macbeth essay on death

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Critical Essays Major Themes

The Fall of Man

The ancient Greek notion of tragedy concerned the fall of a great man, such as a king, from a position of superiority to a position of humility on account of his ambitious pride, or hubris . To the Greeks, such arrogance in human behavior was punishable by terrible vengeance. The tragic hero was to be pitied in his fallen plight but not necessarily forgiven: Greek tragedy frequently has a bleak outcome. Christian drama, on the other hand, always offers a ray of hope; hence, Macbeth ends with the coronation of Malcolm , a new leader who exhibits all the correct virtues for a king.

Macbeth exhibits elements that reflect the greatest Christian tragedy of all: the Fall of Man. In the Genesis story, it is the weakness of Adam, persuaded by his wife (who has in turn been seduced by the devil) which leads him to the proud assumption that he can "play God." But both stories offer room for hope: Christ will come to save mankind precisely because mankind has made the wrong choice through his own free will. In Christian terms, although Macbeth has acted tyrannically, criminally, and sinfully, he is not entirely beyond redemption in heaven.

Fortune, Fate, and Free Will

Fortune is another word for chance. The ancient view of human affairs frequently referred to the "Wheel of Fortune," according to which human life was something of a lottery. One could rise to the top of the wheel and enjoy the benefits of superiority, but only for a while. With an unpredictable swing up or down, one could equally easily crash to the base of the wheel.

Fate, on the other hand, is fixed. In a fatalistic universe, the length and outcome of one's life (destiny) is predetermined by external forces. In Macbeth, the Witches represent this influence. The play makes an important distinction: Fate may dictate what will be, but how that destiny comes about is a matter of chance (and, in a Christian world such as Macbeth's) of man's own choice or free will.

Although Macbeth is told he will become king, he is not told how to achieve the position of king: that much is up to him. We cannot blame him for becoming king (it is his Destiny), but we can blame him for the way in which he chooses to get there (by his own free will).

Kingship and Natural Order

Macbeth is set in a society in which the notion of honor to one's word and loyalty to one's superiors is absolute. At the top of this hierarchy is the king, God's representative on Earth. Other relationships also depend on loyalty: comradeship in warfare, hospitality of host towards guest, and the loyalty between husband and wife. In this play, all these basic societal relationships are perverted or broken. Lady Macbeth's domination over her husband, Macbeth's treacherous act of regicide, and his destruction of comradely and family bonds, all go against the natural order of things.

The medieval and renaissance view of the world saw a relationship between order on earth, the so-called microcosm , and order on the larger scale of the universe, or macrocosm. Thus, when Lennox and the Old Man talk of the terrifying alteration in the natural order of the universe — tempests, earthquakes, darkness at noon, and so on — these are all reflections of the breakage of the natural order that Macbeth has brought about in his own microcosmic world.

Disruption of Nature

Violent disruptions in nature — tempests, earthquakes, darkness at noon, and so on — parallel the unnatural and disruptive death of the monarch Duncan.

The medieval and renaissance view of the world saw a relationship between order on earth, the so-called microcosm, and order on the larger scale of the universe, or macrocosm. Thus, when Lennox and the Old Man talk of the terrifying alteration in the natural order of the universe (nature), these are all reflections of the breakage of the natural order that Macbeth has brought about in his own microcosmic world (society).

Many critics see the parallel between Duncan's death and disorder in nature as an affirmation of the divine right theory of kingship. As we witness in the play, Macbeth's murder of Duncan and his continued tyranny extends the disorder of the entire country.

Gender Roles

Lady Macbeth is the focus of much of the exploration of gender roles in the play. As Lady Macbeth propels her husband toward committing Duncan's murder, she indicates that she must take on masculine characteristics. Her most famous speech — located in Act I, Scene 5 — addresses this issue.

Clearly, gender is out of its traditional order. This disruption of gender roles is also presented through Lady Macbeth's usurpation of the dominate role in the Macbeth's marriage; on many occasions, she rules her husband and dictates his actions.

Reason Versus Passion

During their debates over which course of action to take, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth use different persuasive strategies. Their differences can easily be seen as part of a thematic study of gender roles. However, in truth, the difference in ways Macbeth and Lady Macbeth rationalize their actions is essential to understanding the subtle nuances of the play as a whole.

Macbeth is very rational, contemplating the consequences and implications of his actions. He recognizes the political, ethical, and religious reason why he should not commit regicide. In addition to jeopardizing his afterlife, Macbeth notes that regicide is a violation of Duncan's "double trust" that stems from Macbeth's bonds as a kinsman and as a subject.

On the other hand, Lady Macbeth has a more passionate way of examining the pros and cons of killing Duncan. She is motivated by her feelings and uses emotional arguments to persuade her husband to commit the evil act.

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The Tragedy of MacBeth

By william shakespeare.

Macbeth is among the best known of William Shakespeare’s plays, as well as his shortest surviving tragedy. It is frequently performed at professional and community theatres around the world. The play, loosely based upon the historical account of King Macbeth of Scotland by Raphael Holinshed and the Scottish philosopher Hector Boece, is often seen as an archetypal tale of the dangers of the lust for power and betrayal of friends. It has frequently been adapted. In the theatrical world, many superstitions are associated with “Macbeth,” all connected with the belief that the play is somehow “cursed.” Many actors will not mention the name of the play aloud, referring to it as “the Scottish Play”.

Source: Richard Grant White, ed. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (New York: Sully and Kleinteich)

• Year Published: 1607
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: England
• Flesch–Kincaid Level: 11.0
• Word Count: 18,731
• Genre: Tragedy
• Keywords: betrayal, cast, characters, envy, murder, power, revenge, tragedy
• ✎ Cite This
• Available on iTunes U

Shakespeare, W. (1607). The Tragedy of MacBeth . (Lit2Go ed.). Retrieved September 30, 2023, from https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/215/the-tragedy-of-macbeth/

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of MacBeth . Lit2Go Edition. 1607. Web. https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/215/the-tragedy-of-macbeth/ >. September 30, 2023.

William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of MacBeth , Li2Go edition, (1607), accessed September 30, 2023, https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/215/the-tragedy-of-macbeth/ .

Home / Essay Samples / Literature / Plays / Macbeth

A Symbolism of Death in the Play Macbeth by William Shakespeare

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Literature , Arts & Cultures

Plays , Art Movement , Writers

Macbeth , Symbolism , William Shakespeare

• Words: 847 (2 pages)

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Works cited

• Shakespeare, W. (2015). Macbeth. Cambridge University Press.
• This is the original play written by William Shakespeare and is the primary source for the essay. It will be used to support the arguments and to provide evidence for the analysis.
• Bloom, H. (ed.) (2005). Macbeth. Infobase Publishing.
• This book provides critical analysis and interpretations of the play. It contains essays from various authors and scholars and will be used to provide additional insights and perspectives on the themes and characters.
• Kolin, P. C. (ed.) (2005). Macbeth: New Critical Essays. Routledge.
• This book provides a collection of critical essays that explore various aspects of the play, including its themes, characters, and motifs. It will be used to support the arguments and provide additional perspectives on the play.
• Boyce, C. (2010). Shakespeare A to Z: The Essential Reference to His Plays, His Poems, His Life and Times, and More. Delta.
• This book is a comprehensive reference guide to Shakespeare's works and will be used to provide background information on the play and its historical context.
• McEachern, C. (2007). The Cambridge Companion to Shakespearean Tragedy. Cambridge University Press.
• This book provides a collection of critical essays on Shakespeare's tragedies, including Macbeth. It will be used to provide additional insights into the play's themes and characters.
• Garber, M. (2010). Shakespeare's Ghost Writers: Literature as Uncanny Causality. Routledge.
• This book explores the themes of ghosts and supernatural in Shakespeare's works, including Macbeth. It will be used to provide additional insights into the play's motifs and symbolism.
• Knight, G. W. (2010). Shakespeare and Religion. Routledge.
• This book explores the role of religion in Shakespeare's works and will be used to provide additional insights into the play's religious and moral themes.
• Foakes, R. A. (ed.) (2003). Macbeth: The Oxford Shakespeare. Oxford University Press.
• This book provides a critical edition of the play and will be used to provide additional textual analysis and insights into the play's language and style.
• Honigmann, E. A. J. (1999). Shakespeare: The "Lost Years". Manchester University Press.
• This book explores the "lost years" of Shakespeare's life and will be used to provide additional background information on the play's author and its historical context.
• Bradbrook, M. C. (1991). Themes and Conventions of Elizabethan Tragedy. Cambridge University Press.
• This book provides an analysis of the themes and conventions of Elizabethan tragedy, including Macbeth. It will be used to provide additional insights into the play's structure and themes.

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William Shakespeare

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The Power of Death in Literature: How a Single Scene Can Illuminate the Meaning of an Entire Work

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2. 2004, Form B. The most important themes in literature are sometimes developed in scenes in which a death or deaths take place. Choose a novel or play and write a well-organized essay in which you show how a specific death scene helps to illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole.  a novel or play that depicts a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) and a son or daughter. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid plot summary.

2002. Morally ambiguous characters — characters whose behavior discourages readers from identifying them as purely evil or purely good — are at the heart of many works of literature. Choose a novel or play in which a morally ambiguous character plays a pivotal role. Then write an essay in which you explain how the character can be viewed as morally ambiguous and why his or her moral ambiguity is significant to the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.

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2002, Form B. Often in literature, a character’s success in achieving goals depends on keeping a secret and divulging it only at the right moment, if at all. Choose a novel or play of literary merit that requires a character to keep a secret. In a well-organized essay, briefly explain the necessity for secrecy and how the character’s choice to reveal or keep the secret affects the plot and contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. You may select a work from the list below, or you may choose another work of recognized literary merit suitable to the topic. Do NOT write about a short story, poem, or film.

1999. The eighteenth-century British novelist Laurence Sterne wrote, “No body, but he who has felt it, can conceive what a plaguing thing it is to have a man’s mind torn asunder by two projects of equal strength, both obstinately pulling in a contrary direction at the same time.” From a novel or play choose a character (not necessarily the protagonist) whose mind is pulled in conflicting directions by two compelling desires, ambitions, obligations, or influences. Then, in a well-organized essay, identify each of the two conflicting forces and explain how this conflict with one character illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole. You may use one of the novels or plays listed below or another novel or work of similar literary quality.

2003, Form B. Novels and plays often depict characters caught between colliding cultures — national, regional, ethnic, religious, institutional. Such collisions can call a character’s sense of identity into question. Select a novel or play in which a character responds to such a cultural collision. Then write a well-organized essay in which you describe the character’s response and explain its relevance to the work as a whole.

2004, Form B. The most important themes in literature are sometimes developed in scenes in which a death or deaths take place. Choose a novel or play and write a well-organized essay in which you show how a specific death scene helps to illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.

2005. In Kate Chopin’s The Awakening (1899), protagonist Edna Pontellier is said to possess “That outward existence which conforms, the inward life that questions.” In a novel or play that you have studied, identify a character who outwardly conforms while questioning inwardly. Then write an essay in which you analyze how this tension between outward conformity and inward questioning contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid mere plot summary.

2005, Form B. One of the strongest human drives seems to be a desire for power. Write an essay in which you discuss how a character in a novel or a drama struggles to free himself or herself from the power of others or seeks to gain power over others. Be sure to demonstrate in your essay how the author uses this power struggle to enhance the meaning of the work.

2007, Form B. Works of literature often depict acts of betrayal. Friends and even family may betray a protagonist; main characters may likewise be guilty of treachery or may betray their own values. Select a novel or play that includes such acts of betrayal. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze the nature of the betrayal and show how it contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.

2008, Form B. In some works of literature, childhood and adolescence are portrayed as times graced by innocence and a sense of wonder; in other works, they are depicted as times of tribulation and terror. Focusing on a single novel or play, explain how its representation of childhood or adolescence shapes the meaning of the work as a whole.

