘valiant cousin' and ‘worthy gentleman,' fighting a war for God, king and county. We hear of further acts of bravery in the same episode as Macbeth and Banquo repelled another assault ‘as sparrows eagles' and ‘the hare the lion.' These two phrases are significant because they represent bravery and to remind us of the patterned order of the universe, nature and society in which every creature has it's appointed place. For all his gallantry, Macbeth is rewarded with the title ‘thane of Cawdor' and well he deserves this decoration.
<br>
<br>The scene is very important as we get to see opinions of Macbeth from the other characters, and all the good words leave a deep impression of respect and admiration from the reader. It can be noted that already Shakespeare has an effect on the reader, and this is an important aspect in the tragedy.
<br>
<br>In the next scene we see the three witches upon a heath. They speak of their experiences, in particular how one wreaked havoc and devastation upon a boat in vengeance. This leaves the audience feeling quite horrified and gives one a sense of wariness as doom seems imminent. Now Macbeth and Banquo enter, and quite appropriately the former quotes ‘so foul and fair a day I have not seen', although he has just won the battle he can sense a surrounding evil. They see the witches and are greeted by them: ‘All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!' ‘All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!' Naturally Macbeth is startled by these prophecies, as he

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Macbeths attitude, view on things, and charcter changed dramatically throughout the play. In the beggining he shows us his honoring side. Soon after that, he begins to show us how he starts to regret the things he had done, said, or thought. Lastly, he starts to become a tyrant and with what he is doing he shows us.…

    • 58 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory 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

    At the start of the play Macbeth is introduced from two different perspectives. He is firstly introduced by the three witches whom are discussing a meeting with him ‘There to meet with Macbeth’. This scene would create immense tension for the audience as the presence of the witches in the play would indicate a series of evil and sinister events occurring later on in the play. King James I was also afraid of witches so this scene would tense the audience even more. Shakespeare uses the supernatural beliefs of the people during that era as it created a dramatic atmosphere and it helped indicate that the plot of the story was going to be full of conspiracies and murder. It also implies that the main character Macbeth is going to be a character which becomes influenced by evil forces. The first scene is set in a battlefield which creates an eerie atmosphere as it links to the prospect of death and danger. The mood of the play is set in the first scene creating suspense and curiosity for the audience.…

    • 1832 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth/Theme Essy

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the begging where it started off with three creepy witches cackling as they were discussing when they'll meet again, and decide to hook up "When the hurly-burly's done, when the battle's lost and won."(line 3-4) The implication is that they've been up to something really bad. They let the audience in on their plan to meet some guy name Macbeth. And then cut to post-battle, where we learn that this Macbeth has been kicking serious tail in battle so much that King Duncan has decided to give him the title Thane of Cawdor. He's prancing home on a dark and stormy night after defending King Duncan in battle with some skilled enemy-disemboweling. Understandably, he's feeling pretty good about himself. The witches then call out to Graymalkin and Paddock, or spirits that serve the witches. All three witches start to say, "Fair is foul and foul is fair"(line10-11) before going back about their business. Just then, him and his good friend Banquo run into three bearded witches who rhymingly prophesy that Macbeth will be named Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. Just as Banquo is curious about his knowing what he will become. And then they begin to say “lesser than Macbeth and greater but not so much happy, yet much happier thou shalt get kings. Though thou be none”.(line 65-68) And what they mean by that is he will be fortunate than Macbeth and be father to a long line of future kings of Scotland though he will not be king himself. The next thing we know, a guy named Ross shows up to say that, since the old Thane of Cawdor turned out to be a traitor and is about to have his head chopped off and displayed on a pike, so Macbeth gets to take his place as Thane of Cawdor then that takes care of the first prophecy. His ambitious wife, Lady Macbeth, prods him into acting like a man and killing King Duncan when the poor guy comes to Macbeth's castle for a friendly visit. When Macduff finds the king's dead body,…

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good 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
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Macbeth Essay

    • 669 Words
    • 1 Page

    The three witches that Macbeth and Banquo meet in the beginning of the play also make…

    • 669 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fatal Influence On Macbeth

    • 1659 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Everyone as a human being has both good and bad characters, and they will also change as they grow old and some people also learn from their mistakes. In the play, “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, the character of Lady Macbeth depicts both good and evil tendencies, particularly her evil tendencies can be seen at the beginning of the play. Over the course of time, Lady Macbeth changes adequately from the lust of power to more of an anguished person. The consolidation of the fatal influence by the witches and Lady Macbeth on Macbeth is what mustered for a disaster.…

