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Comparison of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
Comparison of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
Comparison of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
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Macbeth died at the end of the story because he wanted to know too much truth behind the witches’ prophecies. In Acts I-V, Macbeth met with the witches and they gave Macbeth all information on his life up until death when they say “beware Macduff,” and Macbeth fought him anyway and died. Despite the betrayal in the play Macbeth, the witches told truth, even if it had double meanings.
In Act I, the witches first met with Macbeth and Banquo to show them their futures as kings, thanes, and happiness. In Scene I, three witches appear and plan to meet with Macbeth and Banquo after battle, which proved to be true.
First Witch: All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!
Second Witch: All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!
Third
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Witch: All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter! Next, in Scene III, the witches met with Macbeth and Banquo and predicted their futures that all came true.
Macbeth did become king, and became the Thane of Cawdor shortly after the meeting with the witches. After Macbeth talked with Lady Macbeth about the meeting of the witches, in Scene 5, Lady Macbeth wanted to seize the throne by forcing Macbeth to kill Duncan, proving the prophecy of the witches to be right once again.
In Act II, the witches’ prophecy continued to be truthful. Macbeth betrayed others just to make sure he could be king. In Scene I, Macbeth planned on killing Duncan but had dreams of a floating dagger that confused reality therefore realizing killing Duncan might have not been the best
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idea. Macbeth: I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell. Macbeth later kills Duncan with the help of Lady Macbeth in Scene II, and that triggered the prophecy to make Macbeth king in the future. Macbeth is then made king by “other lords,” which were other kings from different regions. The prophecy and predictions of the witches were demonstrated further to be correct in Act III. Macbeth was king, and he wanted the throne for himself but realized that Banquo’s prophecy is that his children could be kings one day because all of his future predictions came true including being king and thane of several regions. Macbeth later sets to kill off Banquo in Scene I so that the throne stayed under Macbeth, cancelling the predictions set for Banquo by the witches. In Scene III, Macbeth sends for murderers to kill Banquo, and Fleance, but the witches need Fleance alive so that other predictions come true. One of the witches supposedly dresses as a third murderer, to prevent the death of Fleance. In Scene IV, Macbeth went to dinner to see Banquo’s ghost sitting in his chair at the head of the table. That showed that Macbeth had guilt about killing him, but he wanted to be king like the witches spoke of, but still had guilt about the way he became king. Macbeth soon gets nervous about the fact that many people want to kill him, so he pays the witches a visit and demanded the rest of his future in Scene I of Act IV.
Everything Macbeth hears from the witches has a double meaning, including the fact that “none of woman born” shall kill Macbeth, because Macduff is that one exception. Macbeth now thought he is invincible because almost everybody is woman born. Macbeth sent more murderers, to kill Macduff’s wife and son in Scene II. That enraged Macduff enough into teaming up with Malcolm to form an army to kill Macbeth in Scene III. One of the visions that Macbeth gets from the witches is to beware Macduff, and because his family is dead, Macbeth had a lot to
fear. In Act V, Macbeth is targeted by many including Macduff and a whole army. In Scene I, Lady Macbeth had as much guilt as Macbeth that she slept walked and talked of never cleaning blood off her hands of her sins. By Scene III, Lady Macbeth kills herself over the guilt of murder and the Birnam wood is moving to Dunsinane, which proves the witches correct once again. In Scene IV, the soldiers of Malcolm’s army cut the branches off of the Birnam tree for camouflage signaling Macbeth to stand his ground, but in Scene V, he accepts his imminent death. Macbeth finally meets with Macduff in Scene X, and Macbeth learns that Macduff was not woman born, simply removed from the womb. At this point Macbeth fears for his life and is killed in battle by Macduff. Despite the betrayal in the play Macbeth, the witches told truth, even if it had double meanings. The witches’ prophecies were one of the only trustworthy things in Macbeth. The predictions of the witches proved to be true over and over, because the witches themselves made it happen.
Macbeth begins to defer from his original character when he learns of the witches’ prophecies, which leads him to believe he is fated to be king and to pursue that “destiny.” After the witches make the prophecies, he merely views the thought of himself becoming king as something that “Stands not within the prospect of belief” (I. iii. 77). Macbeth’s disbelief of their claim of him obtaining the crown reveals how Macbeth does not trust the witches’ words and has no true ambition to become king. However soon after Banquo’s and Macbeth’s encounter with the witches, a messenger of the King greets him with the title of Thane of Cawdor as well as the title of Thane of Glamis as the witches had also done. These two titles are seen from Macbeth as “Two truths [that] are told/ As happy prologues to the swelling act/ Of the imperial theme” (I. iii. 140-142). Having one of the two prophecies become reality validates the witches’ words and makes Macbeth take their words seriously to be the truth, sparking his desire for power to fulfill the last prophecy. He now believes that what the witches have made it his destiny to become king, and it is his duty to fulfill it. Through Duncan and Macbeth’s dialogue, Macbeth hears about Malcolm b...
They tell him that "no one born of a woman shall harm Macbeth. " The witches are being sneaky here to give Macbeth the illusion that he cannot be harmed. Macduff eventually kills Macduff. Does Macduff, who is not born of a woman, (his mother passed before he was born) kill Macbeth because of fate?
The second apparition that Macbeth is shown, the bloody child, tells Macbeth that ".none of the woman born shall harm Macbeth"(Shakespeare 4.1.81-82).This apparition brings confidence into Macbeth by giving him this security that he basically should have no fear of men because he cannot be killed. Unfortunately, where the false part comes into play from the false security, is the man not born of a woman turns out to be Macduff, whose mother delivered him by what we now call a C-section. He was born out of a body. Thus, he was not born of a woman.