2009, Form B. Many works of literature deal with political or social issues. Choose a novel or play that focuses on a political or social issue. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the author uses literary elements to explore this issue and explain how the issue contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot

Many works of literature depict characters struggling to maintain appearances that are in stark contrast to their inner lives. Choose a significant novel or play that focuses on this struggle and write an essay in which you analyze how the author uses this struggle to create the meaning of the larger work. Avoid plot summary.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Macbeth — How Does Lady Macbeth Die

How Does Lady Macbeth Die

• Categories: Macbeth Macbeth Ambition William Shakespeare

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The essay analyzes the role of death and the character of Lady Macbeth in William Shakespeare's play "Macbeth." It highlights how Lady Macbeth's pressure for power and her manipulation of her husband, Macbeth, play a significant role in the tragic events of the play.

The essay delves into Lady Macbeth's relentless ambition and her ability to control and influence Macbeth's actions. It emphasizes her role in persuading Macbeth to commit regicide, showcasing her ruthless ambition and the subsequent guilt that plagues her.

Furthermore, the essay discusses the power dynamics within their relationship, with Lady Macbeth often portrayed as the dominant figure, manipulating Macbeth to achieve her desires.

In conclusion, the essay underscores how Lady Macbeth's actions and her pursuit of power contribute to the tragic downfall of both herself and Macbeth. Her ambition and manipulation ultimately lead to a series of events that result in death and despair.

The Tragedy of Lady Macbeth (essay)

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Macbeth Essay: Who is responsible for the death of Duncan?

Who is Responsible for the Death of King Duncan in ‘ Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare?

In the debate of responsibility for Duncan’s death it would be rational to primarily consider his murderer, Macbeth. A number of factors lead him to kill Duncan. It is evident that he did not go about his crime acting entirely of his own accord – there is an element of corruption from the witches and his wife – however he must have had an existent ambition and desire for the throne in order to follow the plot through. Initially, the witches inform him that he ‘‘shalt be King hereafter’’. Macbeth adopts this prophecy as an objective, even calling it ‘‘ the deed’’ as if it is something he must accomplish. His ambitious nature yearns to accelerate the process by removing Duncan from the throne forcibly. This reveals the evil within Macbeth, because the ‘‘weird sisters’’ only tell him that he will be king, they give him no advise as to how to go about it – it is his own ‘‘black and deep desires’’ which control his sinful actions. Immediately after hearing the witches’ foresight, he is very interested, and asks to ‘‘tell me more’’. The ease at which evil has Macbeth wanting more information suggests that Macbeth might have subconsciously wanted to commit the murder anyway, as if the prophecy is just a trigger for an inevitable course of action, signified when Macbeth declares ‘‘if chance will have me king, why chance may crown me’’. Shakespeare emphasises the repeated use of the words describing destiny. This sense of necessity could be the way Macbeth is justifying the act, to feebly satisfy his human apprehensions and ethical conflicts. Ultimately, he allows himself to be corrupted, and for this is allowed no innocence – he becomes unholy and ‘‘horrible imaginings’’ consume him. The idea to ‘‘look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t’’ appears to progress throughout the play to become a way of life even after he has succeeded: ‘‘love and health to all’’ when he really wills them all dead.  

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Macbeth is not solely culpable however. It was Lady Macbeth who convinced him to eliminate the king so that he could seize the throne. Early in the play she resolves to ‘‘pour my spirits in thine [Macbeth’s] ear’’ therefore her so-called spirits can be blamed for overwhelming Macbeth. It can be said that Lady Macbeth has more liability for Duncan’s murder than Macbeth himself as she used her position as his wife to induce her husband to the sin. She knew the ‘‘adoration’’ and ‘‘dearest love’’ Macbeth had for her and threatens this by questioning his manliness and devotion to her. This is her wicked tactic to manipulate Macbeth into going ahead with the killing. Lady Macbeth is also directly a cause for Macbeth’s actions. She forms the details of the plan to kill Duncan, and orders him throughout the play, such as ‘‘give me the daggers’’ and ‘‘leave all the rest to me’’, both very demanding. It appears to me that without Lady Macbeth’s ‘‘ direst cruelty’’ Macbeth would not have had the willpower to carry out the task. Perhaps he is merely a tool, manipulated by Lady Macbeth to achieve her goal to be queen.

