Essay Topic: Macbeth is a villain in whom there is little to admire. Do you think this is an appropriate comment on Macbeth's character?.
The assertion that Macbeth is a villain in whom there is little to admire is extreme and does not reflect the whole truth. While, by the end of the play Macbeth is indeed a villain of the worst sort and while it would not have happened but for the choices he made, he is but a man and as a man he has weaknesses. Unfortunately the extraordinary circumstances caused those weaknesses to be amplified exponentially.
A villain can be defined as a wicked or evil person, or a dramatic or fictional character who is typically at odds with the hero. In the case of Macbeth, either definition may be appropriate, for Macbeth does become a wicked and evil person and by the end of the play is at odds with the hero, himself.
The witches played an important part in Macbeth's fall from grace but interestingly, at first, the only supernatural thing they did was predicting that Macbeth would be Thane of Cawdor. This is because it would have been relatively common knowledge that he was Thane of Glam due to the death of his father and it was Macbeth's actions that made him king. The witches simply pointed him in that direction. An interesting thought is that the witches needed no magic to manipulate a will as weak as Macbeth's. At the time they told him the fate of Cawdor had already been decided - all they needed was to find out before Macbeth. .
"No more the thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest. Go and pronounce his present death and with his former title greet Macbeth" Act I scene ii. This happens before the witches "predict" that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor. .
"All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor All hail MacBeth! that shalt be king hereafter!" Act I Scene iii. Chronologically, their prediction was made after the fate of Cawdor was decided, so the witches needed only good sources of information or an understanding of the ways king Duncan might settle the problem of Glamis.
Macbeth enters, attired as king. He is followed by Lady Macbeth, now his queen, and the court. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth ask Banquo to attend the feast they will host that night. ... The witches also declare that Macbeth will be king one day. ... Macbeth fixates on the details of the prophecy. ...
Macbeth Macbeth's downfall was generated by a combination of factors. These include Macbeth's greed, ambition, over confidence and Lady Macbeth's suspicious behavior. ... This track of thought leads Macbeth to kill Banquo. ... Damned fact how it did greave Macbeth! ... This is proof that lady Macbeth's undisciplined tongue aroused suspicion and contributed to Macbeth's downfall. ...
Macbeth is tragic play written by William Shakespeare in early 1606. ... Afterwards as Macbeth informs his wife about the three predictions he has learnt, she expresses herself more ambitious than Macbeth. ... When Lady Macbeth has no choice then she uses her tactics to stop Macbeth wimping out of Duncan's murder. ... As the witches warn Macbeth to be aware of Macduff. ... He is also weak before Lady Macbeth. ...
Throughout the play, Macbeth becomes more impaintent, secretive, and paranoid. ... Macbeth is not living in reality because when an equivocation is placed in front of him, "All hail, Macbeth! ... However, in the end his arrogance will cost Macbeth his life. Throughout the meetings between the witches and Macbeth, no lies were told. ... All the venom and evil in the play are always located in Macbeth's mind. ...
In the play "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare the protagonist Macbeth mindset changes throughout the play with certain events that influence his mentality. Macbeth undergoes a transformation, which changes his belief and opinions about his King. ... This perspective is altered once Macbeth interacts with the three witches. ... Macbeth after committing the murder of Duncan feels guilt from his crime. ... This is the transformed Macbeth who has nothing left to lose but his life. ...
In Shakespeare's play Macbeth, Macbeth is no pawn of fate. ... The prophecy of Macbeth becoming Thane of Cawdor had already come true, enhancing Macbeth's aspirations of becoming king. ... But, Macbeth was never destined to kill anyone. ... The three Weird sisters played a part within Macbeth's destiny, for they were the ones who foretold Macbeth's future. ... Macbeth knew what he was doing. ...
By offering to Macbeth the idea of power, the witches push Macbeth to the next level of greed and evil that did not exist prior to the encounter. ... This apparition confuses and frightens Macbeth. ... The dagger symbolizes the point of no return for Macbeth. ... Macbeth fears Banquo due to his prophecy to father kings, so Macbeth proceeds to plot the murder of his once friend, which spurs yet another brush with the supernatural. ... The use of supernatural in Macbeth caused Macbeth to become a darker and more evil person with each paranormal encounter. ...
"All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter." ... Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth." ... The apparition also ceases Macbeth's ability to think things through. ... This sure did kick the last leg out from under Macbeth's not so sturdy table. Macbeth's death shows that the witches were some bad dudes. ...
