Macbeth Research Paper

The English Renaissance was a period of drastic change in Britain that lasted from the 15th to the 17th centuries. It allowed new ideas to influence politics, science, and literature. As a result, English literature flourished, and William Shakespeare became one of the most famous and influential writers in history. Shakespeare's Macbeth is an example of one of the greatest works of the English Renaissance that explored themes of ambition, guilt, power, and humanism by using literary techniques popular at the time. The English Renaissance, often known as the Elizabethan period, allowed literature to thrive. Authors began to create works that reflected the beliefs and interests of the time in new ways like the sonnet and theater. Because of

One literary device he used very often is the soliloquy. These allow the audience to know what is going on in the character’s minds and what their potential motives are. Macbeth's "Is this a dagger which I see before me" soliloquy in Act 2, Scene 1 is an important use of this device. It let the audience peer into Macbeth’s mind and see how conflicted he was. He wanted to be loyal to his king, but he and his wife were eager for more power. Another soliloquy is when Lady Macbeth is scrubbing away screaming, "Out, damned spot!" in Act 5, Scene 1. She is riddled with guilt and anguish after the death of King Duncan. She is hallucinating bloodstains on her hands that she can’t wash away. This shows the audience that Lady Macbeth is starting to break down because of her and her husband’s actions. A third example is in Act 1, Scene 3. Macbeth’s monologue is about his thoughts of potentially murdering Kind Duncan after the witches’ prophecy. These soliloquies are powerful tools in storytelling. They create tension and suspense while advancing the plot and highlighting the themes of the play. Without this device, the audience would have little understanding of each character’s motivations. This is just one reason that Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most powerful

They bring depth to the play because they reference literature, history, and mythology. During the story, the witches reference Hectate. This is an allusion to the Greek goddess of witchcraft. In Act 3, Scene 5 she is upset that, without telling her, the witches revealed Macbeth’s fate. This allusion lets the audience know her power as a witch and a god, and brings a more supernatural element to the play. Macbeth denying murdering Banquo is an allusion to the story of Cain and Abel in the bible. In Act 3, Scene 4, Macbeth has a vision of Banquo's ghost and yells, "Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake / Thy gory locks at me." Just like Cain refused to admit what he did to Able, Macbeth denied killing Banquo. The use of this device lets the audience see how in denial Macbeth is because of his crime. He is so ashamed that he can’t admit what he has done to his friend. These allusions draw attention to the themes and motifs seen throughout this work. The themes of ambition and power are portrayed within the plot. Macbeth’s ambition is fueled by the prophecy the witches give him. Before this prophecy, Macbeth was a humble nobleman, but after learning what was to come he became eager for more. As mentioned before, Macbeth has his friend murdered. He does this out of fear that he will one day be overthrown by Banquo’s descendants. The theme of power is shown constantly as the characters battle for control