Macbeth Symbolism

Blood Probably the most critical symbol in the play, blood symbolizes the guilt of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. It is associated with stains and signs of misdeeds which cannot be washed away or stains which would spread to everything it touches. Blood is also the symbol of natural order. The proper bloodline of kings, when … Read more

Macbeth Quotations and Analysis

“Yet do I fear thy nature, It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way.” Act I, scene v. Spoken by Lady Macbeth as she reads a letter from her husband explaining the prophecy of the witches. She fears he is too influenced by human kindness to simply take the … Read more

Macbeth Important Themes

The Corruption of Ambition We see evidence throughout the play that Macbeth is by nature a brave soldier and one who adheres to duty. However, once ambition in the form of the witches’s prophecy and the influence of his wife begin to overtake his natural tendencies, he tends toward murder and violent usurpation. Lady Macbeth … Read more

Macbeth Characters Analysis

Macbeth Macbeth is a powerful and capable general and soldier. However, he falls prey to ambition and he is easily influenced as soon as the prophecy which leads to him becoming Thane of Cawdor comes true. From this point on he is under the easy influence of Lady Macbeth and is compelled to commit murder. … Read more

Macbeth Introduction and Summary

One of Shakespeare’s shorter tragedies, Macbeth is based on a historical king of Scotland. Although some of the basic facts in the play are true to history, the murder of the king for example, Shakespeare largely wrote the play as an entertaining tragic story rather than a historical document. The play is a tale of ambition, revenge, … Read more

The tragedy Macbeth

The three witches in the tragedy Macbeth are introduced right at the beginning of the play. They recount to Macbeth three prophesies. That Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis and King. These prophesies introduce Macbeth to ideas of greatness. Macbeth will eventually follow through on killing king Duncan, a destruction of the … Read more

The tragedy MacBeth

Everyone who is mortal has at least one flaw. Some are more serious than others. For example, some people have addictions to gambling, while other people can’t remember to put the milk away after they use it. After a while  though, a person’s flaws come back to haunt them. The tragedy MacBeth is no exception … Read more

Macbeth As A Tragic Hero

Shakespeare uses many forms of imagery in his plays. Imagery, the art of making images, the products of imagination. In the play Macbeth Shakespeare applies the imagery of clothing, darkness and blood. Each detail in his imagery contains an important symbol of the play. These symbols need to be understood in order to interpret the … Read more

Macbeth’s five major acts

Macbeth consists of five major acts, each with a variation of scenes. The story tells of one man’s quest for dominance in the Scottish monarchy structure, and how his future becomes a twisted paradox that brings him nothing but trouble. In the first act, Macbeth is visited by two witches that tell him prophecies of … Read more

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Macbeth by William Shakespeare has three characters that appear to be the best developed. The first is Macbeth, the main character of the story. The second most developed character is Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s wife. The third most well developed is Banquo, Macbeth’s friend. Banquo and Lady Macbeth play very important roles in Macbeth’s life. Macbeth … Read more

Macbeth: Death and the Supernatural

Throughout William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, many characters evolve and many disappear into the background. The main character, Macbeth, travels through utter chaos when he proclaims himself monarch. When he first meets the witches of the supernatural, they tell him of the future. One of the themes amplified throughout the play is the circle of life, from … Read more

Macbeth and Metaphysics

The Three witches in the tragedy Macbeth are introduced right at the beginning of the play. They tell Macbeth three prophesies, he will be Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glams and King. These prophesies introduce him to ideas of greatness. Macbeth will eventually follow through on killing king Duncan. This brings into the play, idea … Read more

Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth

In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, the characters and the roles they play are critical to its plot and theme, and therefore many of Shakespeare’s characters are well developed and complex. Two of these characters are the protagonist, Macbeth, and his wife, Lady Macbeth. They play interesting roles in the tragedy, and over the course of the … Read more

Macbeth – Conflict Essay

Prior to deciding whether or not conflict is central to the dramatic development of MACBETH, one must consider all the dramatic factors that contribute to the Shakespearean play. The gradual decline of the protagonist , the role portrayed by characters and the order in which the events occur, greatly influence the direction in which the … Read more

The Supernatural in Macbeth

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, specific scenes focus the readers’ attention to the suspense and involvement of the supernatural. The use of witches, apparitions and ghosts provide important elements in making the play interesting. Examining certain scenes of the play, it can be determined that as supernatural occurrences develop, Macbeth reflects a darker self-image. Macbeth experiences his … Read more

Macbeth: Tragic Hero

The following is an essay on how the character of Macbeth serves as an example of a tragic hero in Shakespeares Macbeth. His tragic decision stems from the influence of a tragic flaw. Once he has made the decision, it is irreversible, and produces his downfall. In an attempt to save himself, the tragic hero … Read more

