The play Macbeth was written in the beginning of the 1600’s. This was a time of religion and great beliefs in things that we today would feel was stupid and irresponsible. A main topic that people in the 1600’s were fearful and afraid of were witches and anything that they felt was associated with witches, such as lightning & thunder.

When the play came out originally and was first viewed, audiences were afraid of all the witchcraft in the play. Some even believed that they were being affected by the scenes of witchcraft that they were seeing! James 1 was a great influence on this play because Shakespeare wrote it especially for him. Shakespeare knew James 1 interest in witchcraft and so involved this into Macbeth.

In the play, the first time we meet Macbeth is when he is approached by the witches. The witches tell Macbeth of future happenings, and cloud his thoughts and confuse him. The witches speak in rhyme and rhthm and riddles – ‘foul is fair and fair is foul’. This basical

Macbeth had been told by the witches that he was going to be king, and that Banquos’ son was going to be King after Macbeth. If Macbeth had not conversed with these wenches, then the thoughts of Macbeth which follow from now on in the play would not have been present.

When Macbeth returns to the room with his wife, he is distraught and upset, he has brought the dagger back accidentally – this is another key to Macbeths’ state of mind. We now come across a very wicked side of Lady Macbeth, she is mad and angry that Macbeth brought the daggers back and she then proceeds in taking it back herself. She is still influencing everything Macbeth does.

Soon after this, Lady Macbeth invites the king to dine with them and spend the night with them. Macbeth, after having been persuaded greatly, starts to perhaps think of the idea now as a good one, and doesn’t appose it as much. Macbeth knows that this would be his greatest sin, and it could not be forgiven. Macbeth is still being influenced by Lady Macbeth and the witches.

ly tells us that all the nice people Macbeth is associated with are trouble, and vice versa. Another statement made by the withes is - ‘All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter.’ This statement confuses Macbeth as he, without his knowledge has been crowned Thane of Cawdor. The witches tell Macbeth this, they then tell him of his possible kingship.

Again this shows us that the witches are playing a part in all of this blasphemy. Also when Macbeth departs and hears the guards praying, and cannot say AMEN, it tells us that Macbeth is perhaps on his way to hell, and his mind state is deteriorating slowly but surely, and that this act would drive him insane…slowly.

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