GCSE Macbeth Assignment Essay

Shakespe atomic number 18 wrote Macbeth around 1606. This was a in truth violent time for the newly recognised British Isles. Just three years earlier, by and by nearly half a century in originator, Queen Elizabeth I had died. She was succeeded by James I (or James VI of Scotland). James was of Scots heritage and his style of rule was very different to that of Elizabeth who had been steady and imposing character. It would analyzem that James was a weaker monarch and in 1605, just two years by and by creation crowned, thither was a plot to destroy the ho habits of parliament, a symbol of his power. This is famously known as the Gunpowder Plot and is s public treasury commemorated every year on the 5th of November.Most agree that Shakespeare wrote Macbeth (or The Scottish Play) to comment on the underlying mood of the time. He sets his play in Scotland to tense and throw out favour with King James and further more than, makes the subject matter that of assassination and regi cide shutdowning in overall failure, to try and warn other possible plotters against the ample power. King James was renowned for his fascination and hatred of witches and during his reign tens of thousands of witches were killed. Shakespeare thuslyce makes all the carnage and send away out in the play the ensue of the witches prophecies.Our prototypic impression of Macbeth is a very good bingle. In only the second delineation, before we as yet meet Macbeth, we study him referred to as bold Macbeth well he deserves that name. Again, before Macbeth is even introduced to us, King Dun asshole remarks (with regard to Macbeth and Banquo) they smack of honour both. Although we are in addition told that Macbeths sword was smoked with phone liney execution this is most definitely seen as a optimistic attri providede and non as grounds for worry for the other characters. It could however, be a hint from Shakespeare that things are not completely as they seem.Initially, we see Macbeth as valiant and honourable and the man who, almost single-handedly, has relieve the battle for his country. At this spirit level, there is no finite indication of the madness that is to follow.In my opinion, right from the guess where we first meet Macbeth, Shakespeare makes it perfectly clear that he is not completely emotionally or psychologically stable. Whilst returning from the battle, Macbeth and his good friend Banquo encounter the three withes that commenced the play. They tell him, All issue forth, Macbeth Hail to thee, thane of Glamis All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter. Macbeth is clearly startled by this, but he tries to land with himself that what has been said back toothnot possibly be true.After a short jovial interlude with Banquo Angus and Ross fall and congratulate the two on their victory. Then they endow Macbeth with the title of Thane of Cawdor, and I believe that this is the turnin g point of the whole play. Macbeth seems almost entranced by this and speaks almost the whole of the rest of the scene to himself. He tries to reason out what had just taken place but now, he seems changed. As the play develops, we deposit a walking(prenominal) insight into Macbeths mental instabilities and nowhere more so than before the murder of Duncan.Shakespeare has purposefully orchestrate a situation to show Macbeths true personality and inside(a) feelings. Macbeth, however bloody and madden he may seem after his encounter with the witches, is still a respectable man, and killing his king is a very large decision for him to take. gentlewoman Macbeth has completely pressured him into this situation and this in itself shows us that Macbeth is not a strong person at all. We can see this clearly by the fact that Macbeth says We go out proceed no further in this business, supposedly putting his foot down. However, by the end of madam Macbeths response Macbeth is already as king the question If we should fail? This indicates that lady Macbeth has no respect or fear for Macbeth who, only three scenes earlier was being described as bloody, valiant and honourable.He reminds his wife that Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return to plague thinventor, pondering whether he would be killed if he were to be found out.Possibly in another(prenominal) act of cowardice he never directly tells Lady Macbeth just about what he thinks will happen. still instead tells her, This blow might be the be-all and the end-all here. However, Lady Macbeths influence and determination is far greater than his and she forces Macbeth into the committing the deed.Macbeth tells his wife that it would be inhumane to kill King Duncan, I dare do all that may become a man Who dares do more is none. We can also see that there is a definite element of fear in Macbeth, as when speaking, he refrains from using the word murder. Instead he uses euphemisms, done or it If it were done whent is done. He uses other words such as, surcease and blow, because Macbeth cannot even bear to say the word murder.Throughout the scene we see flashes of the honourable Macbeth described at the beginning of the play. For instance Macbeth displays a degree loyalty to Duncan when arguing with Lady Macbeth because he tells her, as his host who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself. The words who should symbolize that although Macbeth accepts that he should stick out said no to his wife, her influenced has forced him otherwise.In fitting with the times, Shakespeare uses Biblical imagery in his writing. Macbeth says That is virtues will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against the deep damnation of his taking-off. Apart from showing us that Macbeth is fearful of the warm consequences of his actions, this also reveals his paranoia over the effects it will have on his after-life. The belief that someone would both go to heaven or to hell was virtu ally taken for granted in the early 17th Century. By using religious imagery in his play, Shakespeare makes sure that his intended listening are able to contact to the play fully.Finally, a stronger side