THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
Grace Crabtree
Macbeth's Downfall
The reason for Macbeth's downfall is Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth went crazy a little while after Macbeth killed Duncan. The reason for killing Duncan was for Macbeth to be king. Lady Macbeth was the one who persuaded Macbeth to kill in the first place because she was dead set on Macbeth being king. Later, Lady Macbeth eventually died from guilt and Macbeth was left alone. The only reason Macbeth felt safe was because of the witches prophecies. The first witch said: "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough" (4.1.80-82). The first apparition explained that Macbeth should watch out for Macduff but didn't say why; this was really the only apparition that worried Macbeth. The second witch said: "Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn The pow'r of man, for none of a woman born Shall harm Macbeth" (4.1.89-92).The second apparition declared that no man born of a woman could kill Macbeth. Lastly, the third apparition tells Macbeth to take courage. He cannot be defeated unless Birnam Wood travels the twelve-mile distance to Dunsinane Hill where his castle is located. The third witch said: " Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where sonspires are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him " (4.1.102-108). If Lady Macbeth never convinced Macbeth to kill Duncan, none of this would've happened and Macbeth wouldn't have any prophecies to worry about.
Comic Relief
The night Duncan was killed, Lady Macbeth got the guards drunk, so they wouldn't remember anything. The next morning, the porter was trying to make jokes about the guards being drunk by saying: "Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes: it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance. Therefore much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him; makes him stand to, and not stand to; in conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep, and, giving him the lie, leaves him" (2.3.27-35). So, this shows comic relief by how the Porter is trying to lighten the mood.
Dramatic Irony
Before Duncan was killed, he was staying at Macbeth's castle. Lady Macbeth was always going out of her way to be especially gracious and be a good host. Lady Macbeth said to Duncan: " Your servants ever Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt, To make their audit at your Highness' pleasure, Still to return your own" (1.6.30-34). Lady Macbeth's behavior is an example of Dramatic Irony because the audience knows that Macbeth is trying to kill Duncan.
Verbal Irony
While Macduff just found Duncan dead, he shouted: "O horror, horror,horror! Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!" (2.3.70-71). Then Lady Macbeth enters and says: "What's the business, That such a hideous trumpet calls to parely The sleepers of the house? Speak, speak!" (2.3.89-91). Lady Macbeth was trying to act like she had no idea what happened to Duncan, but she persuaded her own husband to kill him. Then, Macbeth responded back using verbal irony: "O gentle lady, 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak! The repetition in a woman's ear Would murder as it fell" (2.3.92-95). This is an example of verbal irony by how Macduff calls Lady Macbeth a gentle lady, where as she's far from a gentle lady.
Song Connection
In the movie "High School Musical" there is a song that Sharpay and Ryan sing called "I Want It All". This song relates to the book Macbeth by how Lady Macbeth wanted everything including Macbeth to be king. Some parts of the song go: "the fame and the fortune and all" and "Don't you see that bigger is better and better is bigger". Lady Macbeth was determined for Macbeth to be king, just like Sharpay and Ryan were determined to get everything. Sharpay and Lady Macbeth are both bad people who want everything
Movie Connection
In the movie The Lion King Scar wanted to plot to kill Mufasa just like Lady Macbeth wanted to plot to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth and Scar are both bad people who wanted to kill for exchange of the king title only Lady Macbeth's husband, Macbeth, would be king. Also, the three hyenas represent the three witches because the hyenas were helping scar kill just like the three witches were helping Macbeth kill.
The Lion King - The Hyenas plot with Scar to kill Mufasa and Simba HD