Commentary on Macbeth Essay

Macbeth Essay

Throughout the play of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, there are four themes, such as things are not what they seem, blind ambition, power corruption, and the effects of superstition on human behavior, that cause the transformation of Macbeth from a great general to a corrupt king. In the beginning, Macbeth (also known as Thane of Glamis) is a devoted general who fights for and defends his king. However, this changes when Macbeth and his friend Banquo meet the prophesizing witches for the first time. Macbeth is greeted as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and king hereafter. It is this prophecy that will make Macbeth go astray and become the person that he never wanted to become.

Macbeth sends a letter to Lady Macbeth telling her about his experience with the three witches.Soon after a messenger arrives and discloses that the king will come to Macbeths castle tonight to honor Macbeth for his recent victory. When Macbeth arrives home to his wife Lady Macbeth, she begins to play mind games with himso that he will kill King Duncan and expedite the process of becoming king. She convinces him by attacking his pride, which upsets Macbeth. Macbeths ambition to be respected as a man persuades him to follow through with Lady Macbeths plan. What he doesn't realize is that he will later regret his actions, and wish that he never had listened to his wife. She told him that he must look like a flower, but be a serpent underneath. This can easily trick King Duncan because he shall be fooled by Macbeths presence and not know of his secret desire for the thrown.

The essential plan was to kill the king by drugging the guards and stealing their daggers; framing them to be perceived as the ones who killed the king. Macbeth smears the blood all over the guards in order to complete his plan. Before Macbeth goes to kill King Duncan he says, Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Macbeth thinks he sees a dagger in front of him. As soon as Macbeth had killed Duncan he feels remorse. He looked at his hands and said, A sorry sight. He couldnt even put the daggers back into the guards belt; Lady Macbeth had to do it and when she comes back she told him my hands are of your color, which showed that she felt embittered as well.

As time goes by Macbeth begins to think that to keep his name clear he must kill all the people that may pose a threat to him.One of the prophecies was Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. This prophecy meant that Banquos son would become king in the future. Of course, Macbeths blind ambition told him that in order to stay in power he must kill Banquo and his son, Fleance. Macbeth fulfilled this by hiring murderers to kill him. They succeeded in killing Banquo but his son Fleance escaped.

Macbeth goes to the witches again to hear more prophecies. These prophecies transform Macbeth into the person he didnt want to become because they have ruined his life and kingdom. He was told to beware Macduff, fear no man, and that he will not lose his kingdom until Birnahm woods move to Dunsanaine. These prophecies arent what they seem to be. These prophecies made Macbeth feel invincible and believe that he would be capable to rule till the day he dies. However, throughout the play, Macbeth learns of his flaws and disadvantages and starts to doubt himself in position as king.

At the end of the play, everything starts to go wrong. A whole army rises up against Macbeth, yet he feels no fear because he believes in the witches prophecies. When he hears that his wife had committed suicide he declares that there is noting left for him to live for. He then later gets a message that the leaves of Birnam woods are coming to Dunsinane, supporting the witches last prophecy. Macbeth remains fearless because no man born of woman can harm him. This prophecy backfires on him because when he encounters Macduff in a battle, he finds out that Macduff wasnt born through natural birth but by a C-section. Macbeth finally realizes the inevitably of his fate and lose the battle and war. Nevertheless, superstition affects man because Macbeth was fully nave to believe he could outwit the prophecies. He relied on the words of the witches, however, interpreted them incorrectly, ultimately degrading his name in society.

Throughout the play, Macbeth relies on the prophecies to get him through Lady Macbeths plan. The killing of Duncan portrays the idea that things arent what they seem to be because Macbeth was a trusted general until he learned of the prophecies. The killing of Macduffs family and Banquo portray blind ambition and that too much power can corrupt a person. The main reason for the transformation of Macbeth was because of the witches prophecies because they portray that superstition can affect a mans behavior.