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Macbeth A Serial Killer Essay

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While all of these people were obvious serial killers with motives and psychologicalissues, the question still poses if the real Macbeth was a serial killer as Shakespear suggestshe was with his character in the play. The true MacBeth was born into a Scottish familyaround 1005 and died in 1057 due to being killed in battle, but not the same type of battle asShakespear’s Macbeth. Although the Shakespearean version of Macbeth’s character was amurderous serial killer, the true MacBeth was surprisingly not this way. At the young age of7, he was sent to a monastery to be educated by monks. There was not much else documentedabout his young life during this specific time, except for the death of his cousin,Gillecomgain, in 1032. Macbeth made a reappearance …show more content…

Around 1054, Malcolm MacDuncan started charging forces into Scotland inthe attempt to invade. With Malcom’s army infesting his lands in August of 1057, Macbeth’sstory ended as he was killed in battle (15).As for the character Macbeth, Shakespeare certainly put a strange twist into thestoryline when compared to the life of the real Macbeth. Although the character originallywanted to rule peacefully, his lust for power and advancement practically devoured his wantfor peace. His need for power and superiority are what led to his killing streak and,ultimately, his downfall.It is also shown throughoutthe play that Macbeth's mental statewasn’t necessarily that of a sane and stable person. A great example of this is in act 2, scene 2when he heard voices while he was anxiously waiting to kill Duncan. Another time would bewhen he and Lady Macbeth were hosting the banquet in act 3, scene 4. Here, Macbethseemed to fall into a psychotic episode when he supposedly saw Banquo’s ghost appear afterhe was murdered. Although the witches had been seen in act 1, scene 3 by both Macbeth andBanquo, it is debatable in act 4, scene 1 if they are truly there or a figment of Macbeth'simagination since no one else seemed to notice them. He also showed a large lack of remorseor emotional depth in the last acts as Malcolm and Macduff waged war on him. Hedemonstrated this in act 5, scene 5 when he calmly realized he “almost forgot the taste offear” after he heard a woman scream. Even when

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Shakespeare’s renowned tragic play ‘Macbeth’ was written in the 1500s to entertain and please King James I of England. The story follows a once noble and valiant knight turned tyrannous called Macbeth in his journey as he navigates his way through the dangerous waters of ambition and greed that ultimately result in his death. Macbeth at the start of the play is a self-proclaimed ‘servant of the king’ but when he hears three witches’ prophecy that he is going to be king, his loyalties seem to flip. In his greed, he ends up murdering the current King of Scotland – King Duncan.

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The second example of Macbeth’s hubris is after the apparitions tell him three new prophecies. The second apparition tells Macbeth “for none of woman born/ Shall harm Macbeth” (Macbeth 4, i, 91-92). This prophecy further inflates his ego making Macbeth believe that he is invincible. When the British army comes to Dunsinane he chooses to stay and fight instead of fleeing because according to himself he cannot die.

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Macbeth was a very power-hungry individual, which ultimately led to him becoming selfish. The incident that led to the change in character would be when he had a chance in becoming king. “All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter” (Act 1 scene 3, line 53). This quote from

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Many people debate the issue of whether Macbeth can be considered “criminally insane” in a court of law or not. In the tale of “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, the ideal warrior’s descent into darkness and corruption presents a compelling case for him being considered "criminally insane" in a court of law. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plot to kill King Duncan for Macbeth to be king after the witches propose to Macbeth a prophecy that took over his mind. Macbeth is in control of his actions. As Macbeth still commits crimes and raises his body count, Macbeth increasingly becomes paranoid.

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Macbeth was supposed to be a hardened warrior, unfazed by the many soldiers he had killed, yet he was so affected when he killed one man. Through a psychological lens, it was likely that Macbeth suffered from some form of post-traumatic stress disorder. His state after killing the king can be compared to a soldier coming back from battle, as he was so haunted by his actions. A person who always had the intention to kill would not have been so impacted, especially not a supposedly ‘ruthless’ solider. With this evidence, it is unlikely that without Lady Macbeth and the Witches’ influence that Macbeth would have committed the murder on his

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The real Macbeth was not a serial killer but a strong, brave, and heroic man. The real Macbeth was born in Alba in central Scotland around 1005, the same year that his grandfather became king. In August 1040 he killed the ruling king Duncan I in battle and became king. His marriage to Kenneth III's granddaughter Gruoch strengthened his claim to the throne.