It could also be argued that the witches, out of spite, spurred on by pure evil, set up the whole thing for their own pleasure. For the prophecy to become reality, itself is essential. Because, if Macbeth hadn’t been informed that he would be king he would never have considered regicide. Macbeth proves this when he questions the witches, ‘‘to be King stands not within the prospect of belief’’ clearly surprised by their prophecy. It is undisputable that the ‘‘three sisters’’ are malevolent and supernatural. Shakespeare uses language to portray this – the witches do not speak in blank verse like all the noble characters, they also rhyme words often making their conversations seem like incantations: ‘‘when the hurly-burly’s done, when the battle’s lost and won. That will be ere the set of sun.’’ It is apparent that compelling Macbeth to murder could be some kind of game to the witches. It seems to be a regular outing for them, when one jovially asks ‘‘when shall we three meet again?’’ It is sensible to put the witches at fault because they act with no guilt or remorse because they do not know right from wrong as is evident by the phrase ‘‘fair is foul, and foul is fair’’.

The final culprit for Duncan’s death is Duncan himself. His own blind trust in the members of his court even though one of them had all ready betrayed him is what doomed him. Ironically when Duncan refers to the original Thane of Cawdor after he was told of his execution he describes as ‘‘a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust”, he in my opinion is unconsciously referring to the new Thane of Cawdor as well, as if Macbeth inherited the traits of his predecessor with the title. The crucial mistake Duncan made was to have faith in a person who shares all the attributes of the traitor. This fault was fatal as it proved to be at the time of his demise. He was overconfident with his friends, when secretly they were his enemies and should have been more wary of the treason. Duncan is far too kind and welcoming with potential adversaries and as a result cannot see the deceit in them: the person who plans his death and latter cover-up is to him simply ‘’our honoured hostess’’. He seems incapable of perceiving evil.

To conclude the discussion, I would answer that there is no individual culprit for the death of Duncan, because each contribute importantly: The witches commence the reaction that starts the series of events leading to murder; Lady Macbeth reassures Macbeth, pressures him into the sin, and conceals the evidence by ‘‘[smearing] the sleepy grooms with blood’’; Macbeth has the ambition, and is too weak to resist corruption and not be persuaded into proceeding with Lady Macbeth’s plans; and Duncan is foolishly naïve and  fails to notice a plot right under his nose, even bringing himself to the scene of the crime with only two guards. Without either of the factions the death would not occur, therefore they are equally responsible.

Document Details

• Word Count 1068
• Page Count 3
• Level AS and A Level
• Subject English

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Macbeth - Free Essay Samples And Topic Ideas

Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, exploring themes of ambition, power, and moral decay through the story of a Scottish general who becomes king through treachery. Essays on “Macbeth” can delve into the character analysis, the use of supernatural elements, and the play’s enduring relevance in modern discussions on ambition and ethics. Moreover, examinations of the sociopolitical commentary and the psychological complexities within the play could provide rich analysis. A vast selection of complimentary essay illustrations pertaining to Macbeth you can find in Papersowl database. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

An Analysis of Macbeth’s Ambition

Napoleon Bonaparte once said, 'Great ambition is the passion of great character. Those endowed with it may perform good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles that direct them .' In William Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, we see how Macbeth takes a prophecy he gets of potentially becoming a king into his own hands and goes above and beyond to seize and keep the throne. In this paper, I will first explain how akrasia and the existence of bad […]

What is the Theme of Macbeth?

Macbeth is one of the finest and bloodiest pieces of art written by the famous William Shakespeare. Unlike most of Shakespeare plays that mostly focus on love and trust, this play uniquely takes a dark approach for the worst. Upon reading the dark and mysterious literature of Macbeth, us as readers can conclude and take out a handful of themes. However, one that particularly stands out the most is ambition and corrupt power. More specifically, power corrupts you, makes you […]

Who is more to Blame for the Murder of King Duncan?

