Free Essays on Macbeth: The Witches

  1. The Witches Are the Main Evil in Macbeth

    The witches are the main evil in Macbeth The witches are the main evil in the play though they only appear four times. The play starts with the witches which gives us the impression that everything begins with the witches and that they cause every evil event in the play. Each time they appear they...

  2. The Witches of Macbeth

    Response: The Witches of Macbeth were, we believe, taken seriously by the generality (although not the entirety) of Shakespeare's audience. Their credence was notably absent in the Restoration audience when "improvements" of Macbeth in the matter of Witches titillated these coterie playgoers. Even in...

  3. The Role of the Witches in the Play Macbeth

    Macbeth The first three cycles of the play are: A. The prophesy B. The murder C. The betrayal The main worry for Macbeth after he achieves power is that he will not be able to pass on that power that in fact it is likely according to the witches prophecies to be passed onto his friend Banquo. The...

  4. Lady Macbeth and the Three Witches: Dark, Similar, Dominant and Influencing

    Robert Cohen Lady Macbeth and the Three Witches: Dark, Similar, Dominant and Influencing Shakespeare’s Macbeth introduces female characters that seem atypical from the traditional gentle females of literature. Both the witches and Lady Macbeth are sinister women, associated with ominous weather...

  5. Macbeth Practice Essay

    11A MACBETH PRACTICE ESSAY! Macbeth is a play portraying the downfall of a brave soldier, Macbeth. Macbeth was a loyal, honest, heroic man who turns to deceit and murder as a result of not only his great ambitions, but also his wife’s. The three witches and their prophecies are also...

  6. The Supernatural in Macbeth.

    interpreted the supernatural as witches, magic, unnatural and evil and he expressed his beliefs in the play, “Macbeth” very clearly, as he portrayed the three deformed women with control over the weather and the ability to predict the future. These three evil witches with magical powers were the creation...

  7. Book Summary of Macbeth

    Book Summary of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare Main Characters: Macbeth: Scottish general Lady Macbeth: Macbeth’s wife Three Witches: Prophets who speak to Macbeth on multiple occasion Banquo: Friend of Macbeth, then enemy of Macbeth. King Duncan: King of Scotland ...

  8. Macbeth Essay

    ENG3UI date Macbeth Essay: The Influences of Supernatural According to the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, supernatural is of relating to an order of existence beyond the visible observable universe. This word generates an image of magical ideations in a reader’s mind. However, the play Macbeth, composed...

  9. Macbeth: Psychological or Metaphysical Drama

    Macbeth: Psychological or Metaphysical Drama? The starting point for deciding whether Macbeth is a metaphysical and psychological drama concerns the definition of these two terms. Metaphysical is defined as “the theoretical philosophy of being and knowing” which suggests that “being” and “knowing”...

  10. Macbeth Themes

    Macbeth Themes – Class Notes APPEARANCE .Vs. REALITY CHARACTERS: Macbeth King Duncan Lady Macbeth Macduff Ghost of Banquo Witches KEY PASSAGES: MacBeth see’s the ghost of Banquo, it’s not actually there. (Pg 52, Act 3, Scene 4) MacBeth believed that he was invincible because no one could...

  11. Macbeth Reduction

    Title & Author: Macbeth by William Shakespeare Publication Date: 1606 Genre: text adaptation of play Writing Style/Point of View: 3rd person objective, dialog/stage directions, old, “Shakespeare” language Setting/Atmosphere: Various part of Scotland Characters: Macbeth: Scottish General...

  12. Who Is Macbeth?

    Macbeth is a man; therefore he is the character most capable of violence. Is this what Shakespeare says? Shakespeare illustrates how not just Macbeth, but other male and female characters, can be violent. Violence is a subjective term. Perhaps physical violence is what Macbeth is capable of due to his...

  13. The Supernatural in Macbeth

    The Supernatural in Macbeth The supernatural is a powerful theme running through Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Shakespeare uses the supernatural in many scenes, and it vital to the storyline of the play, injecting horror tension and suspense into the play – are these supernatural events inside Macbeth’s...

  14. Macbeth Notes

    James I | * Macbeths views on Good/evil Right/wrong | * Contemporary audience confused by the conflicting opinions in the first two scenes-Macbeth linked to both good and evil. | * Witches-“fair is foul and foul is fair” * Macbeth-“so foul and fair a day I have not seen” * Witches-“there to meet...

  15. A Character Analysis of Macbeth

    Character Analysis of Macbeth in Shakespeare's Macbeth         By the end of Act V scene v it is clear that Macbeth is not going to rule his kingdom much longer.  He is to be killed by a "man none of woman born" (IV,i,80) who we find out latter in the play is Macduff. Before Macbeth is to be killed we...

