... from his reaction to Duncan's earlier death, as he is truly disturbed by the ghost of Banquo. Although he has tried to shut Lady Macbeth out of his plot to kill Banquo, Macbeth still relies on her to protect him so that she has to ask the guests at the feast to "feed and regard him ... had so much blood on him" (V.I.41-42), and says "the Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?" (V.I.44-45). Lady Macbeth feels as if she will never escape the guilt consuming her over these deaths, saying "here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will ... not sweeten this little...

• Word Count: 1877
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... good qualities bring him to the status he enjoys at the beginning of the play his 'vaulting ambition' (I.vii) exemplifies his less desirable characteristics. Macbeth cannot be discussed as either purely heroic or villainous; the complexity of his character is illustrated by his violent inner conflict which arises from the ... the prospect of belief.' This is a sign of his reservations about the actions he may have to undertake. It is soon afterwards, however, that Macbeth's ambition begins to show itself as he does whatever he can to ensure the prophecy ' thou shalt be king hereafter.' ...

• Word Count: 2112
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... not to understand such jokes and comments of these, but deep down, you could hear their laughter. The initial question asked is a perhaps yes and no answer. Macbeth was a great warrior and a high classed member of the army - "who like a good hardy soldier fought "gainst my captivity: hail brave friend;" When Duncan announces ... to the thrown. This perhaps makes the audience question the king and his decisions because the rightful heir to the thrown should indeed be Macbeth. When meeting with the witches, Macbeth is crowned Thane of Cawdor and doesn't know it yet. When meeting the witche...

• Word Count: 1518
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... hither,/ That I may pour my spirits in thine ear,/And chastise with the valor of my tongue/ All that impedes thee from the golden round." Lady Macbeth's infamous unsex me speech shows how ambitious she is. She calls on spirits with murderous thoughts to make her less like a woman, and more like a man. ... face,/ Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums,/And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you/ Have done to this."(I, vii) Macbeth then asks what would happen if they failed. She said that if he gets his courage up, and she gets the king's servants drunk, there is ... , ii) Sh...

• Word Count: 1415
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... , / Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, / Who should against his murderer shut the door, / Not bear the knife myself" (I.vii.12-16). Macbeth then says, "Besides, this Duncan / Hath born his faculties so meek, hath been / So clear in his great office, that his virtues / Will plead like angles, ... is good at remaining cool in tense situations and is good at getting out of tense situations. For example, when Macbeth was hallucinating at the dinner party, and was seeing Banqou's ghost, Lady Macbeth remained cool and made up a plausible explanation for her husband's actions. Alt...

• Word Count: 1010
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... with the act. Therefore, she uses her husband's vulnerability to persuasion to achieve her dreams. The relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth is based on political triumphs, not love.Lady Macbeth often accuses her husband of talking but not carrying through his ambitions. Although, she often talks about becoming queen ... completely aware of the consequences of urdering Duncan, but she disregards them. Before the murder she calls night to cover up the murder. Lady Macbeth at least can acknowledge that the murder is wrong and immoral by calling down darkness to hide her murder. She...

• Word Count: 888
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... , 143-145). For the first time in the story, we see a dark side to the brave and courageous Macbeth. Macbeth sees himself kill his ruler. Macbeth is horrified by the idea but his thoughts of going after his destiny still remain. Another example of Macbeth's early thoughts of treachery occurs when Duncan formally names his son Malcom as his successor. "Stars, hide your fires ... vexed at the Duncan's choice of successor and wishes to overleap the situation with murder. No one helps Macbeth's thoughts to prepare for the murder of Duncan. It is Macbeth and Macbeth only who is responsible fo...

• Word Count: 885
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... a possession, they have control and can be viewed as the arbiter of one thing or another. Throughout the play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is controlled by three witches and also his wife. Macbeth has a free will to choose to do what he wants but he frequently chooses to do what others want or predict ... to predict. He says to them, "Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more."(73) This is where the witches begin to gain control over Macbeth (Gilleland, 21). This is known because he doesn't want them to leave and wants to know more about what he will become, and he a...