of Macbeth then comes out and he says I have no prick to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambitiousness. Meaning that the only thing spurring him on is his ambition and nothing else, not even the pressure being exerted by his wife. He tells her that she is not affecting his actions, and in doing so, attempts to reassert him authority on the conversation.Shakespeare investigates some(prenominal) different aspects of Macbeths psyche in this short scene. On the one hand, contradictory to the picture of Macbeth that we have built up, Macbeth seems to be very weak. This is shown by the way Lady Macbeth has substantially manipulated him and in some ways poisoned his mind. In this scene we also see shades of a more gentle Macbeth coming through, with his reluctance and doubt about killing Duncan. This whole scene leaves the auditory sense very confused.Should they feel sympathy for Macbeth as they watch him try to defend himself against Lady Macbeths barrage of out-downs? Or should they dismiss his reluctance to kill Duncan as a symptom of his schizophrenia (and not that his conscience is genetic up with or his more humane side coming out)? I am not even sure that Macbeth quite knows what to think, something that works perfectly for Shakespeare as this layer of uncertainty creates suspense within the audience and forces them to carry on listening.After the murder, we are given yet more insight into Macbeths character. Fleeing from the scene of the offense he shows signs of paranoia. After memoriseing someone in the distance he shouts Whos there? what, ho He is clearly not thinking as, having just committed a terrible crime he should have tried to have stayed undetected. The murder has definitely had an effect on him. He then discovers that lu ckily, it is only his wife and when he meets her anxiety clouds his thoughts. The first thing that he asks is Didst thou not hear a noise?To calm himself down he persistently asks Lady Macbeth whether she heard noises When?, As I descended? trying to reassure himself that he was not detected and there is nothing to worry about. His speech is overstrung and un on the loose(p). It that shows that he has not managed to calm down. Shakespeare usually wrote in iambic pentameters and these short one-word questions distort the incline of this chemical gradationula and are intendt to indicate the paranoia and nervousness of Macbeth and his wife.Macbeth must(prenominal) have been extremely perturbed when he was in the room with Duncan. He says this is a sorry sight, whilst he is looking at his hands. This indicates that the killing was messy and later, Macbeth describes them as hangmans hands. This could mean that Macbeth is disgusted and sorrowful for committing such a disgraceful cri me and that he is showing signs of remorse.He continues to use euphemisms, such as deed to block out and forget the murder as much as he can. Shakespeare tries to give the audience the impression that Macbeth is sorry for his actions and not a cold-blooded person. Shakespeare also gives Macbeth another human element whereby he has him looking down at his hands, something that many people can let out with.Macbeth then goes on to talk about the deed. He mentions that when the two grooms were in the room with Duncan one cried, shoot As Macbeth has refrained from using this tabooed word throughout the passage he must be very explosive to terminally use it. Shakespeare also uses an exclamation mark which is meant to startle the audience and create suspense with a short pause. The short pause here is in start contrast to Macbeths other words which are written to be spoken very quickly. This is to give the audience the idea that Macbeth wants to forget his experience and get it off his chest as quickly as possible. A good example is when Macbeth is again talk of the town about the two grooms, That they did wake each other I stood and heard them but they did say their prayers, and turn to them again to peace.What Macbeth says next can also tell us much about his inner feelings. He does not respond to Lady Macbeths remark There are two lodged together, but instead carries on as if she were not there. This is a sure sign, as if it were needed, that he has been deeply impact by the prior events. He speaks in a jumbled fashion but yet his flow is uninterrupted. He refers to the Biblical terms used by the guards, G-d bless us and Amen. He then says that he could not respond to the statement G-d bless us with the traditional Amen. This is probably because, looking at his blood soaked hands and thinking about what he has done he feels that he has badly dishonoured his organized religion Muddling his sentences, once more reveals the volatile state of his mind and his inability to think straight.Obsessed with the betrayal of his religion, he continues to talk about his inability to say Amen. He also mentions, I had most need of blessing. Here, Macbeth must be thinking about what will happen to him in the afterlife and whether he will be eternally damned for his actions.Macbeth then carries on to talk about catnap. He tells us that sleep is innocent, hinting that whilst he is asleep, he does not feel the guilt of whatever cruel actions he has taken during the day. He says that sleeps is great natures second course, referring to his life as a meal and saying that his innocent sleep is the best course. Then his words take on a dark tone. Again, completely ignoring what Lady Macbeth has said, he carries on in an entranced state.He says Macbeth does murder sleep Glamis hath murderd sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more Macbeth shall sleep no more. The fact that he can no longer scat to his innocent sleep because Cawdor and Glamis (he does not mention his own name or talk in the first person, probably through guilt) have murdered it evidently disturbs Macbeth. In my opinion, Shakespeare uses makes Macbeth say Cawdor and Glamis to remind the audience of the conditional relation of the prophecy by the witches to the plot of the play and specifically the murder.Finally, the audience are shown that Macbeth is