    • 1659 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The same qualities that make one a hero can also make one a monster. A perfect example of this is in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. In this play, Macbeth is a very ambitious man, however, by the end he is an absolute monster. In the beginning, Macbeth and his longtime companion, Banquo, come across three witches who give them a prophecy. The witches tell them that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and later the King of Scotland. Banquo that his sons will be Scottish kings although he will never be king himself. They are both very skeptical about this prophecy until Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor soon after. When Lady Macbeth learns everything that has happened, she has absolutely no doubt that the prophecy is valid. Over the course of the play, both of them do everything in their power to make the witches’ prediction come true. Although the ambition that Macbeth and his wife possess is an ideal heroic quality, it also contributes to their monstrous behaviors. The first horrific act they perform is killing Duncan in order to gain kingship. Once Duncan is dead, Macbeth goes after Banquo and his son Fleance in order to avoid the second part of the witches’ prophecy. Later on, Macbeth visits the witches again and they tell him to beware of Macduff. Macbeth then commands that Macduff’s castle be seized and that his wife and children be killed. In order to be a hero it is necessary to be an ambitious person, in spite of this, a monster can be ambitious as well. A hero must be determined to achieve the things they want that may help other people. A monster may also be determined to obtain something, but with a cruel or damaging approach. Macbeth and his wife turn out to be utter fiends as a result of their ambitious ways. They easily could have used their ambition to obtain the things they wanted in a positive manner, but instead they chose to use their ambition in negative ways. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth prove that a monster and a hero can have the same…

    • 720 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Critcal Essay

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In Willam Shakespeares dynamic play ‘Macbeth’, we are presented with a number of characters who provoke us, as the reader to irritation and anger. Although, throughout the play many admirartble qualities are established through Shakesperaes clever use of characterisation, overall the reader should feel a strong sense or irriation for the Main character Macbeth and his ‘partner of greatness’, Lady Macbeth as, as a couple the commit a series of unforgivable sins which result in the untimely but appropriate tragic death.…

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The witches’ prophecies lead to his ambitions of wanting his descendants to be Kings causing him to keep the truth from everyone and live in secrecy. This in a way leads to his death. From Banquo’s first encounter with the Weird Sisters, his life also changes and he loses sleep. “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be one.” 1, 3, 35. The witches’ prophesized that Banquo will be father of Kings, yet he cannot be King, but his ambitions overwhelm him leading to a point where the truth no longer could be spoken. Like Macbeth, Banquo is also very ambitious but compared to Macbeth, his selfish wants never over powered his honour nor the good of Scotland. Banquo is seen as a threat to Macbeth as Banquo is slowly becoming suspicious of him, “…As the weird women promis’d, and I fear Thou playd’st most foully for’t…” 3, 1, 2-3, hence triggering Macbeth to kill him, but Macbeth’s conscience won’t let him live it down, hence the scene where Banquo’s ghost visits Macbeth during his state banquet. “Here is a place reserv’d, sir…Where…Here, my good Lord. What is’t that moves your highness?” 3, 4, 46-48. On the same night of Macbeth’s state banquet is the same night in which the murder of Banquo occurs. Whilst making his way home with his son Fleance, they are attacked by three murderers who are ordered by Macbeth. However, the murderers are not as fortunate when Fleance, son of Banquo escapes leaving the murderers to discard of…

    • 1287 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better 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

    Is Macbeth A Hero

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The play Macbeth by William Shakespeare tells the tragic tale of a nobleman and his wife’s descent into darkness as they conspire to take the throne of Scotland. The character of Macbeth possesses qualities that make him admirable, but these qualities are also the cause of his downfall. Throughout the play, Macbeth exhibits bravery, morality, and ambition—traits which appear heroic, but ultimately lead to his end.…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Macbeth

    • 1539 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the beginning of Macbeth, Macbeth is a strong, brave and noble soldier. He is considered to be brave by all the people he was fighting around. When the captain is relaying the events of the battle, we find him saying to the king "For brave Macbeth- well he deserves that name" (1.2.16). As a result of Macbeth's actions on the battlefield, Duncan names him Thane of Cawdor, this proves that Macbeth is a good soldier. He had no intention of doing anything other than serving the king. Because of this small rise in power it leads Macbeth to wanting more, illustrating the reason this book is named a tragedy. Shakespeare uses the characterization of Macbeth to illustrate that corruption is inevitable to anyone.…

    • 1539 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth vs macduff

    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Macbeth was indeed a true tragic hero. He had many noble qualities as well as several tragic flaws, but this didn’t mean he wasn’t a courageous, brave and a good nobleman who was sadly haunted by superstition and a selfish ambition. Through the play, his flaws start to overcome his qualities to the point where they cannot be seen in him anymore. This major change starts right after he commits the murder of Duncan. Here Macbeth's personality is clearly becoming astray. Macbeth's theme becomes tyrannical and evil, completely opposite as in the start of the play.…

    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    William Shakespeare wrote the play “Macbeth” in 1606. It, as the title suggests, follows the story of a Scotsman named Macbeth and how, after the prophecy of three witches, sees his status evolve from a general in the Kings army to becoming the King himself. However the main theme that Shakespeare introduces in this play is the lengths man will go to fulfil ambition and the treacherous consequences that come with it. Not only do we see Macbeth’s status evolve but also his personality within. With each scene we see Macbeth succumb to the pressures of achieving power and how this affects his character as well. Act 1 of “Macbeth” truly, from the beginning, shows us a clear development of Macbeth’s disturbed personality not only through language but the context behind this tragedy.…

    • 1361 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays