From 1603 to 1606, William Shakespeare penned ‘Macbeth’, a play that aligned with James I’s rise to power in England. James I, formerly known as James the Sixth of Scotland, held firm beliefs in his own greatness as a monarch and possessed a keen fascination for witchcraft, apparitions, and ghosts.
The utilization of sorcery in ‘Macbeth’ pertains to the timeliness of these concerns, as Shakespeare’s spectators would have been mindful of them. The play also delves into the topics of royal authority and allegiance. These matters held significance for James, as he had personally faced a threat to his life from a coven of witches in Scotland in 1591, and in 1605 Guy Fawkes endeavored to detonate his government. Throughout Shakespeare’s lifetime, Britain experienced considerable tumult regarding the monarchy and religious matters.
The dire implications of insurrection and anarchy were well known to the country. These implications are evident in ‘Macbeth’ where the play begins with a tense and uneasy atmosphere, accompanied by thunder and lightning. The presence of three witches further heightens the dramatic tension and sense of foreboding, representing supernatural occurrences.
The witches employ rhyming couplets throughout the play, enhancing the enchanting atmosphere. The oxymoron at the end of scene one – ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair, Hover through the fog and filthy air.’ I.i – sets the stage for chaos, the reversal of assumptions, and the notion that outward appearances can disguise hidden deceit.
The concept of contrasts is central to ‘Macbeth’. Throughout the play, there are depictions of disorder and sickness, disruptions of peace. The merging of opposites is further explored with the paradox – ‘When the battle’s lost, and won.’ At first, Macbeth is portrayed as valorous, courageous, noble, honorable, loyal by King Duncan, who sees him as a military leader. Duncan receives reports of Macbeth’s heroic deeds that secure victory for the king. As a token of gratitude, Macbeth, who is Thane of Glamis, is to be given the title of Thane of Cawdor. The audience becomes intrigued by Macbeth as a result.
Furthermore, Macbeth’s opening line in the play – ‘So foul and fair a day I have not seen.’ (I.iii, 36) – reflects the oxymoron used by the witches. This connection between Macbeth and the witches is established. Additionally, the witches intentionally approach Macbeth and Banquo, both generals, and provide them with precise prophecies regarding their fate.
Macbeth is greeted as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and future King. Banquo is informed that he will have descendants who will become rulers. Before the King’s messengers arrive to announce Macbeth’s new title as Thane of Cawdor, the witches vanish. Macbeth perceives this as the prophecy being fulfilled.
Macbeth’s soliloquies reveal that he not only contemplates becoming King, but also wholeheartedly believes the witches’ prophecies: “Glamis, and Thane of Cawdor: The greatest is behind” (I.iii, 115-116, 126-128). These prophecies mark the beginning of Macbeth’s ambition for power. Ambition is Macbeth’s fatal weakness; it drives his actions and ultimately leads to his downfall. Through his wife and the witches, his ambition overtakes his good qualities and transforms him into a ruthless individual.
In this quote from the title, Malcolm, one of the king’s sons, labels Macbeth as a ‘tyrant’, portraying him as heartless, brutal, and disloyal according to other characters. The play revolves around Macbeth’s journey from a military leader to the ruler of Scotland. Nevertheless, his ambition ultimately leads to his downfall and demise. ‘Macbeth’ is a tragic tale that showcases a noble protagonist who elicits admiration.
However, a tragic hero possesses a fatal flaw in their character or commits errors, often influenced by external factors. These errors ultimately result in the hero’s downfall and demise. Macbeth exemplifies this type of hero, as his ambition and the resulting consequences prove to be his undoing. It is this ambition that drives him to seek guidance from the witches, and it is this same ambition that propels him towards committing acts of murder, treason, hypocrisy, corruption, and the utmost wickedness.
Macbeth is seen as a tragic hero because he believes he is following a set of values, even though other characters see him as a tyrant. Despite his ambition, the audience can sympathize with him knowing that he is driven by fate and uncontrollable forces. Initially, Macbeth resists the idea of murdering Duncan to become king, showing his aversion to evil. Shakespeare uses soliloquies to reveal Macbeth’s thoughts and emotions, such as when he questions the supernatural forces at play: “This supernatural soliciting, Cannot be ill, cannot be good.”
Macbeth’s integrity is compromised by the witches’ prophecy and his wife’s ambition. Lady Macbeth believes he lacks enough kindness to fulfill his potential. Despite being physically strong, Macbeth is emotionally weak. The concept of manhood is important to him, which Lady Macbeth uses to manipulate him into killing Duncan. She mocks him, saying “When you dared to do it, then you were a man.”
Relentlessly tormented, he becomes willing to manipulate every aspect of himself to carry out a dreadful deed. However, upon accomplishing it, he recognizes that it would be preferable for him to remain ignorant of his actions. The struggle for his assurance and self-worth has both been triumphed and defeated. This pivotal moment occurs during the banquet following Macbeth’s coronation as king. Now that he has attained supreme authority, this signifies the apex of Macbeth’s ascension.
Despite Macduff’s discovery of the body, all others are prepared to acknowledge Macbeth as king. Nevertheless, Macbeth expresses in a soliloquy that “To be thus is nothing.” He intends to secure his position and adamantly rejects the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s descendants will reign as kings.
Macbeth hires two murderers to carry out the assassination of Banquo and Fleance, excluding his trusted confidante Lady Macbeth from his plans. Macbeth’s detachment from his wife is evident when he tells her, “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest Chuck.” However, the murder of Banquo ultimately leads to Macbeth’s downfall.