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Macbeth is a tyrant during his rule, manipulating the minds of the people and using murders to clear out anyone that stood in his way, so that he can stay in power. Malcolm worries about the state of Scotland as he exclaims, “I think our country sinks beneath the yoke./ It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash/ Is added to her wounds. I think withal…” (Shakespeare 4.3.49-51). Malcolm notices the true state of Scotland under the rule of Macbeth, as he has forcefully gained his

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Macbeth is a very interesting play written by William Shakespeare in the year 1606. Macbeth kills Duncan, Banquo and others to try to become king and stay king. He does this because of the witches prophecies which state that he would be king and what he should avoid. In the end the witches tricked him and end up wording the prophecy so that he thought he was invincible let his guard down and ended up getting killed by macduff. Through most of the play Macbeth bases his actions off of greed, guilt, and fear.

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The play Macbeth authored by William Shakespeare emphasizes a theme of guilt and regret in relation to unnatural acts, through the character change of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, their relationship and how it can cause emotional breakdown loss of personality and ultimately, loss of sanity. The play was written in the early the 1600s and is set in Scotland. It focuses around the life of Macbeth a Thane, and future king of Scotland, who seemingly does whatever it takes to achieve this prestigious role. In the beginning of the play Lady Macbeth is steely in her mannerisms and appears to be willing to do anything in order to achieve what she ultimately desires. However, in the final act of the play her steely and cruel nature breaks down due to the

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An instance when this is shown is right after Duncan’s death becomes known and Macbeth has to show his remorse to justify him killing the guards. He is a little too dramatic in his wording, “His silver skin laced with golden blood; and his gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature”. He is drawing attention like a child throwing a temper tantrum in public, suspicion is arising and Lady Macbeth notices so she faints to distract the men. Another instance later during King Macbeth’s party everyone is to sit down and enjoy the feast but the king is hallucinating the recently murdered Banquo there, “Never shake thy gory locks at me!” He has begun to make a scene and as per usual Lady Macbeth attempts to save his image in in the eyes of the public making excuses that he has phases like this and that it’s best to just ignore

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Servant or Murderer In the play Macbeth during act 3 there is a puzzling scene where a mysterious third murderer appears when in the previous scene Macbeth only hired two murderers. There are multiple explanations for this but the most sensible is the unknown servant because they had the ability to be there along with the motivation. The motivation of the unknown servant could be if he or she did not commit the crime of killing Banquo and Fleance, Macbeth would make sure they were killed as punishment. Along with the motivation, the unknown servant could meet the other two murderers in the gardens outside the palace and then return to the party to do his duties because they are not of high importance.

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In act four of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" Macbeth murders most of a noble man's family out of impulse and paranoia. He suspected said nobleman of plotting against him, and much like the murder of his friend Banquo, he killed him before he got the chance. But this murder is not like the ones before it, this one is much more sinister. The man Macbeth suspected, Maduff, was suspect because he refused to show up to any events that Macbeth attended, and when Macbeth went to ask the witches they warned him Macduff was to be cautioned. This time Macbeth decides right away that Macduff must go.

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Macbeth is More Responsible In Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” Macbeth is seen to be as the one responsible for King Duncan’s murder, as Macbeth’s hands were the ones that actually killed King Duncan. However, while Macbeth may be thought of as ultimately responsible for his actions, but there are other influences that actually show on a closer inspection of the text, the three main influences to his decision are Lady Macbeth, himself, and the witches. This is (in my opinion) convincing evidence that Macbeth is completely responsible for the murder of King Duncan.

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Macbeth was the Thane of Cawdor but he wanted to be king more than anything. The witches had told him that he would one day be king but he did not know how long that would take so when King Duncan had been invited to stay the night at his house he exclaimed that “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,/ shakes so my single state of man/ that function is smother 'd in surmise,/ and nothing is but what is not”(1.3.52-55). He felt that if he were to kill King Duncan that he would have a better chance of becoming king. Though the witches had never told him that someone would need to get murdered for him to become king, his ambition tempted him to quicken this process the only way he felt he could. This was the beginning of the murderer that the witches had created with the fortune telling.

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William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the main character; Macbeth, is seen as an evil character. The play is based off of Macbeth’s decisions and his actions to become King. In the beginning Macbeth starts out as a hero in Scotland’s war with Ireland and towards the end he is transformed into a murderer. Macbeth is not wholly evil because of is heroism in the war, his love for Scotland, and because he didn’t want to kill King Duncan initially. Macbeth was brain washed by his wife and tricked into killing the King.

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