Lady Macbeth As Witch example essay topic

Macbeth is tragic play written by William Shakespeare in early 1606. The Tragedies of Macbeth was first published in the First Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare's death and seventeen years after the play was first performed. Perhaps it was written for a Scottish King James I, who was given the English crown for the first time in history. In addition, he was particularly afraid of witches. It is Shakespeare's most constricting and oppressive play; unpleasantly intimate human study of terror and paranoia, of the power of imagination and mistrust.

In this essay, I would study Macbeth's personality in more detail in order to enable myself to conclude whether he was a hero or villain. In accordance with the traditional specification of a hero requires being, a person who opposes a conflicting force, either externally or internally, a conflicting force from its own state or another. In the opening scenes of the play, Macbeth has come to be seen as hero. However, we can find abundant evidence in the play that he was a villain more than a hero. In act I sc. ii, Macbeth is described by his king as: " O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman" (Act 1, Sc.

2) The quote mentioned above reinforces the idea that descriptions of Macbeth towards his king are positive. Moreover king is exultant at his cousin. Nevertheless, the descriptions are gory too as captain says: " Till he unsealed him from the nave to th' chops" (Act 1, Sc. 2) The quote results in Macbeth as being a fierce warrior and not faltered to kill anyone. Though, Macbeth has been seen as valorous, but I do not find any evidence supporting the view that his faith was as strong as his physical strength. The major turning point in the play occurs in Act 1, Sc.

3, when three witches tell Macbeth three unforeseeable future predictions that meant in Macbeth would become king in the future. Broadly speaking, witches merely predict the future but they do not suggest Macbeth to kill his king to get the throne. Though Macbeth gets ambitious after learning the predictions, but I do not find any strong evidence to support the idea that he goes evil right away. When Macbeth reaches the castle, Duncan shows high respect towards Macbeth by saying: "O worthiest cousin, The sin of my gratitude even now Was heavy on me. Thou art so found before, The swiftest wing of recompense is slow To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved, Might have been mine.

Only I have left to say, More is thy due than more than all can pay. The quote above conveys an image of influence of bravery of Macbeth over his king and all other noblemen, as they do not disagree with king. Afterwards as Macbeth informs his wife about the three predictions he has learnt, she expresses herself more ambitious than Macbeth. And when the Macbeth comes to meet her she has some evil plans ready. There is no evidence that Macbeth has any evil plans earlier. This quote by Lady Macbeth was short riddle following the killing plan of Duncan.

"O never Shall sun that morrow see". (Act 1, Sc. 5) In Act 1, Sc. 7, as Macbeth shows respect and faith towards his king: "He's here in double trust: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murder shut the door, Not bear the knife my self".

(Act 1, Sc. 7) Another quote that shows that Macbeth has no intentions of killing his king as he wants to stay loyal to him: "We will proceed no further in this business" (Act 1, Sc. 7) Lady Macbeth abuts Macbeth to kill Duncan to fulfil prophecy. The expressions and language usage ally Lady Macbeth with the sisters (witches), and I understand Lady Macbeth as witch, or her mind possessed by the devil, long before her sleep in Act 5, Sc. 1. Her extraordinary invocations of the 'you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts' (Act 1, Sc.

5) especially pleads. When Lady Macbeth has no choice then she uses her tactics to stop Macbeth wimping out of Duncan's murder. Another evidence that supports the view as Macbeth being villain is found in Act 2, Sc. 1, when Macbeth is having friendly chitchat with his dearest friend Banquo and on the other hand, he orders two murderers to kill Banquo and his Son, Flea nce. The reason behind it is also based upon witches' predictions.

Macbeth is at his worst when he murders Lady Macduff and her cheeky children. The reason behind murdering her and her babes is connected to witches predictions. As the witches warn Macbeth to be aware of Macduff. Macbeth cannot kill Macduff as he flees to England. In conclusion, I would reckon Macbeth as a valorous hero turning into a serial killer.

He is also weak before Lady Macbeth. Though he knows that witches are evil but he never realise it. In fact, Macbeth made a misjudgment between the temporal (Good) crown and eternal crown (Heaven)..