Following his demise, a specter materializes during a banquet and occupies Macbeth’s throne, symbolizing his remorse. While imperceptible to others, this vision profoundly petrifies Macbeth. Even after the departure of the ghost and guests, Macbeth endures ongoing mental torment. He resolves that eliminating anyone who questions his power is the sole resolution to his predicament. Consequently, he opts to revisit the witches, becoming increasingly dependent on them as he becomes less reliant on his spouse. This event heralds the beginning of his decline and an escalation in his malevolence.
Macbeth’s reputation declines in the middle of the play. He is referred to as a ‘tyrant’ and receives no praise. Macduff describes him as more damned than any devil from hell, stating that Macbeth is consumed by evil. The once brave Macbeth now often loses control of his rationality and becomes obsessed with thoughts and speculations in various situations.
When he suppresses his thoughts, he is able to act, but his actions become increasingly strange. The murders of Duncan and Banquo consume his mind, overshadowing everything else. When he demands answers from the witches and learns of three prophecies, he fully embraces his association with evil. He knows what he must do.
The irony lies in the fact that all of the prophecies, which he obsessively and literally believes, end up turning against Macbeth and leading to his downfall. The witches successfully destroy every aspect of his humanity, leaving him trapped in a web of his own creation. As the play progresses, his commands become desperate and pathetic, and his confusion, which was evident from the beginning, only intensifies.
Begin to tire of the sun and desire the world to be destroyed.
The play ‘Macbeth’ tells the story of a virtuous and courageous man who is corrupted and driven by ambition. The catalysts of this corruption are the witches and his wife. Macbeth is easily swayed by the witches’ words because they voice his own desires, while his wife has a hold over him by mocking his masculinity and determination. Surprisingly, our initial assumptions are flipped as Macbeth becomes increasingly merciless and malicious, while Lady Macbeth descends into madness.
Macbeth’s tyranny is characterized by his wickedness and his advisers are referred to as ‘instruments of darkness’. In contrast, Duncan represents everything that Macbeth opposes and destroys. The imagery of light is associated with Duncan, who describes noble traits as ‘like stars’. On the other hand, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are depicted as beings consumed by darkness, which symbolizes deceit and malevolence.
Lady Macbeth assures Macbeth that Duncan will not see the morning sun because of the events that will occur this night (Act 1, Scene 5). She then implores for darkness to envelop everything (‘Come thick night’). The theme of chaos and disorder is also prominent throughout the play.
In Shakespeare’s play, toads, snakes, and birds of prey are employed to represent a state of chaos and menace. The natural order is disrupted following Duncan’s murder, with hawks becoming victims of their own prey and Duncan’s horses resorting to cannibalism. Furthermore, the image of blood permeates the entire play, serving as a symbol for the malevolence associated with Macbeth, while also contributing to the creation of an atmosphere of menace and devastation.
The religious context in which the play was written heavily influences the imagery and symbolism. Additionally, a contrast can be observed between the characters of Macbeth and Banquo. The witches promise Banquo happiness, indicating his moral superiority. On the other hand, Macbeth is portrayed as a troubled character, with Shakespeare revealing his inner turmoil through his soliloquies.
Shakespeare exposes Macbeth’s thoughts in the play and highlights his evident confusion. Throughout the dialogue, there is a transition from a diplomatic yet insincere language to an aggressive tone filled with exclamation marks, question marks, and commands. ‘Macbeth’ primarily employs blank verse, which consists of unrhymed lines in iambic pentameter as its fundamental poetic structure.
Even though a strict iambic pentameter consists of ten syllables with the stress falling on even ones, Shakespeare employs flexible blank verse to convey various moods and capture a character’s essence. For instance, in Macbeth, the stress placed on “nights’ black agents” intensifies his haunting fascination with evil – ‘Whiles night’s black agents to theirPrey do rouse’. Additionally, the witches’ dialogue is crafted in rhyming couplets of shorter lines and distinct stress patterns that evoke an enchanting spell-like sound.
In the play, Macbeth frequently employs rhyming couplets, a technique employed by Shakespeare to establish a connection between Macbeth and the witches. Additionally, prose is utilized in ‘Macbeth’ to indicate abnormal circumstances, such as Lady Macbeth’s sleep-walking. Furthermore, it is employed to signify that individuals of lower social status are speaking, as blank verse is considered to be more elevated.
Shakespeare focuses on Macbeth’s character in the play, using cinematic techniques like close-ups and longer range shots to provide a deeper understanding of his behavior. Minor characters serve to comment on the main action, providing further insight into Macbeth’s actions. Shakespeare’s use of imaginative language and symbolism adds a new layer to the contrast between good and evil in ‘Macbeth’.
The play ‘Macbeth’ has a concise and uncomplicated plot with few main characters, yet it effectively addresses moral dilemmas. While it takes place in a particular historical era, its themes have enduring appeal and relevancy to contemporary times. This play delves into concepts of morality, employing elements like loyalty, ambition, conscience, delusion, and social and psychological order to examine the human experience. These enduring qualities make ‘Macbeth’ Shakespeare’s most popular, memorable, and adaptable play.
Shakespeare’s plays often explore themes of political ambition and power in various historical settings, including Rome, Egypt, Denmark, and Scotland. In particular, ‘Macbeth’ provides a deep examination of personal ambition and political aspirations. It serves as a reminder that even individuals who start off with noble intentions, like Macbeth, can succumb to the corrupting influence of power.
