Macbeth Summative
Seth Bond
The Witches are Responsible for Macbeth's Downfall
Even though the witches seem like they want to help Macbeth, they are really trying to hurt him. First of all, the witches like to confuse people about what is good and bad with vague prophesies. While in Scotland, talking about meeting with Macbeth, the three witches say together," Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air"(Act 1 scene 1). The witches are planning to confuse Macbeth with their prophesies. The witches want Macbeth to do bad things, such as killing the king, because he took their prophesies the wrong way. Second, the witches show Macbeth apparitions that seem to say he cannot be defeated. While Macbeth is talking to the witches they tell him," Beware Macduff .... none of woman born shall harm Macbeth .... Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill"(Act 4 Scene 1). These prophesies make Macbeth think he is invincible because wood can't move and every man is born of a woman. But, these prophesies have loopholes that Macbeth doesn't realize. But, because of the way the prophesies are worded Macbeth believes he can never be defeated or killed by anything other that nature. Finally, Macbeth is defeated and killed because of what he thought the witch's prophesies meant. While Macbeth and Macduff are fighting, Macduff says,"Macduff was from his mother's whom untimely ripped" (Act 5 scene 8). Macbeth did not realize a loophole in one of the prophesies, which was that a person that was C-sectioned isn't "woman born". Because Macbeth fights someone that was C-sectioned he gets defeated and dies. This means that Macbeth died because the witches prophesies were intentionally misleading.
Literary device 1: Foreshadowing
In Macbeth most of the important lines the witches say foreshadowes something, but what is being focused on in this paragraph is the witches foreshadowing Macduff killing Macbeth. While the witches meet with Macbeth the witches show Macbeth an appirition that says,"Beware Macduff; Bewarer the thane of Fife " ( Act 4 scene 1 ). The wiches tell Macbeth about Macduff being dangerous to him, foreshadowing that Macduff was not born of a woman and that he will kill Macbeth. Macbeth trusts the witches and sends people to kill Macbeth even though he is sceptical of why he should fear Macduff because of the witches other prophesies, but Macduff escapes, comes back to Scotland, and kills Macbeth.
Literary device 2: Dynamic Character
Even though Lady Macbeth started off as a strong character, she became a weak and paranoid person as the play went on. At first Lady Macbeth seemed to be able to control Macbeth and even was able to talk Macbeth into killing Duncan so that they would be king and queen. But, Lady Macbeth soon breaks down. While lady Macbeth is sleepwalking she says,"Yet who would have the old man to have so much blood in him? .... The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now? What, will these hand ne'er be clean? (Act 1 scene 5). Lady Macbeth sees herself covered in Duncans blood and expresses guilt for those she has gotten killed. Lady Macbeth is going crazy because she feels so badly about what she has done to people.
Literary device 3: Tragedy
Because of how good a man Duncan was, it was a tragedy when he was murdered. In Macbeth Duncan is always spoken about positively, even by Macbeth who wants to kill Duncan to become king. While Macbeth is having second thoughts about killing Duncan he says,"Duncan hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been so clear in his great office, that his virtues will plead like angels"(Act 1 Scene 7). Macbeth states that Duncan has never abused his power and is a very good man. Because Duncan is such a good man it is very tragic when Duncan dies. And his death is even more tragic because he is killed in cold blood for someone elses personal gain.
Character Analysis: Macbeth
The witches prophesies, his wife, and his greed made Macbeth kill the king. First of all, the witches prophesies made Macbeth want to become king. While Macbeth is talking to the witches, the witches say,"Hal to thee, Thane of Glamis .... Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor. All hail , Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter"(Act 1 Scene 3). The witches greet Macbeth with titles that Macbeth does not have, the most important one being King. The title the witches call him install the belief in Macbeth that he will become king. Because he believes he will become king Macbeth starts to want to become king quicker. Second, his wife drives Macbeth to killing the king. Macbeth's wife wants to become queen, so she gets Macbeth to kill Duncan through manipulating him. When Macbeth has second thoughts about killing king Duncan Lady Macbeth says,"Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine own esteem"(Act 1 Scene 7). Lady Macbeth calls Macbeth a coward for not wanting to kill Duncan. Naturally, Macbeth doesn't want to look like a coward in the eyes of his wife so he goes ahead with killing Duncan. Finally, Macbeth's own greed makes Macbeth want to kill the king. Macbeth wants to become king so that he will have power, wealth, and fame. While Macbeth is having second thoughts he says to himself,"I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition"(Act 1 Scene 7). Macbeth says himself the only reason he has for wanting to kill Duncan is his greed. Macbeth would rather become king for personal gain than have a good king rule over Scotland.
Sonnet (English or Shakespearean)
Macbeth met three witches who said he'd be king
He and his wife made a terrible plot
They murdered Duncan and scared his offspring
The princes fled the country to a safe spot
The Macbeth's now fear that they will be caught
Banquo knows too much and takes a sword's hilt
King MacBeth, the witches prophesy sought
MacDuff kin is killed, Lady MacBeth suffers guilt
Duncan's son Malcolm has an army formed
MacDuff joins their ranks to feed his revenge
To Scotland, in battle, the army has swarmed
Macduff kills Macbeth, his family avenged
Macbeth in his pride caused Scotland great strife
He paid the price of his greed with his life