The force of evil in the world, specifically minions of Satan, was a real factor in Elizabethan and Jacobean times. Discuss the play MacBeth in the context of the immanent presence of witchcraft in Jacobean England.
Response.
To many, William Shakespeare's "MacBeth" is a play about demonic betrayal and evil misconceptions. In the play, three witches approach the main character being MacBeth with prophetic knowledge of his near future and his immediate royalty; more specifically him becoming Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis and King of Scotland. Shortly after his encounter with the witches he is pronounced Thane of Cawdor and due to this knowledge, Macbeth believes in all of the prophecies therefore committing regicide in order to become King faster. By caving in to the pressure, Macbeth then kills the previous king being King Duncan while he is sleeping soundly in his bed, and is declared King a few hours after framing the guards for the murder. After this happened, Macbeth's figures that Banquo and his son pose a threat to his new power so he orders two assassins to kill them. Banquo's son, is able to escape the assassination while Banquo himself is not so lucky. Soon after, Macbeth is haunted by Banquo's ghost during a commemorative gathering celebrating his success. This in turn sends off alarms for a few of Macbeth's rivals; Malcolm, and Macduff who already had a feeling that MacBeth had more to do with Duncan's death that what anyone else was aware of. The sighting of Banquo's ghost causes Macbeth to seek out the three witches again, becoming delusional and drugged while being told:.
First Apparition:.
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff!.
Beware of Thane of Fife! Dismiss me. Enough. .
Second Apparition:.
Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth –.
Macbeth:.
Had I three ears, I'd hear thee.
Second Apparition:.
Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn.
The power of man, for none woman born.
Shall harm Macbeth.