EssaysForStudent.com - Free Essays, Term Papers & Book Notes
Search

Macbeth

By:   •  Essay  •  826 Words  •  June 12, 2010  •  1,980 Views

Page 1 of 4

Macbeth

In William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth, Macbeth's personality undergoes a transformation when he is concerned by greed and power. As one of the king's favorite soldiers, Macbeth transforms into a new personality through the influence by three main sources. The three sources that influenced Macbeth were the three witches with their predictions of his future, Lady Macbeth with her forceful character, and his own ambition. Trough the influences, Macbeth shift from a noble man into an evil personality.

In the beginning of the story the reader was introduced to Macbeth by a Captain. He gave a report to his Scottish King Duncan about the battle against King of Norway. Captain told the king about Macbeth's leadership and loyalty that he had shown on the battle field. Duncan was also informed about Macdonward's slaughter by Macbeth himself. After hearing all the good deeds that Macbeth had done for him, King decided to make Macbeth his new Thane of Cawdor. King placed his trust in Macbeth's arms, by making an overnight visit at Macbeth's place. So, overall Macbeth was known to be honorable, respectful, brave, courageous and loyal person in leadership as a general for the Scottish King Duncan.

Traveling home right after the battle, Macbeth and Banquo encountered three witches. The three witches hail Macbeth as a Thane of Cawdor, and later throughout the conversation they told him of self-fulfilling prophecy. They told Macbeth that he will become the Thane of Cawdor and eventually will hold a position of a king. Before the three witches vanished, Banquo herd his prophecy. They mentioned that Banquo will eventually be a father of the kings.

After they left the witches, Macbeth and Banquo nervously laughed at the prophecies until later, the king Duncan actually announced Macbeth as the Thane of Cawdor. This event made Macbeth question the prophecy that he have herd from the witches. Since the Thane of Cawdor turned out to be true, he began to fall into temptation of a belief in it and eventually he became self centered character. Over the time, Macbeth's trust in the prophesy began to gravitate with self-satisfying desire to become a king. At last, the witches become one of the Macbeth's reliable sources for his future. Knowing the outcome, Macbeth had no patience to wait until the position of a king’s thrown came to him. He want for it to be sooner, so he took own responsibility of his destiny to achieve the goal.

At the end of the story, Macbeth feared the lose of the power that he have gained. So his confidence in himself began to decline. With out knowing what was to come, Macbeth had to return back to witches predictions. His curiosity for the future feared him until the witches informed him with inspiring information through the three apparitions. The first apparition told him to beware of Macduff known as Thane of Fife. The Second Apparition said: “Be bloody, bold, and resolute! Laugh to scorn the pow’r of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.(IV. i. 85-87) The final

Download as (for upgraded members)  txt (4.7 Kb)   pdf (78.4 Kb)   docx (11.7 Kb)  
Continue for 3 more pages »