... Macbeth agrees to kill Duncan at first, but then he wavers in his decision, but Lady Macbeth, convinced that Macbeth's truly desire was to be king, finds a way to manipulate him into killing Duncan by questioning his love for her and his manhood. After Macbeth has committed the deed, Lady Macbeth ... to Macbeth's ambition which drove him to his downfall. In 1606 when the play was written, James I had been king of England for three years, and it was known around England his fascination of the new king to witchcraft, Mr. Maroutous states, "Shakespeare might had tried to win his approval by...

• Word Count: 901
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Graduate

... that commences Macbeth's obsession for power occurs in Act 1, Scene 3 when the witches relay their prophecies to both him and Banquo, naming him "Thane of Glamis," "Thane of Cawdor" and "King Hereafter." Shakespeare portrays Macbeth to display initial disbelief in the news, indicated by his rhetorical question, "But how of Cawdor? " thus implying that he views their prophecies a folly, and is ... ...

• Word Count: 1065
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Graduate