Change Is Inevitable
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Q. “Change is inevitable.”
To what extent is this true of the texts you have studied? In your answer refer to your prescribed text and one piece of related material.
Macbeth tells the story of the eventual downfall of a once great and noble thane of Scotland – whose ambition to become king drives him to commit evil deeds. Assisted by the manipulation of the three witches and also by his seemingly innocent wife, Macbeth falls into a psychological trap from which he cannot escape. During his reign of tyranny, and the lead up to it, he murders several people including women and children and the King himself. From the beginning of the play there is a tension within Macbeth between whom he is, what he wants and what he must do to gain it. Macbeths ambition and ruthless determination to achieve his goal of kingship is the vehicle for inevitable self-change that also results in his changing perspective.
Change is a process of transition that is neither simple nor sudden – particularly in a psychological change. Shakespeare makes this change in the play increasingly clear through the use of soliloquys by various characters. Soliloquys are the key to understanding how Macbeth has changed throughout the play. In Macbeths case, an evident comparison can be made clear through the juxtaposition of his soliloquys from the beginning of the play against that of those towards the end. A noticeable change can be seen as he undergoes a transformation from being a rational thinker to one whose paranoia and distrust of others gives way to all logical and rational thought. It is mainly through Macbeths soliloquys that we are able to gain real insight into the inner workings of his mind and explore the psychological effects of such monumental changes upon him.
The three witches, though being only present in several scenes, play an integral role in the series of events that unfold during the play. In their first meeting with Macbeth and Banquo, the witches reveal to the duo their destinies. It is in this scene from which Macbeths seed of ambition is planted. The witches prophesized that Macbeth would become king . This new piece of knowledge is one of the most vital factors for the inevitable change that takes place within Macbeth.
After having heard this news, Macbeth confesses to Banquo “if chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me. Without my stir.” This idea is soon set-aside after revealing to his wife – Lady Macbeth – of the witches prophecy. She is also another factor in the inevitable change that is brought about by the prophecy. Her accusation of cowardice, “brave enough to want it but not brave enough to act on it,” is enough to shift Macbeths doubts about killing Duncan in order to attain the throne. The Kings murder sets off a series of events that