Ghosts And Visions In Macbeth William Shakespeare example essay topic

Literary Analysis of Macbeth: ~Explaining the role of the witches, ghosts, and visions in Macbeth~ William Shakespeare was born in Stratford on Avon on April 26th, 1564. He married Anne Hathaway at the age of 18, and they had three children together. In Shakespeare's lifetime he wrote many plays. Many of them were highly praised yet others were cast aside. The crowd always wanted to be more thoroughly entertained and Shakespeare always tried to keep up with the people's needs. In 1605, Shakespeare was being hounded for another work of his genius.

Hamlet and King Lear had just been completed and the people of England begged for more. Shakespeare, like many other playwrights, researched his subject. He decided to combine the reign of Macbeth and the murder of King Duff by Donald. Macbeth is by far the shortest play that William Shakespeare wrote. The main reason he wrote it short wasn't because he didn't have a lot to say, but because King James was so impatient. Macbeth was written basically for the king.

In fact, the emphasis on witchery was because King James so heavily believed in sorcery. After Shakespeare wrote it, Macbeth broke another barrier in the great scheme of performances. It was an instant success. King James and the court loved it along with England; yet the people begged for more and hoped Macbeth would be out done by another astounding play. Shakespeare wondered how such a task could be accomplished. What was it about Macbeth that made it loved by everyone?

Many have analyzed Shakespeare's style and some still can't figure it out. Poetry is what catches most readers and viewer's eyes; few words were wasted, and he did a very nice job of implanting vivid images into ones brain as they tumble one after each other in an ongoing surge of color and ideas throughout the play. The tone in Macbeth remains sinister and depressing throughout the play. Symbolism, on the other hand, kept the tragedy in tact, and, if understood, revealed the whole play in the very beginning of her pages. The character of Macbeth's intensity greatly affects the play; his actions are transpired to hurt others.

In looking at the characteristics of good and evil, it makes the reader wonder what makes a person good or evil. Evil isn't born into people, but it may be the only option they have left. Three features we have seen stand out clear in the general idea of Macbeth. There is his extremely realistic nature, which is the key to the whole play; and the absence in him of the inner life adds two special features: one is his helplessness under suspense; the other is the activity of his imagination with its vulnerability to supernatural terrors... suspense has damaged his judgment and brought on him the gambler's fever...

In the reaction from the murder of Banquo the supernatural ghostly appearance-which no one sees but himself-appears more real to him than the real life around him. From this point he seeks the supernatural and forces it to disclose its terrors, and it puts him into a tormented vision of generations that are to witness the triumph of his foes. Supernatural forces heavily influenced Macbeth. In fact, were it not for them he might be living a happy and content life.

The witches had a profound affect on him. He soon found himself in a world where he wanted to know more and more and the weird women were the only ones who could satisfy his hunger. Macbeth went from a man who served everyone but himself to a man who served only himself. The one thing that Macbeth had that meant the most to him was his wife. Lady Macbeth is his world.

For a man who shows so much hate, he gives a lot of love. There is a spot in the play where the reader can obviously pick up the dramatic change Macbeth went through. "Seton: The queen, my lord, is dead. Macbeth: She should have died hereafter; there would have been a time for such a word" (Macbeth, Act V, Scene V). His wife, his love, his world had died and he did not even care. The way he just disregarded her lets the readers know that he is a changed man, and not for the better.

His desire to be unstoppable and omnipotent was what killed him. His ambition clouded his once clever mind to where he couldn't look past the apparitions' prophecies. From the very first words, the tone reveals itself as drab and murky. It is thundering and lightning in the very beginning and rainstorms automatically give the readers an eerie feeling. Most of the "darker / evil" parts in the play were done in the dark or shadows. The vision of the dagger, the murder of Duncan, the murder of Banquo, the sleepwalking of Lady Macbeth, all come in night scenes.

There are a few places where the dreary mood is blanketed by things that appear to be happy. When Macbeth arrives home, Lady Macbeth seems so enthusiastic to see him. She really is excited to see him, but beneath her happiness is a plot of deceit and murder. "Lady Macbeth: Your face, my thane, is as a book, where men may read strange matters: -To beguile the time, look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene ) ". She is telling him that his face can easily be read and that he needs to act like normal, but underneath to be cunning and quick witted. This passage takes an almost cheery instant and takes it back to a world full of betrayal.

