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Macbeth Analytical Essay

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Many people believe the past will not catch up to them in the future, but this will prove just how quickly it does. The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare represents a classic tragedy that dramatizes the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those who seek power. In The Tragedy of Macbeth, a brave Scottish general named Macbeth receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the Scottish throne for himself. He is then wracked with guilt and paranoia. Macbeth attempts to control the future and hide the past by listening to other people, demanding for answers that will help …show more content…

“It will have blood, they say. Blood will have blood: Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak; Augurs and understood relations by maggot-pies and choughs and rooks brought forth The secret’st man of blood”(3.iv.125-129). This quote suggests that Macbeth starts to realize he will have to suffer for his murders. He recognizes that just as he murdered people to gain power, others on a quest for power may murder him in order to gain what he has. This reveals Macbeth hopes for the images of his murder victims to go away and everything to return to how it was before. Macbeth tries to move on from what he has done and continue forward, but unfortunately that does not happen for him. “But to be safe thus our fears of Banquo stick deep; and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be fear’d. This must he dare and to that dauntless temper of his mind.”(3.i.52-55). This states Macbeth began to fear Banquo and tries to not think of what he may know about the murder of Duncan. Macbeth shows his strong fear of Banquo’s prophecy by dwelling on it constantly. He is also afraid that Banquo might plot against him to seize the throne for his own

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The Tragedy of Macbeth is a well known story that revolves around the word “ambition” but this ambition isn’t always self driven by someone, but rather through the influence of someone else who maintains control of the situation. The story is about a man whose desire to be the king and have power leads to the murders of those who might stand in his way. Throughout the story we see many characters who play major parts in how one event follows another, and how some characters seem to completely have control of the events in the story. Although in Macbeth the Three Sisters and Macbeth exhibit some control over the events, Lady Macbeth has the most responsibility.

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In the quote Shakespeare reveals Macbeth as remorseful, that there was a sense of regret in this moment of murder. He also creates the image of Macbeth right before he begins to shift into a spiral of corruption, revealing the futility of gaining power. It is illustrated that Macbeth begins meddling with power that should be left alone, this is best depicted in the quote “whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs Against the use of nature? Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings” (23, 146-149) suggesting the change in Macbeth as he begins to lose himself. The “horrid image doth unfix my hair” reveals Macbeth's dark path and begins to change his nature as he succumbs to more power.

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As humans, the power to control is one of the most dominant feelings that ignores the harm it can cause others. The greed for more power brings out the selfish and merciless side of someone, leading them to their eventual downfall and the destruction of everyone around them. In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the story begins with Macbeth, who is King of Glamis, and Banquo, King of Lochaber, meeting with the Three Weird Sisters to hear a prophecy they foretell. Macbeth learns he will be crowned King of Scotland and the idea of him becoming king slowly consumes him, becoming his focus throughout the play. For them to control the throne, Macbeth and his wife form plans to kill everyone and anyone in their way, starting with King Duncan

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As individuals, we have a certain degree of control over our own lives and the decisions we make. While external factors such as social pressure, cultural norms, and personal circumstances can influence us, ultimately, we have agency in choosing how we respond to those factors. This is portrayed through William Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, the titular character Macbeth is the protagonist, a Scottish general who receives a prophecy from three witches that he will become king. Consumed by ambition and spurred on by his wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the throne for himself. However, his guilt and paranoia lead him to commit more murders in order to maintain his power, and he becomes increasingly tyrannical as his

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Macbeth is in the dining hall of his castle, speaking to Lady Macbeth when he says, “By the worst means, the worst. For mine own good, All causes shall give way. I am in blood, Stepped in so far that should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er” (3.4.138-141). The phrase “I am in blood” highlights how Macbeth knows he is guilty for everything that has happened in Dunsinane and how the deaths of Banquo and King Duncan are the blood in his hands to symbolize the guilt he feels. This supports the idea of having oppressive fear because it showcases how Macbeth was starting to go crazy because of all the guilt he felt for the decisions he's made and the bodies he has.

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After this, Macbeth admits to more murders to his wife and says, “I am in blood / Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o’er”(Mac 3.4 168-170). He reflects on his actions and feels guilt for all the pain he has caused his friends and other families and realizes he is at the moral crossroads of good and evil. However, Macbeth chooses the path of murder and destruction instead of redeeming himself and accepting his consequences.

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He reveals that he is not strong minded and is easily influenced by those around him. It is through Banquo that one can actually identify Macbeth with these traits. If it were not for Banquo’s calm and responsible reaction to the foretelling, it would be difficult to hold Macbeth on a basis on the appropriate way to respond to the situation. Banquo is not after sole success, and still considers himself successful even with his sons being heirs to the kingdom. With this genuine appreciation, we are able to view Macbeth as a greedy and irrational character.

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The story of Macbeth is quite saddening, he was a good man before he was tainted by the witches' prophecies, but now he is a tyrant who killed so many. This story is about The Tragedy of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Tragedy. Macbeth goes to the witches with his friend Banquo and is told he will become king. He then kills Duncan because he got demoted to 3rd in line from the king. Later, because of being second in line, he leaves and Macbeth becomes king.

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Macbeth is a play that is written by William Shakespeare in 1606 and the main goal is to make the audience members or readers think that excessive ambition will have horrible consequences in the end. Over the course of the book Macbeth receives prophecies from multiple people, his wife tries to make him something that he is not, by getting him to kill anyone that she wants him to. Throughout the book the main character Macbeth drastically changes from being brave to being cowardly. He also changes from being loving to being greedy, and last he changes from being very trustworthy to being very untrustworthy. As a thane of Scotland, Macbeth loves and serves King Duncan even if it means his own death.

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The distinction is apparent between Banquo and Macbeth, because unlike Macbeth, Banquo is cautious of what the witches have to say, though Macbeth simply commands to hear more. Furthermore, Banquo neither fears nor begs for the predictions the witches may have, whereas Macbeth’s concern is evident during this encounter, as well as when the witches bring about the apparitions to him. Macbeth acts in relation to the prophecies; killing to fulfill the prophecy, or eliminating threats to his throne. Banquo neither fears nor begs for the predictions the witches have in store for him, displaying his cautious attitude in regards of the deceiving sisters. Banquo’s lack of belief is evident once more as he says to Macbeth, “Were such things here, as we do speak about? /

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Celia Beyers Tinti Period 1/5 12 April 2015 Literary Analysis: Macbeth In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, he presents the character of Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is shown, as a character that schemes into making rebellious plots. She reveals the desire for wanting to lose her feminine qualities in order to be able to gain more masculine ones.

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