It could be that he has damaged himself so that he is unable to feel empathy for others - or that the evil is innate. Macbeth displays some very evil characteristics - selfishness, coldness, obsession and cold-blooded murder. Shakespeare explores the degree to which he alone is responsible, and how far others contribute to Macbeth is perhaps Shakespeare's greatest exploration of the problem of evil. Evil is positioned both within and without. The witches are objective figures but Macbeth's first utterance in act 1, scene 3 suggests that he shares a similar thought with the witches.
The authors, Caroline B. Cooney, Harper Lee and William Shakespeare wrote violence in their novels and games. Enter three witches, writes the author that people who do not like them and is angry perhaps meets a violent end. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee wrote that people who are racist are dishonest and possibly will also meet a violent end. Shakespeare also argues that people who do not, except that others will gather the tragedy. Cooney MacBeth uses to prove his thesis; then Bob Ewell Lee uses the character to prove its case, and Tybalt Shakespeare to prove his point.
Assignment 6 - Writing a Critical and Analytical Response to Macbeth Name: Gurjot Singh Guliani Teacher: Ms. Allison Egger Due Date: June 17th, 2015 Class: ELA 20-1 Introduction The Tragedy of Macbeth by Sir William Shakespeare is a play written in 1606. which revolves around Macbeth and his quest for power. Three witches represent the supernatural element of the play, presenting several prophecies to Macbeth and Banquo after they returned victorious from their battle with the Norwegian armies. Their presence in the play causes much confusion and uncertainty for Macbeth; to the point he does not seem to know what is authentic in his life. The witches’ forecasts lead Macbeth to divulge his insecurities and thirst for power. Before the forecasts, Macbeth seemed content serving his country; however, his stance changes when he learns that he will become king in the near future.
(70-71) In Everybody's Shakespeare: Reflections Chiefly on the Tragedies, Maynard Mack explains that the witches are associated with fate: Except in one phrase (I.3.6) and in the stage directions, the play always refers to the witches as weyard - or weyward - sisters. Both spellings are variations of weird, which in Shakespeare's time did not mean "freakish," but "fateful" - having to do with the determination of destinies. Shakespeare had met with such creatures in Holinshed, who regularly refers to the supernatural agents with whom Macbeth has dealings as "the three sisters," or "the three weird sisters," i.e., the three Fates.
,1 ENG 3U104 December 3, 2013 Macbeth Essay: Macbeth By William Shakespeare Shakespeare’s Three Witches, or Weird Sisters, are very important characters within his timeless tale of Macbeth. The Witches answer to the “fates of mythology” (Dover Wilson) by showing people prophecies and apparitions. These Witches are more important within the play than people understand. They have a calamitous affect on the protagonist within Macbeth, and all the characters associated with him. After a protracted discussion of the topic of who is to blame for the demise of Macbeth, the blame has come to rest upon the Three Witches.
Another mysterious scene is where they meet Macbeth and disappear into the air. Act 1 scene3 line 77 shows the stage direction of when they vanish. One other mysterious point was where the witches spoke in riddles in which to confuse Macbeth's mind. This is shown continuously; however one of the riddles describes Macbeth turning from thane of Glamis, to thane of Cawdor then to king "All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor" "all hail that shall be king hereafter." This shows that the witches were also supernatural as they could see the future.
Vague language is used when providing Macbeth with prophesies. Macbeth visits the witches in order to get more information about the future. He leaves confident with what the apparitions told him. However, in Act V, he will come to realize the witches provided him with double meanings, “I pull in resolution, and begin/ To doubt th’ equivocation of the fiend/ That lies like truth” (5.5.47-49). First of all, Macbeth is warned, “Beware Macduff/ Beware the thane of Fife” (4.1.79-80).
Back when “Macbeth” was written, witches where widely believed to exist. King James I was an expert on witchcraft himself. Including witches was probably a wise move as the theatres where constantly under threat from closure so by keeping on the king’s good side by including themes that were relevant to him was a good strategy. The king became fascinated with witchcraft when over 100 witches were tortured and persecuted because of an alleged assassination attempt on the king. He then embraced the Christian belief that witches had made a pact with the devil, and always worked in groups.
As such Macbeth is morally vulnerable to them. The ways in which Shakespeare’s language gives us the imagery that the witches are so evil is when it quotes the oxymoron: “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” This quote is important because it introduces the idea of deception which will be picked up in the imagery further through the play. Macbeth from the beggining of Act 1, scene 2, is always associated with blood. At first this is a positive view of imagery as it quotes: “Bellona’s bridegroom.” We get the impression that Macbeth is a “Noble hero,” other quotes such as: “ For brave Macbeth, he deserves that name” or “ O, valiant cousin, worthy gentleman,” show us that Macbeth is presented as a man that is one in a million. Further through the play however the image of blood is used to soak “ Devilish Macbeth,” a quote such as: “Untitl’d tyrant, bloody-sceptr’d” show this.
The key similarity is drawn in through the presentation of the consequences caused by ambition and human desire. Ambition and conflict are the contemporary feelings evident within both texts. However, the way they are aroused mirrors the time periods the novel and play were written in such as; in Shakespeare`s time the idea of witchcraft and evil spirits were prominent and this is the way Shakespeare connects with his audience by using something that they will understand. The witches plant the seed of ambition within Macbeth as they prophesise `all hail Macbeth that shalt be king hereafter` and as an audience they will see Macbeth react physically as Banquo points out: `Good sir why do you start, and