broken and hysterical. Macbeth has given up and is reluctant to carry on. Ill go on no more I am alarmed to think what I have done. Macbeth believes that he cannot carry on through fear of being ascertained and that he would be constantly reminded of this great sin.This scene reiterates to the audience Macbeths insanity and shows us many of his emotions that we have already seen such. However, we see yet another side to Macbeths persona in the form of his religiousness. The audience is now confronted with someone who initially was the archetypal hero, but now is the complete antithesis. During the play the audienc e have seen his rationality and his insanity, his treachery and honour and both his bravery and cowardice. Now furthermore, we see his spirituality. Again, the audience cannot serve but be bemused about who the real Macbeth is and at this point in the play, which signals Macbeths psychological demise, this serves a brilliant dramatic purpose in that the audience really do not know what to previse next.The final act regards Macbeths demise. After hearing that Macbeth has murdered his entire family, Macduff (who has had his doubts about Macbeth ever since the murder of Duncan) joins forces with Prince Malcolm (Duncans son who fled to England after hearing of his fathers death).Meanwhile, Macbeth has visited the witches again paranoid of Macduffs gainsay to his crown. They told him that he has nothing to worry to about for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth and that he was all right until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane shall come against him.At the beginning of Act 5 Scen e 3, Macduff is already advancing on Macbeth. Macbeth seems confident and he insists, bring me no more reports let them fly all. He is obviously not worried, however desperate the situation may seem because he truly believes that what the witches have told him is true. Shakespeare is possibly hinting this when he uses the word fly which has connotations of witchcraft.We are then reminded of Macbeths valiant side we were told about at the beginning of the play. He shows fearlessness by describing his servant as a cream-typefaced loon, meaning that he is pale faced and fearful. Macbeth therefore tells the servant to prick thy face, and over-red thy fear. Here telling him to cut himself and cover his face with the blood to look less pale. The Macbeth speaking now able to talk about subjects like shake off blood and feels no need to replace such words with euphemisms. This could be a sign that either Macbeth has lost all the guilt and remorse for his past murders, or that he is complet ely insane and no longer has any humanity left. We see flashes of this valiant Macbeth throughout the act. An example of this is when he says Ill fight, till from my bones my flesh be hacked.Macbeth is then greeted with the news that in the words of his messenger The wood began to move He wonders whether the witches have deceived him, and he sets out fighting even though it may be in vain. He crosses Siwards son. Macbeth is very arrogant about his clash with Siwards son, because the witches predictions have proved ready so far, and they have told him not to fear any human born of a woman. Siwards news asks him his name, and as if a man assured of victory he replies Thoult be afraid to hear it. He finally answers My names Macbeth, this short phrase shows how self-assured Macbeth is. It also carries alliteration when spoken. The booking concludes with Siwards Sons death.Macbeth makes a speech in soliloquy after killing Siward, But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, Brandi shed by man thats of a woman born. The rhyming duo gives his image a boost by convincing the audience that he is invincible. He assures himself that he has power and control over fate.When Macbeth meets Macduff, he tries to take the same tone as with Siwards Son. He tells Macduff that I bear a charmed life, which must not yield To one of woman born Macduff replies desperation thy charm Macduff was from his mothers womb Untimely rippd. At this Macbeth is clearly startled and he curses the witches objective them of being juggling fiends, because they have tricked him through juggling their words.When Macbeth accepts Macduffs challenge, even though he knows the end is near, the valiant and honourable side of his character shines through again. Macduff calls Macbeth a coward and tells him to yield. Possibly in one final maniac act of desperation he accepts the challenge and does not yield. He says that he cannot be dishonoured, to osculate the ground before young Malcolms feet. This is very clever as it uses distinct imagery that is easy to relate to. He goes on to say I will not yield to be baited with the routs curse, saying that if he yields even common people will tease him. He goes forth to battle with Macduff and is killed.Shakespeares Macbeth is on of the classic tragic figures in literary history. He personifies a mans corruption as a result of power. From our initial view of him, as what can only be described as a hero, we see him fall into an abyss of mental derangement and eventually insanity. Shakespeare investigates many ideas such as, things not being as they seem, feminine influence and the overall result of regicide. He uses many cleverly crafted semantic fields such as clothes (why do you dress mein borrowd robes) and a mans face (Theres daggers in mens smiles). These all work as clever imagery to further decoy the audience.Apart from being a tragic hero, Macbeth is also one of the most complicated of all of Shakespeares characters. He goes through almost every emotion that we have a word for, and his feelings always contradict. introductory we think he is a fearless warrior, and then we see him bullied by his heartless wife. This serves a vivid dramatic purpose for Shakespeare as the audience are never sure what to think or what to hold next. The conclude, the play Macbeth is undoubtedly one of Shakespeares greatest masterpieces and is a timeless piece of theatre with its core, being the dramatic enigma that it the character, Macbeth.