Another place where happiness is almost achieved is toward the very end of the book. "Malcolm: We will perform in measure, time, and place: So thanks to all at once, and to each one, whom we invite to see us crown'd at Scone" (Macbeth, Act V, Scene VII). All seems merry, but if thought about it, the reader can easily see that trouble isn't too far away. One of the most important themes in Macbeth is found in the first scene of Act 1 that "fair is foul and foul is fair". (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 1, Line 10) When Macbeth and Banquo first see the weird sisters, Banquo is horrified by their hideous appearances. On the other hand, Macbeth immediately began to converse with these universally known evil creatures.

After hearing their prophecies, one can say that Macbeth considered the witches to be "fair" when in reality their intentions were pretty "foul". Macbeth's possession of the titles of Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland came by foul means. Macbeth became the Thane of Glamis by his father Sinel's death; he became Thane of Cawdor when the former namesake was executed for treason; and he was ordained King of Scotland after murdering the venerable Duncan. Thus, Macbeth has a rather ghastly way of advancing in life. This theme is continued throughout the play and is verified in King Duncan's statement "There's no art / to find the mind's construction in the face...

". (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 4, Lines 11-12) Although Macbeth has the impression of the good-humored and dutiful host, ("fair") he is secretly plotting Duncan's death ("foul"). What's more, Lady Macbeth's deviation of the murder shows the twisted atmosphere in Inverness. Both a woman and a host, she should be the model of grace and femininity. She is described, however, as a "fiend like queen" (Act 5, Scene 6, Line 69) and exhibits a cold, calculating mentality. In addition, the porter of Inverness likens the place to the dwelling of the devil Beelzebub.

This implies that even though it has its "pleasant seat", (Act 1, Scene 6, Line 1) Inverness is a sinister and evil place. It is also interesting to note that Macbeth is unable to say a prayer to bless himself after murdering Duncan. It is strange and "foul" that he should think of religion after committing such an unholy act. The very sanction of sleep and repose is also attacked in Macbeth. What is normally considered a refreshing and necessary human activity is "murdered" by Macbeth after he commits his heinous crime. Neither Macbeth nor his wife is able to sleep after killing Duncan.

Macbeth's lack of sleep makes him a brutal killer; Lady Macbeth begins to sleepwalk and inadvertently reveals the source of her distress through her nightly babble. In addition, Macbeth gains an almost inhuman strength and courage after his first crime. He is more courageous in crime than he has ever been in virtuous deed, which is indeed bizarre. Another theme displayed in Macbeth is the creation of an internal / external hell. This creation of a place of damnation begins when Macbeth freely converses with the sinister witches. Banquo calls the weird sisters "instruments of darkness", (Act 1, Scene 4, Line 124) but Macbeth still decides to take their advice.

A lot of times in the play both Macbeth and his wife are shown in the night, a universal symbol of evil. Many of the scenes in the play take place in murky areas and are accompanied by the shrieks of threatening animals. Macbeth is unable to bless himself after the crime and he "murders sleep", (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 35) one of the only positive associations with night. Thus, hallucinations, sleepwalking, disembodied voices and ghosts all pass through Inverness. Lady Macbeth commits suicide in the castle, an act considered worthy at the time of eternal damnation in hell.

This creation of an external hell also matches to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's internal suffering. Macbeth is never at peace-he is always delirious, enraged, brutal and paranoid. He cannot enjoy the material pleasures of being a king despite all of the sacrifice that it took on his part. No matter how much he wants to, he cannot fully enjoy any part of the kingship he un rightfully stole. Lady Macbeth's courage and determination quickly deteriorate and she is left as an incurable, mentally unstable young woman who unconsciously tries to erase her memory of the crime. Macbeth and his wife's unintentional creation of an external hell for Scotland is pitiable because they suffered internally as well.

Shakespeare creatively used witches, sorcery, ghosts, visions, and supernatural forces from beginning to end of the play. These are woven together throughout the play to keep the reader perplexed and eager to experience more. Shakespeare's ability to draw one in and involve you in the character's lives and personalities shows his mastery of story telling and social expression, as well as showing his ingenious use of poetry and rhyme schemes. Shakespeare has the gift of touching societies and cultures with realistic internal and external battles that have faced man from the dawn of time to the very present..