  16. Macbeth

    ?What happened soon after the meeting with the witches Two messengers from the king arrived with royal robes. They told Macbeth that he is now The Thane of Cawdor. Then Macbeth and his friend, Banque traveled to the king’s castle before going to their own homes. The king congratulated them for their...

  17. Macbeth Essay!

    play “Julius Caesar,” as well as Macbeth. In “Macbeth,” Macbeth who was a noble and worthy gentleman ended up being a tyrant. The person who is the most responsible for Duncan’s murder is the Witches, the reason being that Witches planted the seeds of ambition in Macbeth, he believed in the prophecies...

  18. Nature and the Unatural in Macbeth

    {draw:rect} The witches show us what the unnatural looks like. , wonders Banquo when he first sees them. He also tells them, "You should be women, / And yet your beards forbid me to interpret / That you are so" (1.3.45-47). The witches are not fiends that only visit this world. They are inhabitants...

  19. The Witches Prophecy

    say that he wrote the play “Macbeth” for King James. Shakespeare started out as an actor and then became an author, writing 37 plays of three genres: Comedy, Drama, and Histories. Some may say that in the play “Macbeth,” by William Shakespeare, the main character, Macbeth, is influenced by his surroundings...

  20. Summaries of Acts 1 of Macbeth

    ACT 1 Summary Scene 1- The play begins with three witches in Scotland that decide to meet again after the battle. The scene begins with lightning and thunder creating a very gloomy and scary setting. Scene 2- King Duncan of Scotland hears that the battle was a success against the Thane of Cawdor...

  21. Who or What Does Shakespeare Show to Be Responsible for the Murder of Duncan in His Play Macbeth.

    his play Macbeth. Shakespeare wrote his play Macbeth in the time when James I was reigning king over England and Ireland and who had previously been James VI of Scotland. James I was a patron of Shakespeare's acting company and with this insight into Royalty, Shakespeare created Macbeth, or for...

  22. Macbeth Theme - Women

    Mini Essay Number One In Macbeth, women are sometimes portrayed as very masculine and commanding. The witches are seen as very repulsive and man like by the characters in the play, but are also seen as a force that most do not want to muddle with. Lady Macbeth is also viewed as very powerful...

  23. Favourite Character in Macbeth and Why?

    The play I have chosen is Macbeth by William Shakespeare. From reading act one; my favourite character is that of Macbeth himself. I chose this character as he is so complex and appears to have several facets to his personality. In some scenes he is shown as a brave warrior steeped in honour and many...

  24. The Character of Macbeth - a General Responce

    Macbeth, being one of my favourite characters in the play, started off a noble and valiant man, and ended up a tyrant hated by everyone around him, and ended up losing anything he ever cared about, before dying a young man. Macbeth’s character is portrayed for the first time in Act One, Scene Two, and...

  25. The Downfall of Macbeth

    WHO OR WHAT BRINGS ABOUT THE DOWNFALL OF MACBETH? In the play of Macbeth, Macbeth is the tragic hero, who is of noble status and falls to become a tyrant and hated character. Who or what brings about this downfall is a question that the play raises. In my opinion it is not just one person or feeling...

  26. Analytical Essay on Macbeth

    Macbeth Essay In the play, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, we see the usual good verse evil themes portrayed but with a sly twist, the three witches. The three witches are simply using Macbeth as part of a game so they can amuse themselves. Although Macbeth may have had thoughts about murdering...

  27. Macbeth: a Political Drama

    Macbeth is a political drama by William Shakespeare. In the play, Shakespeare’s characters are unable to see beneath appearance and as a result bring about their own peril. Duncan, the King of Scotland, and the father of two sons, lacks perception which made him fall victim to his trusted thane and cousin...

  28. Ambition Within Macbeth

    mastered. “Macbeth” is a chasm of perfectly chosen words and often leaves these words open to the reader’s interpretation. The words within “Macbeth” expose the ambitious intend that culminates with the death of King Duncan.Analysising the words within the text of “Macbeth”, one could argue that Macbeth is inspired...

  29. Macbeth

    Although the play is called The Tragedy Of Macbeth, it is not just about a personal tragedy. It also presents a national disaster. Shakespeare’s Macbeth commences and concludes in a similar fashion. It begins with Macbeth defending Scotland against invaders and rebels, while also being drawn to a...