The play Macbeth

In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as the normal man at first. Through his skills as a warrior, his friendship with Banquo and his loyalty to Duncan, Macbeth attempts to be the everyday man. As the play develops, however, Macbeth becomes over ambitious and power hungry. Like the book A Simple Plan, where people … Read more

Evil Was Defined By Human Preoccupation

For centuries evil was defined by human preoccupation, and it was often indicated in the English literature. From Beowulf to Macbeth, peoples perception on the nature of evil had matured and became more complex. In Beowulfs period, evil was simply defined based on outer appearances and actions. The author of Beowulf described the evil Grendel … Read more

The Importance of Night in “Macbeth”

When I thought about the role that the word “night” would play in the tragic play “Macbeth,” I found that there were a variety of possibilities. Immediately, I thought of the nighttime as a period of rest and revitalization. I expected that this would allow characters to recover from the day’s many demands. Secondly, I … Read more

Blind Ambition in Macbeth

Throughout the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the reasoning of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is completely subverted and undermined by their insatiable ambition. Macbeth was at first reasonable enough to keep his ambition in check, however it eventually became to strong for even Macbeth and therefor over powered him. To the contrary, Lady Macbeth was … Read more

Evil in Women and its Effect on Macbeth

“… My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man that function Is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is But what is not. ” (1. 3. 140-143). Throughout Shakespeare’s play, we see that Macbeth is the victim of evil seduction by women. In the above quote the evil is … Read more

Macbeth – The Importance of the Witches

The witches in Macbeth are very important in the plot and develop certain aspects of the play. They make greater the theatrical experience with images of darkness, thunder and lightning that make Macbeth the tragedy it is. Their actions also add to the play, dancing round the cauldron and chanting Double, double. Their appearance as … Read more

Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth

In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, the characters and the roles they play are critical to its plot and theme, and therefore many of Shakespeare’s characters are well developed and complex. Two of these characters are the protagonist, Macbeth, and his wife, Lady Macbeth. They play interesting roles in the tragedy, and over the course of the … Read more

Independence And Failure In Macbeth

Peasants of the early sixteenth century are often pictured carrying a bundle of limbs tied with vines on their backs. This is a perfect metaphor for the events in Macbeth. Macbeth is one of many thanes, or limbs, bundled together. The thanes are united by the king, or the vine. Scotland, or the peasant, carries … Read more

Macbeth As A Tragedy

William Shakespeare is the noted author of a vast array of plays, ranging from comedies to histories to tragedies. Perhaps one of his most famous in the tragedy genre is Macbeth. Though Shakespeare can be considered as a scholar in the sense that he was both a renowned and prolific playwright, look back a few … Read more

Macbeth – The Importance Of The Witches

The witches in Macbeth are very important in the plot and develop certain aspects of the play. They make greater the theatrical experience with images of darkness, thunder and lightning that make Macbeth the tragedy it is. Their actions also add to the play, dancing round the cauldron and chanting Double, double’. Their appearance as … Read more

Macbeth – Scene Analysis

“Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be What thou art promised; yet do I fear thy nature, It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst … Read more

Macbeth And Lord Jim: Compare

Realization of one’s imminent death can drastically change an individual. Knowing that death is imminent can change the way we look at things, and cause us to confess our sins. In Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad and Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the main characters experience this trauma. The instant that Jim jumps from the Patna, … Read more

Macbeth – Fate or Free Choice

In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth’s destiny is determined by the choices he makes. The first hint to the reader of Macbeth’s choices comes as a warning from Banquo to Macbeth about believing the witches, or Weird Sisters. Once Macbeth starts to believe the witches, this belief facilitates his decisions to take certain actions. Macbeth’s … Read more

Macbeth: A Tale of Two Theories

Macbeth(c. 1607), written by William Shakespeare, is the tragic tale of Macbeth, a virtuous man, corrupted by power and greed. This tragedy could in fact be called “A Tale of Two Theories”. One theory suggests that the tragic hero, Macbeth, is led down an unescapable road of doom by an outside force, namely fate in … Read more

William Shakespeare’s tragically play Macbeth

In this essay I will explore and explain one of William Shakespeare’s tragically play Macbeth. In this aspect is that of the three Weird Sisters. These three secret black, and midnight hags” (Mac IV. i 47), hardly noticeable as humans, serve a huge dramatic function in the play. Closely looking at Macbeth, one can distinguish … Read more

The William Shakespeare play Macbeth

The William Shakespeare play Macbeth, depicted Macbeth as a loyal subject of King Duncan and his homeland of Scotland. Duncan was so pleased with Macbeths actions during the war that he was named the Thane of Cawdor, a title not far from king. Soon after, he wrote a letter to his wife that would make … Read more