• Word Count: 1236
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... that evil is present and also signifies rebellion in the kingdom. As the witches are talking in riddles and rhymes Macbeths name is mentioned. This suggests that Macbeth is cursed right from the very beginning as he has already been associated with the evil of the witches. Because the audience would have known this they ... even entered his head and the evil had no effect on him until he hears that he is Thane of Cawdor and the first prophecy had come true. Macbeth starts to think that if one came true then the others could to. However he tries to deny this and calls the thoughts "horrid...

• Word Count: 1443
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... afraid and Lady Macbeth comes to his rescue. She convinces Macbeth and everyone else that everything is ok. Macbeth is still leaning on Lady Macbeth. Again Macbeth visits the witches and again he is given a prophecy. "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff!/ Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me: enough." Macbeth is told to beware Macduff (IV.i.71)."Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Be bloody, ... life is already consumed by guilt and sorrow and he believes that he can't get any deeper in it. In the End of the story Macbeth's wife dies. I think that at this point he realizes that there will ...

• Word Count: 757
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... did things to their fellow workers to get them in trouble so they could get higher on the latter at work. The characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in the play did everything wrong by believing the witches prophecies and becoming greedy to advance in life by killing Duncan themselves. So, which ... was more ruthless Macbeth or Lady Macbeth? In act I, Macbeth's tragic flaw is having too much ambition. He has indecision about killing King Duncan because he says that he is his kin, Duncan ... of King Duncan's death will cause the people to go crazy and riots will break out. But Lady Macbeth ...

• Word Count: 831
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... took to become king. But the entire plot of the play started with the witches prophesies of things to come for Macbeth and Banquo. The destruction of Macbeth was partly due to this ambition. It is Macbeth's greed that lends itself to Macbeth killing Duncan. He is at war within himself, his conscience versus ambition. His greed leads him to succumb to commit evil ... path which he believed would bring him greater glory. "My thought, whose murder is yet but fantastical, shakes so my single state of man, that function is smothered in surmise- Macbeth realizes that evil leads to more evil "...

• Word Count: 612
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... He wanted to know more about his future and more importantly, how was it that he would eventually become King. However, the witches vanish and leave Macbeth's questions unanswered. Macbeth's ambition first starts to show when the witches" premonition about him becoming the Thane of Cawdor comes true. He mentions "murder" while talking to ... himself but then he also says "If chance will have me king, why chance may crown my Without my stir", which shows that Macbeth was not yet fully driven by his own ambition as he already had two minds about the idea of murdering Duncan. One was that h...

• Word Count: 1059
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... of pitiful day, And with thy bloody and invisible hand Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond Which keeps me pale" The above quote by Macbeth demonstrates that he imagines that the execution of more murderous deeds, (instigation of the murder of Banquo), will help him pursue his interest of personal safety ... is full of references to things being divine, but following the murder everything in the text becomes bleak and unholy. At this point in the play Macbeth does not feel he is a good man anymore and is feeling so awful that he feels that he can never be happy again. Additionally,...

• Word Count: 1480
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... appearance of the witches near the beginning of the play, who tell him his fate is to be Thane of Cawdor, then King. Before this incident, Macbeth's thoughts were fairly honourable toward the king and although he understood that if Duncan died, he could take his place, he did not think of killing him ... fate first, then changed his mind, to kill Duncan. The fact he changed his mind is the first example of how his personality changed throughout the play. Macbeth returns to the witches at the beginning of Act 4, desperate for new information - "Howe"er you come to know it - answer me". T...

• Word Count: 1168
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... hallucination reinforces his drive to commit the murder, but at the same time sparks a notion of guilt even to imagine such. Having murdered King Duncan, Macbeth is struck with immediate guilt and a sense of paranoia about being caught. However, when a knocking begins on the door, all he can do is stare at ... this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas in incarnadine, making the green one red" (II.ii). Macbeth is feeling guilt about the death of King Duncan. He feels that his bloody hands are symbols of guilt and murder and that, like staining gree...

• Word Count: 917
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... alive " (3.4.98-106) which made his people question his sanity to rule the country of Scotland. Once king, there wasn't much more for Macbeth to do but keep in mind of the witches second prophecy of what was to come. Other than that it would be nothing but downfalls since ... country sinks beneath the yoke, it weeps, it bleeds, and each day a gash is added to her wounds. "(4.3.39-41) all that ambition Macbeth had was his kryptonite because it gave him the big ego and ruthless attitude which was his demise. Having all that ambition could have done more than ... more if he had survived the...

