By the end of the play, his ambition has driven him to commit a series of horrendous acts that, once begun, he is powerless to stop. ... King Duncan awards Macbeth for his heroism by granting him a title which once belonged to the Thane of Cawdor, who sided with the enemy during war. ... Macbeth was announced King and the King's sons were suspected in the murder. ... Once suspicions of his involvement in Duncan's death arouse he planned to kill those who suspected him. ... Macbeth and Duncan meet, resulting in the death of Macbeth and the fall of the once revered hero. ...

• Word Count: 2980
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

"Macbeth" "Marquis de Luc de Clapiers Vauvenargues once said, "The greatest evil which fortune can inflict on men is to endow them with small talents and great ambition." ... [S] Initially, Macbeth is far from evil within: "Chance may crown me, without my stir," preferring to let fate lead his future. ... He is considered a very unjust king. ... He is willing to be swayed by his wife, but also has the force of character to follow difficult actions - like killing King Duncan - once he has been convinced. ... This line connects Macbeth with killing, in addition to hinting at the future. ...

• Word Count: 2918
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

The first things the witches say to Macbeth are prophecies, predictions for the future. ... Macbeth begins to get frightened of how he will become king. ... The next scene, scene 4, features Duncan, the King. ... But still he leaves the scene with a decision to act on what the future could hold. ... This relates to what Banquo said when he saw the witches for the first time: "By each at once her choppy finger laying Upon her skinny lips. ...

• Word Count: 2837
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

The King had an interest in theatre and overlooked the contents of the play. ... The King's escape may have influenced Shakespeare to contain this theme and show that anyone who tried to murder the King and take his divine right away would be killed. ... At the time it was also believed that Banquo was an ancestor of the King. ... The witches are also to blame as they start of this whole sequence of events leading to the Macbeth killing Duncan and his behaviour afterwards, as they equivocate about his future and deceive him. ... Once Banquo leaves there is another soliloquy, in which M...

• Word Count: 3194
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

That shalt be king hereafter."... So Macbeth and his wife decide to kill Duncan and Macbeth becomes the king. ... He is an honest and loyal friend that served the king. ... "Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all. ... Macbeth is eager to become king and wishes to reach his goal b! ...

• Word Count: 12917
• Approx Pages: 52
• Grade Level: High School

The latter notices, on the night of the king's death, that the stars are not shining, meaning that the murder does occur in complete darkness: "There's husbandry in heaven;/ Their candles are all out" (II.i.4-5). ... Indeed, once Banquo meets them, he questions them on their humanity: "What are these,/ So withered and so wild in their atire/ That look not like th" inhabitants o" this earth/ And yet are on "t? ... Had the witches never spoken to Macbeth about his future, he and his wife never would have got into their heads the idea that Macbeth may one day be king, and thus would not...

• Word Count: 2650
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

When MacDuff says "Shake off this downy sleep, death's counterfeit" (Act II, 3, 72-73), he is trying to rouse Banquo, Donalbain, and Malcolm to tell them that the king has been murdered in his sleep. ... Dreams are often veiled in mystery and portend future tragedy. ... After he murders the king, restful, nurturing, restorative sleep (the sleep of the innocent) is no longer available to Macbeth.He has violated his own moral code and soon everything will lose meaning, life will "Signify nothing.... The horror of his actions demands that he forgo any illusion of finding comf...

• Word Count: 2655
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School