Macbeth was a play introduced in the early 1600. It took place in England where Macbeth was to become future king, or so he thought. Quickly, he realized that everything he imagined he would become wasn't going to happen. The crown would be passed down to one of Macduffs sons. So in order to obtain the crown he decided to start killing of the his sons heirs. This play has exposed a few symbols, one including blood. The symbol of […]

Lady Macbeth Personality Traits

Macbeth is a Shakespearian tragedy that tells us of the disguise of a leader who is pumped for the murder of the king by his wife continuously. Lady Macbeth, although a strong and compelling character, leads her husband and herself into the state of madness as a result of their actions. If I consider myself in her place, I will act entirely different in different situations that she faced. Showing strength more than the level of requirement can be dangerous. […]

Symbolism of Weather in Macbeth

The weather plays an important role in Macbeth. The foul weather of thunder, lightning, rain, and strong winds have importance in Macbeth. At the beginning of the acts, the sky is sunny and when something bad occurs the weather changes to foreshadow all the bad things that will happen in the future. When the covens appear in act one, they agree to meet by saying When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning or rain? She says this because […]

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Drawbacks of Power

Power, a phenomenon as addictive as any drug, should be given to those who are equipped to properly handle it and its effects. If power is given to those with a strong sense of ambition, it may lead to their downfall. Power is given to Macbeth when him and his companion, Banquo, come upon these three witches who deliver them three prophecies: Macbeth will be the Thane of Cawdor Macbeth will be the King of Scotland Banquo will have a […]

Macbeth: Style and Structure

Introduction William Shakespeare was a scriptwriter, poet and actor in England. He is highly revered and still considered to be their national poet today. He is one of the most well know writers of all times. His plays have been studied and reproduced infinite times throughout the world. The bulk of his work was done in the latter part of the 1500s and early 1600s. One of his most well-known plays is Macbeth. It is what is called a tragedy. […]

Gender Roles in Macbeth

In Macbeth, William Shakespeare comments on gender roles in the 17th century, conveying the distinct separation between male and female duties in life. Women were seen as domestic caretakers whose main role in society consisted of tending to their husbands, children, and household; while men dominated the worlds of decision making, politics, and finance (Sucese Lecture Notes 1/29). As male and female roles were so distinct in society characteristics began to become associated with them. Women were expected to be […]

Patriarchy and the Shakespearean Woman

William Shakespeare writes during a time when patriarchy was prevalent. Shakespeare includes these personas and attitudes within his plays to illustrate how these ideals played out. He works also to create female characters that hold their male counterparts accountable. In this paper, there will be a review of patriarchal patterns within A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, Henry IV, Macbeth, and King Lear but additionally how the female characters counteract the hegemonic masculinity. Because patriarchal patterns were prevalent in the time […]

Macbeth: the Psychological Effects of Guilt

Guilt plays a large role in human society and how humans work. It's a powerful feeling and if it gets put on the back burner, it might just explode. An example of this is Macbeth by William Shakespeare. In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth slowly lets her guilty conscience eat at her sanity before she goes crazy. Her insanity causes her to commit suicide. Her experience is shown through words and her actions. She doesn't address her conscience which makes her go […]

Nature’s Influence on Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Bubonic Plague, commonly known as the Black Death, hit Europe in the year 1347, and killed over one third of the entire European population. In the centuries following, Europe would undergo transformation or rebirth in a time period known as the Renaissance. With new life came new inspiration for author and poets alike and the world was introduced to an age of literature hitherto undreamt of. The most famous of these authors and poets was William Shakespeare who wrote many […]

The Hunger for Power

People who gain power tend to lose sight of reality. Power is a tricky thing to gain in this world but also a tricky thing to keep ahold of. The great George Lucas once said The story being told in 'Star Wars' is a classic one. Every few hundred years, the story is retold because we have a tendency to do the same things over and over again. Power corrupts, and when you're in charge, you start doing things that […]

Was Macbeth a Sympathetic Character?