  30. The Savage Lifestyle of Macbeth

    Joel Samelson 2/5/10 4A Macbeth Essay In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the primary character that works against the common good to become the villain is Macbeth. His savage lifestyle isn’t wholly his doing, though. His actions are prompted by fate and others around him showing violence leading...

  31. tragic hero macbeth

    speech on how Macbeth was a tragic hero. You would have to firstly have to define those two words. Tragic and Hero. Conventionally a tragic hero is a person of high birth who has a flaw that will lead to their eventual downfall into a pit of hell. For Macbeth this is very true. So how is Macbeth a hero? It...

  32. Macbeth

    Macbeth is above all else a flawed man. Discuss. The play Macbeth is littered with minor characters and as a result the central characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are impeccably detailed. Shakespeare presents in the character of Macbeth a man who is human, he has his strengths and his weaknesses...

  33. Lady Macbeth and King Duncan

    How far is Lady Macbeth responsible for the murder of King Duncan? Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He was known for “The Globe” a theatre where he would act out one of his plays. He is seen as one of the most distinguished playwright to have ever walked across the face of the...

  34. Macbeth Was a Cunt

    murders, Macbeth is still deserving of our sympathy. Do you agree? At the start of Shakespeare’s play, before we even meet Macbeth, we know what kind of person he is: a noble, gallant warrior who single handedly changed the course of a battle. As the play progresses, we see a darker side of Macbeth and...

  35. Macbeth Oral - Brief Overview

    Welcome everyone. As you know I have called you here today to discuss the play “Macbeth”. I would just like to make sure everyone know what they are going to be doing, how they are feeling and what I am expecting of you. What I am going to do is briefly go over what you should already know and what...

  36. Theme of Power in Macbeth

    The Theme of Power in Macbeth Power is a vacillating, confusing, and sought after concept. Put to good use it can overthrow a tyrant, correct wrong doing, fight for a cause, help the needy, and give someone the means to accomplish great things. Yet, power also has the ability to corrupt, destroy, and...

  37. Shakespeare's Depiction of Evil in Macbeth

    “Shakespeare's depiction of evil in “Macbeth” is far more compelling than his portrayed virtue” I agree with the statement above that in some point in “Macbeth”, Shakespeare depict Macbeth's evilness far more compelling than his portrayed virtue. Macbeth initially introduces as Scotland's saviour...

  38. Macbeth: the Downfall of a Tragic Hero

    English Jan 30, 2010 In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, many instances lead to the downfall of a tragic hero. A tragic hero is a character of courage and strength, who makes bad decisions that lead to tragedy. In this play, tragedy is caused by Macbeth and this makes him the tragic hero who causes his...

  39. Stage Directions in Macbeth

    Preliminary Year 2013 Literature Stage directions in Shakespeare’s Macbeth Supervised by Dr. Mohamed Rifaie Done by Yara Ashraf Ahmed Soliman Preliminary Year Literature Section Stage directions in Shakespeare’s Macbeth According to Webster's New World College Dictionary 2010, stage direction...

  40. The Three Apparitions of Macbeth

    In the play Macbeth, supernatural events would occur throughout it to cause dramatic events. Each time an event occurred he was given an opportunity to use it to his advantage. There were three witches who would tell him what will happen in the near future. He also encounters a floating dagger, used...

  41. Betrayal in Macbeth

    Robert Jackson English IV March 22 Betrayal in Macbeth We all know the story of Macbeth, A noble Scotsman whose ambition and nagging wife drive him to commit a murder that sets off a chain of events that eventually lead to his downfall. But there is a method to the madness... Betrayal. The whole...

  42. Banquo serving Macbeth as a character foil

    Banquo serving Macbeth as a foil character A character foil is used to give the audience a deeper understanding of the protagonist’s character. Also to highlight particular qualities and show the mutual contrast with the protagonist. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Banquo serves Macbeth as a character foil...

  43. Macbeth Imagery

    Macbeth Essay William Shakespeare used the imagery of animals in “Macbeth” to help describe the nature of various characters throughout the play which helps readers understand the play better. The sergeant said, “Yes, / As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion” (1.2. 38-39). Eagles and lions have always...

  44. Macbeth

    4) What is the role of women in Macbeth? Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare that narrates the rise to power of the eponymous main character, who, driven by his ambition, becomes the King of Scotland by killing the previous king. It was written in the 17th century, amidst the Renaissance, a period...

  45. Macbeth - Was He Always a 'Butcher'?

    Malcolm's reference to Macbeth as a 'Dead Butcher' and Lady Macbeth as a 'Fiend-like Queen', is not entirely true. This is due to the fact that at the beginning of the play, Macbeth is shown as a very brave soldier, with good morals and very loyal to Duncan. Later on in the play he hires murderers and...

