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Macbeth's First Soliloquy

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While Macbeth may be a haunted play, it is a respected one. Shakespeare’s brilliant use of soliloquy reveals the innermost thoughts of the characters, which helps drive the story. Macbeth’s soliloquies reveal the deterioration of his morals and humanity as the story goes on in a way that could not be seen from dialogue alone. In the first act, we learn that Macbeth, a man once considered noble, is considering murder, which is the first glimpse of Macbeth turning towards evil. When part of the witches’ prophecy for him comes true, he feels temptation and desperate to make the rest of the prophecy come true. This is the first time we see him question his heroic nature, as his thoughts reveal that his mind “yield to that suggestion Whose horrid …show more content…

He has become an emotionless monster, and since his brain is full of such wicked thoughts, he is unbothered by evil. He states that “Direness, familiar to [his] slaughterous thoughts Cannot once again start [him]” (Shakespeare 5.5.14-15). Not only is he accustomed to such darkness, when his wife dies, he feels no grief, as he says “She should have died hereafter…” and that life “...is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing” (Shakespeare 5.5.16-28). These soliloquies in the final act unveil that his soul is gone. His inner thoughts reveal to the audience the final transformation from a heroic nobleman to a corrupt, murderous tyrant. By the end of his story, he feels nothing and believes life is nothing. This is a strong contrast from when the audience first meets Macbeth, a decorated soldier. The soliloquy exposes the thoughts of man so wicked that nothing frightens him anymore, not even the death of his wife. The use of uncovering these inner thoughts through soliloquy demonstrate that Macbeth is alone and trusts no one. He no longer is a man, but a lifeless thing worn down by his wickedness. It would be unlikely that he would ever reveal these thoughts to another

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Macbeth’s soliloquy at the start of Act 1 Scene 7 holds great significance for the audience because this monologue reveals that Macbeth is a truly divided character. Macbeth’s soliloquy reveals Macbeth’s true intentions and what is thinking about, Macbeth reveals that he does not want to kill King Duncan because Duncan has been loyal and Macbeth himself is a loyal subject to his king. As a result of this soliloquy Macbeth talks himself out of this plan but Lady Macbeth enters the scene and destroys his confidence also continues to manipulate Macbeth, as result Macbeth kills King Duncan in his sleep, this shows Lady Macbeth’s ability to persuade Macbeth to do as what she think is best for her own self. This soliloquy is one of the more important

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Act 3 opens with the tension filled soliloquy, in which Macbeth vents his frustration with reality, going on to create suspense and anticipation by foreshadowing future events. Fears of losing authority are exhausting Macbeth, as he recognizes the vain of his efforts. He states “To be thus is nothing; But to be safely thus”. Macbeth voices that if he does not feel safe, he should not be king. Which sets the mood for the rest of the section which is amplified when Shakespeare builds on this tension as Macbeth exclaims “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown”, using personification referring to the witches who prophesized that Macbeth would be king, but he has no heirs, as they predicted that Banquo’s offspring would inherit the kingship.

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This soliloquy reveals the conflict of the play to be Macbeth’s initial unwillingness to kill Duncan. When Lady Macbeth tells him that he needs to kill Duncan, she says that “Yet I do fear thy nature; it is too full ‘o th’ milk of human kindness”, meaning that she knows that he is too kind to want to kill Duncan. In addition when Macbeth is talking to Banquo about becoming king he says “If chance will have me king … Without my stir”. Which can mean Macbeth wants to let the prophecy work itself out rather than do something to make it happen.

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In the soliloquy in Act three Scene 1 of Macbeth by Shakespeare, Macbeth talks to himself about the problems of being a king and he is afraid of what might happen to him. Macbeth also talks about how Banquo was his friend and how Banquo is the only person he fears. Macbeth’s predicament in the soliloquy is that he is afraid of losing his crown and that Banquo will get in his way. This is important because Macbeth does not trust anyone anyone because he does not feel safe and is convinced that the wrong thing are actually good. Through the literary devices of metaphor and personification, it will help us demonstrate Macbeth’s predicament.

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As proclaimed by William Shakespeare in his dark, renowned tragedy Macbeth, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (1.1. 12). In the play, the self-titled character tackles a gruesome journey with an aspiration: for an urgent desire to gain and maintain the throne by playing foul, which ultimately grants him immense power. Shakespeare’s use of literary devices highlights a vital moment in the tragedy that demonstrates the intricate character of Macbeth in his soliloquy in Act 3.1, which essentially outlines the theme of how the fear of paranoia arises from the consequences of actions led by ambition. Macbeth, At the beginning of his speech, states: “To be thus is nothing,/But to be safely thus” (3.1.

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I am pleased to stand in front of you today to reclaim my rightful place as King. Macbeth has been a threat to all the people of this nation and this nation’s security; but no more. I am taking control of Scotland and I will do everything in my power to right the wrongs Macbeth has caused and to prevent anything like his tyranny from ever happening again. I urge my thanes and earls who have fled Macbeth’s wrath to come back home. You are all safe now and have nothing to fear.

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He realizes he has “fallen from grace”, the world would be against him since he had destroyed the Elizabethan order. He does not see any meaning in life and therefore detaching himself from his emotions to turn himself into a vicious murderer. Macbeth’s despair over the loss of meaning in his life is reinforced in his Act 5 Scene 5 soliloquy, where he says life “is a tale/ Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury/ Signifying nothing” (Act 5 Scene 5 lines 25-27). Macbeth comes to a point of realization that all his efforts to gain the throne are like the “sound and fury” of the tale, just acts crafted for the sake of the show without any actual outcome in the end. In exchange for kingship, he loses his “milk of human kindness” and his wife.

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