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Macbeth Macbeth, a play by William Shakespeare written sometime between 1603-1606, is a tragic story of death and deceit amongst the noblemen of Scotland. The two
Macbeth Plot Synopsis Act I, Scene I Amidst thunder and lightening, three witches meet to plan their encounter with Macbeth, a Scottish general and the Thane of
macbeth Probably composed in late 1606 or early 1607, Macbeth is the last of Shakespeare's four great tragedies, the others being Hamlet, King Lear and Othello.
William Shakespear's MacBeth William Shakespeare's Macbeth In what you are about to read is a detailed description of every scene and every act of Macbeth. Act I:
William Shakespeare's Macbeth William Shakespeare's Macbeth In what you are about to read is a detailed description of every scene and every act of Macbeth. Act
Submitted by nightsky on May 28, 2006
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Analysis of Major Characters
Macbeth
Because we first hear of Macbeth in the wounded captain's account of his battlefield valor, our initial impression is of a brave and capable warrior. This perspective is complicated, however, once we see Macbeth interact with the three witches. We realize that his physical courage is joined by a consuming ambition and a tendency to self-doubtthe prediction that he will be king brings him joy, but it also creates inner turmoil. These three attributesbravery, ambition, and self-doubtstruggle for mastery of Macbeth throughout the play. Shakespeare uses Macbeth to show the terrible effects that ambition and guilt can have on a man who lacks strength of character. We may classify Macbeth as irrevocably evil, but his weak character separates him from Shakespeare's great villainsIago in Othello, Richard III in Richard III, Edmund in King Learwho are all strong enough to conquer guilt and self-doubt. Macbeth, great warrior though he is, is ill equipped for the psychic consequences of crime.
Before he kills Duncan, Macbeth is plagued by worry and almost aborts the crime. It takes Lady Macbeth's steely sense of purpose to push him into the deed. After the murder, however, her powerful personality begins to disintegrate, leaving Macbeth increasingly alone. He fluctuates between fits of fevered action, in which he plots a series of murders to secure his throne, and moments of terrible guilt (as when Banquo's ghost appears) and absolute pessimism (after his wife's death, when he seems to succumb to despair). These fluctuations reflect the tragic tension within Macbeth: he is at once too ambitious to allow his conscience to stop him from murdering his way to the top and too conscientious to be happy with himself as a murderer. As things fall apart for him at the end of the play, he seems almost relievedwith the English army at his gates, he can finally return to life as a warrior, and he displays a...
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