Sometimes a fictional evil character isn't actually evil. The characters seen as wicked will sometimes have reasons behind everything they do. This makes them more sympathetic, setting them apart from typical villains. In Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, Macbeth gets 3 prophecies from a group of witches, one of which claiming he will become king. After a chain of events that lead him to believe the witches, he stops at nothing so he's sure he will become king. Macbeth is a sympathetic […]

Literary Techniques in Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Queen Elizabeth uses appeals to Pathos, Ethos, and Logos in order to rouse her army. She appeals to Pathos by creating pity for herself. Queen Elizabeth says “I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman” (Lines 6-7). She makes the soldiers feel pity for the Queen and they will want to fight for her. Queen Elizabeth appeals to Ethos by demonstrating her character and her willingness to fight for her country. Queen Elizabeth says “to […]

Macbeth: Social Structure of the Elizabethan Era

Bubonic Plague, commonly known as the Black Death, hit Europe in the year 1347, killing over one third of the entire European population (History of the Plague). In the centuries following, Europe would undergo transformation or rebirth in a time period known as the Renaissance. With new life came new inspiration for authors and poets alike, and introduced the world to an age of literature hitherto undreamt of. The most famous of these authors and poets was the prolific William […]

Ambition Essay on Macbeth

Macbeth, by nature, is an ambitious and passionate person which is what a great leader entails but when that ambition is directed towards greed and power, another side of Macbeth begins to surface. A side that shows the deterioration of Macbeth as a character. Various events and people in the play influenced Macbeths decision making and in turn lead to his character change. The prophecies brought by the three witches reveals Macbeths curiosity which consumes his thoughts when the first […]

Power in Macbeth

Macbeth's underlining theme is power. Power means different things for different people. How people react to power varies by how you attain power, retain power, and ultimately lose power. Power can lead someone to ambiton and make them vulnerable. What motivates the person with power, shows their true selves. Once someone has power they may be suprised at what they are willing to do to keep it. Vulnerability and ambition are characteristics of someone in power. Macbeth was a loyal […]

Lady Macbeth Character Analysis

Woman Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most renowned and alarming female characters. When we first observe her, she is as of now plotting Duncan's homicide, and she is more grounded, more merciless, and more aspiring than her better half. She appears to be completely mindful of this and realizes that she should push Macbeth into submitting murder. At a certain point, she wishes that she were not a lady with the goal that she could do it without anyone's help. […]

The Tragedy of Macbeth: Themes of the Story

The Tragedy of Macbeth was one of the most iconic plays of all time. It was written with many themes that helped the audience better understand the play and also connect and feel what the play was about. Showing the meanings of the all the senses in the play though the six themes. The two themes that develop over the entire course of the play is the relationship between violence and masculinity and that the guilt haunts the guilty. Throughout […]

Macbeth: a Tragic Hero

According to Aristotle, a tragic hero is a person with a high social status, somebody who has a secret weakness that could eventually lead to a downfall, and when the characters life faces a downfall with courage and dignity. Generally, a tragic hero is a grievous legend that is seen as a respectable character. To go moreover, the character Macbeth happens to consist of these traits. With this in mind, I assert that Macbeth is, in fact, a tragic hero. […]

Corruption of Power in Macbeth

Throughout the course of history there have been many powerful political and military figures, who all took power too seriously and strayed off the path of being a fair and worthy leader. Instead some leaders such as Kim Jong Il, Mao Zedong, and Joseph Stalin have become corrupt with power, much like Macbeth and Lady Macbeth did in Shakespeare's Macbeth. The struggle for power shown by each of the political leaders illustrates just how far some will go to gain […]

Bloody MacBeth

What does blood symbolize? The universal meaning for blood in literature is life or sacrifice. In the play Macbeth blood is used from Act 1 all the way to very end of the play. Shakespeare uses the characters to illustrate how important blood is. Without the imagery of blood The Tragedy Macbeth would not be as good. In Shakespeare's The Tragedy Macbeth, the imagery of blood is very important for mood of the play because it enhances the presence of […]

The Theme of Appearance and Reality in Macbeth

In A1S5, we see Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth stepping in helping with advising Macbeth to come off as deceitful. She warns Macbeth “to look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it.” Then later on we’re shown Lady Macbeth alone welcoming the guests into the castle, these guests are Banquo and Duncan. It is almost like she is controlling the whole situation, she is being devious on Macbeth's behalf and seems to be incharge of being deceptive. Macbeth […]

Macbeth Character Analysis

Macbeth , a series of many tragedies involving murder and the element of betrayal of loyalty but it's nothing compared to the amount of greed that has been instilled in macbeth. But he wasn't always a unloyal backstabber he wasn't always this bad character. At the beginning of the story macbeth is know as a warrior he has fought a battle and he has won in many people's eyes he is a hero and he has earned the title thane […]

