William Shakespeare’s Macbeth Essay Example

the first time, considers the idea of murdering Duncan. He takes his first step to his downfall.Once again, the witches poison Macbeth's mind with over confidence.

Macbeth tries to find the witches in a dark cave. When he finds them, they present him with three apparitions, two of which ignite his confidence. These two apparitions are a bloody child and a child with a crown on his head, holding a tree. They told him "Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth," and "Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until Great Birnam wood to High Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him" (Act 4, Scene 1, Lines 85-87, 100-102).

These apparitions tell Macbeth that a man born of a woman cannot harm him and Macbeth cannot be harmed unless the forest of Birnam moves to Dunsinane. He assumes that all people are born of a woman and it is impossible for a forest to move. However, the child with crown is Malcolm with a branch from the Birnam Forest and the bloody child actually represents Macduff because he did not have a natural birth. He "was from his mother's womb Untimely ripp'd" (Act 5, Scene 8, Lines 19-20). Macduff was delivered prematurely, probably by Caesarian section.

Therefore, he was not technically born as a child.Nonetheless, Macbeth was clueless because when the witches presented the three apparitions to Macbeth, they showed them in such a way that Macbeth would misinterpret them. Therefore, he thought he was invincible so he made outrageous decisions that would lead to his brutal death at the end of the play. It was

Macbeth's free will, incorporated with the influence of the witch's prophesises, which would lead to his end. Macbeth's vaulting ambition for power pushes him to take many innocent lives. He begins his murder spree by murdering Duncan and commits many other murders to keep his true face hidden from the public.

He does not want to lose the kingship and he would do anything to retain it. After murdering many people and becoming King of Scotland, Macbeth is not fully satisfied. He remembers that the witches had some predictions for Banquo when they first met. "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none" (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 70). Macbeth feels that "To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus" (Act 3, Scene 1, Lines 52-53).

In other words, it means that to be king as he is now means nothing to him because he is not in a secure position. He feels insecure because he has a "fruitless crown, and ... barren sceptre in my [his] gripe" (Act 3, Scene 1.

Lines 65-66).He does not have any son to succeed him and feels that every king should or else his reign is meaningless. In order to solve this problem, Macbeth has Banquo and his son Fleance murdered, so that Banquo will never have sons that will be kings. Banquo's murder is an example of Macbeth's uncontrollable ambition because Banquo went from being one of Macbeth's close friends to an enemy because of Macbeth lust for power. The killing of Macduff's family also illustrates that Macbeth is desperate to keep his kingship.

In Macbeth's second meeting with the witches, he is told to beware of

Macduff by the apparition. Up to this point Macbeth is suspicious of Macduff. He feels that he is plotting against him and has a "servant fee'd" in the home of Macduff as a spy (Act 3, Scene 4, Line 132). After finding out from the apparitions that Macduff will be indeed a real threat, Macbeth has his whole family brutally slaughtered. The pointless death of Macduff's family proves that Macbeth fears Macduff and thinks that the death of his loved ones will show his power and thus deter Macduff's intentions towards Macbeth.

Their deaths gave him an extra sense of security. Macbeth's constant dissatisfaction is caused by his hungry ambition that grows throughout the play. This contributes to his ruin because in order to obtain all that he wants, he sends a wave terror through Scotland, which upsets its people. In the end, those that he did wrong defeat him. Macduff gets his revenge for Macbeth's actions and Malcolm claims his rightful place as king.

Macbeth is a murderer and does not fit to be king. He does not obtain the characteristics of a good king.He "have [has] none: the king-becoming graces, As justice, verity, temperance, stableness ... patience, courage .

.. " (Act 4, Scene 3 Lines 103-106). Macbeth is an impulsive individual.

"The very firstlings of my heart shall be The very firstlings of my hand" (Act 4, Scene 1, Lines 161-162). Macbeth says that he will act as soon as he has an idea. In other words, he will act on impulse. This is not a quality to treasure because a king needs to have patience. The king needs to carefully plan and maintain

order in his country.That is the main responsibility of a king, which Macbeth is not fulfilling at all.

This attitude of his influences him to do many evil deeds. Macduff's family was slaughtered because of this way of thinking. Macduff controlled his anger and now he wanted to kill Macbeth. Instead of hurting Macduff's determination, the murder of his family increased his determination of bringing the downfall of Macbeth.

Macbeth completely forgot about his nation. He became so self-centered that he could not take care of his country.While he is getting ready for war, he tells the doctor that the "thanes fly from me" and asks him to "cast The water of my land, find her disease And purge it to a sound and pristine health," (Act 5, Scene 3, Lines 57, 58-60). Macbeth is asking the doctor to rid Scotland of Macbeth.

In other words, Macbeth is the reason why Scotland is in such an unpleasant shape. He does not care much about the country. The issues that concern him are the kingship and retaining absolute power. Macbeth could have become a good king if he chose the country to be his main concern.However, he thought the title of being King was more important then managing a country. Therefore, he entered the war with his servants (who he forced to fight) because all the noblemen and generals of Scotland had left him.

He did not have enough support to win the war. That is why he lost the war and Macduff beheaded him. His priorities were out of tune, thus resulting in his defeat. In conclusion, Macbeth was not led down a path drawn

by fate.

However, he spontaneously chose his actions, which resulted in his demise.The three witches, his wild ambition and his inability to be an adequate King were a part of his downfall but Macbeth chose to incorporate these factors. The choice to stand up for his beliefs and to decline others in the play is always there, but he constantly chooses the wrong path, which ultimately declares him responsible for his downfall. The play Macbeth teaches people a lesson. People have to live in the present world and not worry too much about the future.

Trying to predict the future could cause disastrous incidents, as shown in Macbeth. Allow the future to unfold itself without any interference.