Macbeth: Independence and Failure

Peasants of the early sixteenth century are often pictured carrying a bundle of limbs tied with vines on their backs. This is a perfect metaphor for the events in Macbeth. Macbeth is one of many thanes, or limbs, bundled together. The thanes are united by the king, or the vine. Scotland, or the peasant, carries … Read more

The play “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare

As one goes through life, many things shape personality and alter the direction one takes in life. These things usually take the form of events that one can look back on and evaluate; one may say, “I knew I wanted to become [a writer, painter, king]… here,” or wish one could go back and do … Read more

Chaos and Macbeth

Macbeth(c. 1607), written by William Shakespeare, is the tragic tale of Macbeth, a virtuous man, corrupted by power and greed. This tagedy could in fact be called “A Tale of Two Theories”. One theory suggests that the tragic hero, Macbeth, is led down an unescapable road of doom by an outside force, namely fate in … Read more

The relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

The tragic downfall of Macbeth was not determined by one single cause but rather caused by a combination of three dark forces: supernatural, external and internal. The three witches and their dark powers represent the supernatural forces. Lady Macbeth acts as Macbeth’s external force, pushing him towards the bloody deeds. Macbeth’s own ambition and inner … Read more

The Witches Role in Macbeth

The three witches in the tragedy Macbeth are introduced right at the beginning of the play. They recount to Macbeth three prophesies. That Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis and King. These prophesies introduce Macbeth to ideas of greatness. Macbeth will eventually follow through on killing king Duncan, a destruction of the … Read more

Independence and Failure

Peasants of the early sixteenth century are often pictured carrying a bundle of limbs tied with vines on their backs. This is a perfect metaphor for the events in Macbeth. Macbeth is one of many thanes, or limbs, bundled together. The thanes are united by the king, or the vine. Scotland, or the peasant, carries … Read more

William Shakespeares Macbeth

There are many forms of imagery in the world today. They usually take on two main forms, those being visual and mental. Word means different thing to different people. The Websters Dictionary defines it as, in rhetoric, representations in writing or speaking; lively descriptions which impress the images of things on the mind; figures in … Read more

Macbeth – Manipulation Essay

When we first hear about Macbeth from the sergeants report, we are led to believe that he is very much a person who does only what he believes is right. Furthermore, when he first appears in the play, his fellow nobleman, Banquo, accompanies him. Given this, we would think that he does what is right, … Read more

Dramatic Irony in Macbeth

Introduction William Shakespeare effectively uses dramatic irony to intrigue the reader and deepen the impact of the consequences Macbeth ultimately faces. Dramatic Irony Definition: Dramatic Irony is a literary term that defines a situation in the play where the reader knows more than the character does. Thesis: Throughout the play Macbeth, the reader is given the … Read more

Macbeth Analysis Essay

People have a hard time getting what they want; in fact, the things they want can be incompatible with each other. A German physicist named Werner Heisenberg discovered an analogous phenomenon with his uncertainty principle. Studying matter at the atomic level, quantum physics, he realized that the act of measuring affected the object being measured. … Read more

A Flaming Lobster is Linked to Medussa Macbeth is Linked to Himself

Many children are constantly trying to find new ways to entertain themselves. One might suggest that rollerblading as fast as possible and jumping off a deck would be a great possibility for pleasure. Well, this has happened in the past, and the results have mostly been broken bones. Ultimately its the choice of the youngster … Read more

Macbeth: Appearance vs Reality

The way people act on the outside and who they really are on the inside may be two totally different things. Some may change because they feel they don’t fit in. Others pretend to be something they truly aren’t. No matter which way you look at it, if you try to act like someone your … Read more

Macbeth and his Lady

A perfect pair, almost the same. Macbeth and his Lady stood witty and strong. Their two faces of innocence were an immaculate cover-up for their cruel intentions. A nightmare alone, Macbeth realizes what he has committed. A little help from Lady sent his poor soul into the darkness of evil, for she has a heart … Read more

Macbeth: Power Is The Paradox

People have a hard time getting what they want; in fact, the things they want can be incompatible with each other. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the protagonist is lured to murder the king, Duncan, by the desire for power, an appetite honed by witch’s prophecies and his wife’s encouragement. But when he reaches the kingship, he … Read more

Macbeth a “tragic hero”

Macbeth is the epitome of what the literary world regards a “tragic hero”. His admirable qualities are supplanted with greed and hate when he is duped by the three witches. Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches. Yes, it is the first scene from William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a tragic tale of one man’s quest for power … Read more

A Tale of Two Theories

Macbeth(c. 1607), written by William Shakespeare, is the tragic tale of Macbeth, a virtuous man, corrupted by power and greed. This tragedy could in fact be called “A Tale of Two Theories”. One theory suggests that the tragic hero, Macbeth, is led down an unescapable road of doom by an outside force, namely fate in … Read more