The Many Different Faces of Macbeth

While Macbeth is considered one of Shakespeare's most dramatic characters, he's not a hero but he isn't a villain either. Macbeth had noble qualities as well as tragic flaws. Macbeth's feelings and actions towards certain things change throughout the scenes after evil pursued Macbeth's loyal and honest character. Macbeth's character has a rising and falling action with the weird sisters who plot against him. Throughout the scenes, Macbeth's appearance changed internally as he grew more and more ambitious for power. […]

The Tragedy of MacBeth

A tragedy is a literary work depicting serious events in which the main character, often high-ranking and dignified, comes to an unhappy end. Going off of this description, Macbeth aligns nearly perfectly. His snowballing misfortunes and fatal end meet the requirements of a modern tragic hero, but does he check off the exact boxes created by the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle when creating a true tragic hero? Shakespeare's lead character Macbeth is as Aristotle requires to be a tragic hero; […]

What is Significant about the Weather in Macbeth?

Awful weather has been an image of prohibiting something evil. Thunder and lighting of ten goes with villians in writing and more often than not sets the tone for a dim and discouraging scene, Macbeth is the same. Thunder and lighting is present all throughout the play as though blatenting denoting it's dull minutes. The image of terrible climate dependably portends awful things inside Shakespeare. Significance of The Witches in Macbeth The scene with three witches are the most noticeable; […]

Brutality and Treachery in Shakespeare’s Macbeth

The father of English drama, better known as William Shakespeare wrote Macbeth to view a perspective of ambition and bloodlust in exchange for a goal. Some great themes of Macbeth include great ambition or lust for power ultimately brings ruin, difference between kingship and tyranny and guilt haunts the guilty throughout the story progression Macbeth demonstrates the worst of what he and Lady Macbeth can become following these themes. With the themes being very prevalent as the story progresses make […]

Corruption and Violence in Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Throughout Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth the themes of corrupting power of power and the relationship of violence and masculinity are most occuring. The character development of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth overall skyrocketed between Duncan's death and Banquo's. The corruption of Macbeth was ultimately the downfall and, having the power he gained through murder was the breaking point/climax of the play. Violence was what lady macbeth brough to the table, telling macbeth over and over again that his masculinity wasn't […]

How Blood Changes Macbeth

In Macbeth, William Shakespeare, there is a lot of chaos going on and one of the main reasons for the chaos problems is the topic of blood. Macbeth shows a lot of different personalities in this play about the things that show the most change are how he acts. He changes by not really caring how other people may feel. In Macbeth, William Shakespeare blood is one of the main topics because it shows how much Macbeth has changed from […]

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Macbeth: Ambition, Paranoia, and Self-Fulfilling Prophesies Macbeth is an iconic tragedy by William Shakespeare, which borrows some key themes from a classic Athenian tragedy of Oedipus Rex. Apart from the evident similarities like the themes of self-fulfilling prophesy and paranoia, a Shakespearean tragedy about the bloody King of Scotland manages to uncover a variety of topics that are unique to the Renaissance worldview of the author. There’s probably not a single research paper on Macbeth that would not draw those clear parallels between the two iconic tragedies, but that’s not what we are here for. We are here to outline the key points of the story and discuss pivotal topics stressed by the author. It all starts with the main character being a prominent Scottish General who’s just won a decisive victory over invaders. On his way home and to meet the king, our hero stumbles upon a trio of witches who tell him he was going to become the King of Scots in case he kills the current king. Not being that kind of guy, Macbeth does not want to kill the king he’s been so loyal to for years. Lady Macbeth, though, has other plans. She plots the murder of a king and stages it all up in such a way as to ensure her husband being out of suspicion. Macbeth manages to become a king, but it all ends bitterly for our unlikely murderer of the king, and subsequently, the killer of many innocent people too. That’s not the end of the story though, and you might want to check other examples of essays on Macbeth including but not limited to Macbeth character analysis, persuasive essay, and argumentative essay examples. Looking for the Macbeth essay example? Check our website out, we have tons of those.

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