  46. Macbeth

    Macbeth The play Macbeth has a strong impact of the three main things that lead him to suffer the pain of death by the end of the play which are seen through his self-awareness, the influences and repercussions. The three main points go in flow where it starts off by the main character Macbeth making...

  47. At the End of Macbeth, Malcom Refers to Macbeth as “This Dead Butcher”. to What Extent Do You Think This Is a Fair Assessment of Macbeth?

    I believe that the phrase “this dead butcher” is a fair assessment of Macbeth, as by the end of the play, he kills people all around him for no good reason, and frames others so that he doesn’t have to suffer the punishment. He kills for greed and ambition and lies to his henchmen to persuade them into...

  48. Macbeth

    Shakespeare's tragedies, one element is consistent- the tragic hero. Each tragic hero shares certain traits that contribute to his tragedy. From Othello to Macbeth, each hero is a man of high estate or high ranking. Also, they each possess some flaw or obsession that will eventually lead to their demise. The...

  49. The Tragic Flaw of Macbeth

    Macbeth Beginning In the beginning of the play Macbeth is portrayed in a very positive manner. He is respected by all for his valour on the battlefield. Such is his ferocity that he nearly cuts the rebel MacDonald in two. He is described as: “brave Macbeth” “noble Macbeth” “Bellona’s bridegroom”...

  50. Macbeth Blood Imagery

    Whitney Diederich 10671118 11/10/13 Blood in Macbeth In the play, “Macbeth” blood can be used in a very imagery way. Researching blood in this blood and researching online I figured out that Blood is used to develop the character Macbeth. Throughout the whole play, “blood” changes its meaning...

  51. The Relationship Between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth - Essay

    Examine how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 7 and compare this with Act 3 Scene 4 and Act 5 Scene 1. The play Macbeth was written in the early 1600 by William Shakespeare and is a tragic story of a brave, loyal soldier who goes through a dramatic...

  52. Macbeth

    English literature homework Task: What message would the play Macbeth give to the society at the time of James I reign? From what I am able to gather through my research of James I, he visited the country of ‘Denmark’ which is a country very familiar to witch-hunts. This may have encouraged an interest...

  53. Macbeth 2

    because it is an oxymoron. Its impossible how fair can be foul when fair is equal or mild and foul is gross and rotten. Its significance is that the witches delight in the confusion of good and bad, beauty and ugliness. Act 1 Scene 2 Page 279 Line 40: "So foul and fair a day I have not seen" ...

  54. Macbeth - Critical Essay

    Macbeth” by William Shakespeare is a play in which the eponymous hero changes from a good to a bad character at the turning point in the play. This is a result of the king being murdered by Macbeth and lady Macbeth. It is the consequences of the murder by the two protagonists that the play is based...

  55. The Values of Macbeth

    The play Macbeth is a well known play written by Shakespeare. It’s about a tragedy that happens to a once brave, honorable soldier named Macbeth. Aristotelian definition of a tragic hero is ‘Not perfect, in some way still superior morally to most of the audience.’ I think that Macbeth fits Aristotelian...

  56. macbeth research paper

     The tragedy known as Macbeth is a play displaying what greed and the power of influence can do to a person. It’s written by William Shakespeare and is considered to be one of the four greatest tragedies ever written. Throughout Macbeth, it takes on a very somber disposition. Shakespeare divulges...

  57. Interview with Macbeth

    1) If the witches have never given you the prophecy of being King, would you have still killed Duncan? The thought of being king has never come across my mind before I met the witches so if thou has’t given me thy prophecy, would a good owner kill a loyal dog? Though, Duncan referred...

  58. Macbeth. a Dead Butcher and His Fiend Like Queen

    *Towards the end of the play Malcolm describes Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as “this dead butcher and his fiend like Queen”. To what extent is this a* fair assessment of the pair? Even though Macbeth would love to be king, he does not want to become king by killing Duncan. He doesn’t want to kill him...

  59. Declline of Macbeth from Noble Hero to Ruthless Tyrant

    reader a preiview of Macbeths character when the soldiers say "brave Macbeth", from this we know that he is a famous and noble man When we first meet Macbeth he is with Banquo and they run into the three withces who greet Macbeth with the following titles "All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane...

  60. Theme of Power in Macbeth

    William Shakespeare’s work entitled Macbeth, the lust for and corruption by power is clearly portrayed specifically through Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth. Firstly, the play commences with King Duncan and Macduff socializing about ‘the good and hardy soldier’ Macbeth, who at that point in time is brave...