• Word Count: 990
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... on friends and loved ones as he becomes obsessed with the witches prophecy. An important relationship is the one between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. At the start of the play, Macbeth cares deeply for Lady Macbeth. He calls her things like his "dearest partner of greatness" (Act I; v line ii). He sees her ... as his equal partner. At the start of the play, Lady Macbeth is clearly in charge of the relationship. She is the one that convinces Macbeth to murder Duncan so that the witches prophecy will be fulfilled faster. She is the one that comes up ... Act II; ii line 52-53). The relationsh...

• Word Count: 560
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... would really be like. He encounters many dreams and possibilities of ruling over Scotland. And, when the witches describe the future of Macbeth, and how he will become king completely overwhelms Macbeth. He suddenly feels the sensation of the crown, and how everything could be his. " If chance will have me king, ... does hope for this to occur, but he never believed for a second, that killing his dear friend Macbeth is the only way to get there. Lady Macbeth was a major influence to Macbeth in his journey of becoming king. At the sound of the possibility of her husband becoming the king...

• Word Count: 712
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... thick my blood," (1.5.38-41). This quote shows a side of her personality of, which is that she, although confident and sure about her plan to Macbeth. Is actually a weak and cowardly person herself. So she calls on Spirits which were strongly believed in at the time this play was written, to pocess her ... doubts and just wanting him to be a man and do the deed. Also evident in the play, is the strong binding relationship of trust which Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have with each other. "I have given suck and know How tender "tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was ... out...

• Word Count: 900
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... speed up the process. He did this by killing King Duncan, and since he was next in line, he received the title of king. The last person that influenced Macbeth was his wife, Lady Macbeth. She weakened Macbeth challenging his masculinity. She said, "And live a coward in thine own esteem, letting "I dare not" wait upon "I would", like the poor cat i" th"adage?" Lady ... Macbeth is calling Macbeth a coward. She is saying that she would do it. At first, Macbeth does not want to kill the king. One reason is because it's wrong, and the other reason is because the King is a guest in ... becom...

• Word Count: 701
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... 's chambers, but realizes that she is unable to perform the task. Because of this, Macbeth then goes to do it himself. Shakespeare shows Macbeth's avoidance of responsibility again when Macbeth kills the guards outside of Duncan's room. When Macbeth does this, he is able to lie and say they were responsible, so he punished ... these hangman's hands: list'ning their fear, I could not say Amen, when they did say God bless us!' (II, 2, 26-29) The fact that Macbeth could not say "Amen- shows that he knows what he did, but feels he can't repent for it. Besides this, it also demonstrates that...

• Word Count: 926
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... family members. These include his best friend, Banquo (as well as an attempt of Fleance), and Macduff's wife, children, and servants. The tyrant, Macbeth, now trusts no one and kills any potential obstacles in way of his power. He now can not tell the difference between imaginary and reality, as ... he says, "Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake thy gory locks at me" (319). Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost and insists on it being real although it is his mind using his guilt to play tricks on him. Since the witches" prophesies ... the course", and he prepares likewise (357). In one way ...

• Word Count: 1033
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... She at once seizes on the opportunity to fulfil her ambition and never flinches from her object till all is over. However, in saying this, Lady Macbeth is also not void of commendable characteristics. At times she is nave, but she also has feelings, shown when she cannot kill Duncan - "Had he ... my hand? No-. This was the turn of the tides, when order would turn into disorder and result in suffering - the start of the tragedy. Macbeth's ambition now turns into an obsession - an obsession to prove the prophecy wrong, yet trusting it at the same time. He silences his conscience and the ...

• Word Count: 841
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... person's greed can cause one to lose control and ultimately perish because of his ambition. The image of blood creates an atmosphere of violence, portrays Macbeth as a power hungry tyrant, and proves the theme that greed and ambition will lead to one's downfall. Scenes of blood depicting violence cover the ... because of his ability to fight and his war prowess. The fact that his popularity is earned by fighting shows just how violent he really is. Macbeth's murder of Duncan shows blood imagery through violence once again. He spills so much of Duncan's blood that, "their daggers unmanne...

• Word Count: 1733
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School