Tragedy of Macbeth
By: Anna Patterson
Macbeth's Weakness
Witches' prophecies
Macbeth meets three witches and listened to what they said about him, not knowing if he could trust them or not. Macbeth was weak enough to listen to what the evil witches said, but then he actually believed them. Macbeth just went out on a whim and murdered King Duncan, who has done nothing but been kind and gracious to him, not even knowing if he would actually be king. He trusted complete strangers, who are known to be evil and deceiving, and killed the king that he was so loyal to.
Lady Macbeth
"When you durst do it, then you were a man;/ And to be more than what you were, you would/ Be so much more the man" (1.7.56-58).
Macbeth told his wife about the prophecies and how he said he wants to be king. But, when the time arose for him to kill the king, he was trying to back out. Then, Lady Macbeth told him that he was a coward and shouldn't make promises that he can't keep. She is saying in this quote that when he was talking about killing the king, he was a man. But, if he was to veritably do what he said, he would be more of a man. One of Macbeth's weaknesses is his manhood and that is exactly what Lady Macbeth was telling him that he did not have unless he went and killed Duncan. So, Macbeth goes along with the scheme just to demonstrate to his wife that he is manly. To let his wife push him around and tell him he is not even a man just shows how weak and easily manipulated Macbeth can be.
Banquo and Fleance
" For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind;/ for them the gracious Duncan have I murdered" (3.1.69-70)
Macbeth is delicate enough about being king that he doesn't trust his own best friend and makes plans to murder him. Macbeth also heard Banquo's prophecies about how his sons will be king after Macbeth and Macbeth plans on killing Banquo's son too. Macbeth wants all the power and he wants the throne to be passed down to his sons. He went out and found murderers to go do the deed of killing them but the plan failed. Banquo did get murdered, but Fleance escapes. So, Macbeth's terrible idea of killing his best friend and his best friend's son was only halfway successful. This plan was not thought out well enough and was not very successful.
Downfall of Macbeth
The Witches' Prophecies
The First Prophecy
The three witches purposely put the thought of Macbeth being king to cause destruction in his life. Macbeth used to be a kind, loyal person, but the witches put evil thoughts in his mind. The witches did not exactly lie to him, but they left out the part where if he becomes king, then he will be murdered. Macbeth wouldn't have murdered the king for power, and then go crazy from having that power without the witches.
Second Apparition
The witches are telling Macbeth that no man born of a woman can harm him. They purposely say it like that because it was a double meaning to trick Macbeth. Macbeth takes it that no one can harm him, but he doesn't know that Macduff wasn't born of a woman naturally. But, the witches knew and tried to build up Macbeth's confidence, so he won't worry.
Third Apparition
The witches are telling Macbeth to be brave and proud like a lion. They are also saying that he shouldn't worry about anyone who hates, resents, or conspires against him. Another thing the witches said to Macbeth, is that he will never be defeated unless Birnam Wood comes marching to Dunsinane Hall. The witches are again using double meanings to trick Macbeth into thinking he is invincible. Macbeth thinks he is being told that he shouldn't worry unless the forest marches into his castle. The witches also mean that if lets say, an army is covering themselves with branches from Birnam Wood, then Macbeth should be worried and that he will be defeated.
Literary Devices
Paradox
The witches are meeting for the first time in the play, right before they meet Macbeth and Banquo. The Witches always speaking in riddles, they stand out from everybody else in the play. The witches mean that good is bad and bad is good, that it is easier to be bad and people get away with being evil while it is hard to be good and kind.
Verbal Irony
Lady Macbeth is telling Duncan how they are grateful and loyal to him right before they are about to murder him. She was putting on a show so people won't suspect them about what they are about to do. The whole time she is saying this, only she and the readers know that she doesn't mean any of what she is saying, but Duncan doesn't know that. Lady Macbeth is showing appreciation to Duncan right before they have a feast in honor of Macbeth.
Comic Relief
Lady Macbeth makes the porter drunk, so he starts making jokes about lust and drinking. This scene is to be light and have no real meaning, but to have a break from all the sadness and death that has happened or is about to happen. The porter throughout the whole scene was breaking out jokes, which is the scene right before everyone finds Duncan's dead body.
Can't Hold Us Macklemore and Ryan lewis
"Can we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we'll fight till its over
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us
Like the ceiling can't hold us
Now can I kick it? thank you
Yeah I'm so damn grateful
I grew up, really wanted gold fronts
But that's what you get when Wu-Tang raised you
Yall can't stop me" (Can't Hold Us- Macklemore 1:41).