Macbeth
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In the beginning of, Macbeth, the Macbeths cared for each other. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both were secure with their relationship and each other. They also trusted one another very much. “Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor! Greater than both by the all-hail hereafter! This ignorant present, and I feel now the future is the instant” (Lady Macbeth Act 1, Scene 5, Line 53-58). This quote is showing how excited Lady Macbeth was to see her husband and if she only cared for herself she would not be excited to see him. Towards the end of the play their caring for each other starts to unravel and crumble but any relationship put under the pressure of murder and scandal will start to fall apart and become more distant than it was before.
The witches picked Macbeth as their victim because they could tell that he would be a gullible easy target. “If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir.” (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3, Line 142-143). This quote is from right after the witches tell Macbeth his fate and the witched word’s go right to his head. Banquo would have not served the same purpose as Macbeth because he did not believe what the witches said. “Might yet enkindle you unto the crown besides the thane of cawdor. But вЂ?tis strange; and oftentimes, to us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths.” (Banquo, Act 1, scene 3, line 120). This quote is showing that Banquo is not believing what the witches said and he that he thinks the witches are just a joke.
Shakespeare puts double meanings throughout the play to make the reader think about the situations and to foreshadow what will happen. “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater”( The Witches; Act 1, Scene 3, Line 64) The Witches are saying that Banquo will not be equal to Macbeth and will be less powerful, but in the end Banquo will have greater power. “Not so happy, yet much happier.” (The witches; Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 65) Banquo will not be happy, but in the end he will be much happier than Macbeth. “Thou shall get kinds, though thou be none.” (The Witches; Act 1, Scene 3, Line 66) The witches tell Banquo in this last quote that his children will be king even though he will not be.
Macbeth would not have become king if he had not killed Duncan. Malcolm was next in line for becoming king, and Macbeth couldn’t have changed that if he did not kill Duncan which led to Malcolm fleeing.
Fleance, after his father is killed, is in hiding. His father must have told him why Macbeth would want him dead and that would convince him to stay safe.
Literary Elements
It is ironic that Lady Macbeth killed herself because of how much she wanted to gain power. When Lady Macbeth finds out in Act 1 that she has the chance to be queen by her husband, Macbeth, becoming king. “Come to my woman’s breasts and take my milk for gall.” (Act 1, Scene 5, Line 45) Lady Macbeth is willing to do whatever it takes to become queen, even if that means killing the current king and his descendents. At the end of the play, when Lady Macbeth kills herself, she ruins all the work that she did before in order to become queen.
The theme of the play is that you shouldn’t fool around with fate. Macbeth believes the witches and by killing Duncan, he changed his fate. After becoming so wrapped up in the murders and the power, it leads to his death. “ Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife!” (Act 4, Scene 1, Lines 70-71) Even after being warned about Macduff, Macbeth still goes on as if nothing can stop him. Macbeth is a foolish character.
Macbeth’s tragic flaw is that he believes whatever he is told. In Act 1, the witches tell Macbeth that he will be thane of Cawdor and eventually he will become king. When the first prediction comes true, Macbeth is convinced that no matter