Macbeth first encounters the three witches when he is returning to Scotland after defeating his enemy Macdonwald. The witches discuss with Macbeth and Banquo what they can expect in the future. "FIRST WITCH. All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / SECOND WITCH. All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! / THIRD WITCH. All hail, Macbeth! That thou shalt be a king hereafter! (I.iii.48-50).
Naturally, Macbeth was third in line to become King of Scotland. Deep in his heart, he desperately wanted the crown, and all the power that came with it. Macbeth suppressed his feelings, however, until he heard the three witches' first prophecy. "All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter", were the witch's words. When Macbeth heard this, his desperate need for the crown revealed itself because he realized it was possible to take the thrown. When Macbeth's yearning to be king could not be overcome, he did not let anything stand in his way of being crowned, even if that meant he had to commit murder. The Three Witches ignited Macbeth's desire to be king with their prophecy.
Furthermore, we also learn about Lady Macduff’s and her kids’ death. To prove this, Macbeth says in Act 4, scene 1 that he wants to kill Macduff and his family for joining Malcolm, the protagonist adds “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, / Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword / His wife, babes, and all unfortunate swords / That trace him in his line.” Although many might argue that Macbeth was forced to kill Duncan, which caused him to kill everyone else, the protagonist could of have refused to follow his wife’s orders and refrain from the power he wants. From the quotations used, we can now tell that Macbeth is a monster due to the murders he
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth there are two instances in which Macbeth comes into contact with the three witches. These two instances are located in Act 1 Scene 3 and in Act 4 Scene 1. In both scenes Macbeth is informed about his future. However, these two scenes are greatly different from each other in many ways.
At this point, Shakespeare has provided sufficient evidence to prove that Macbeth is mentally troubled. His death and his mental deterioration are inevitable. He is haunted by the deeds he has done and the witches’ prophecies. Macbeth claims that life is utterly meaningless when he says, “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player/ That struts and frets his hour upon the stage/ And then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury/ Signifying nothing.” (5.5 27-31). He no longer has the will to live with knowledge of what he has done. The witches, however, have revealed that he cannot be killed by “one of woman born.” Upon hearing this, Macbeth believes himself to be invincible. During the battle of Dunsinane, he fights recklessly against his foes, under the impression that none can harm him. Macduff then enters the scene. He reveals that he was not of woman born but “from his mother’s womb / Untimely ripped” and therefore has the ability to kill Macbeth (5.8 19-20). Afraid for his life, Macbeth remains persistent and declares that he will not surrender. In the end, Macbeth is slain and Malcolm becomes King of Scotland. Ultimately, Macbeth’s mental deterioration led to his downfall and imminent death. Before Macduff slew him, Macbeth was almost wishing for death. He was overwhelmed with guilt, regret, ambition, power, paranoia, and the blood on his hands.
In act 1 scene 1 it begins with the arrival of the three witches deciding to confront the great general Macbeth after his victorious return from battle. Banqou also stood before the witches as they began their significant prophecies about the events that will occur
The outcome of the first prophecy or encounter with the Witches is the beginning of Macbeth's downfall. After Macbeth was told about his potential reign as king, Macbeth said, "Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more. By Sinel's death I know I am Thane-of Glamis. But how of Cawdor?...You owe this strange intelligence or why upon this blasted heath you stop our way with such a prophetic greeting. Speak, I charge you." (1.3.73.) After Macbeth tried to ask questions, the witches vanished. The witches seem to have watched Macbeth and studied how he is. They know his weaknesses are his greed and ambition, and by telling him this specific part of his destiny, his weaknesses will overcome his virtues. The witches then left Macbeth at this time possibly be...
The witches have a strong effect on Macbeth's character; they highly influence him in his accomplishments and awake his ambitions. They give Macbeth a false sense of security with their apparitions of truths. Instead they prove to be harmful for Macbeth who takes too much comfort and confidence in his interpretation of the truths. They are the ones who plant the actual idea of killing Duncan into Macbeth's mind. But if it were only the witches prophecies, then Macbeth surely would not have murdered the king. 'When you durst to do it, then you were a man,' (Macbeth, Shakespeare Act 1 Scene 7) Lady Macbeth's constant harassment pushed Macbeth and made him commit all this evil. When you reason things out by yourself you tend to now what is right and what is wrong, a conscience. But with the outside influence from the witches he thinks that that is his destiny and he must do everything to fulfill it. One can wonder if Macbeth ever had a chance of doing what was right after he met with the witches. He is overthrown and killed. Through his own ambitions, the ambition of his wife and the witches' prophesies, Macbeth has caused his own destruction and downfall. We can now clearly see that ambition not achieved through our own ability leads to destruction. 'Hail Thane of Glamis and of Cawdor and shalt be King hereafter'. (Act 1 Scene 3) These prophecies from three strangers are taken without question and probably without good judgment. Just the thought that he may be King clouds his thoughts and ambition takes over. The witches can predict the future, they can add temptation, and influence Macbeth, but they cannot control his destiny.
...e murdered. When king Duncan thanks Macbeth for his heroic service in the battle he replies “Your highness a king cares for his people as a father cares for his children and the people represent the loyal children to the father (I, iv, 23-25). Later in the scene, Lady Macbeth shames her husband so he can continue with the plan of killing Duncan. To shame Macbeth, she calls him a coward, questions his manhood, and tells him that he should be as tough as she is, (1.7.54-59). The second apparition is a bloody child which shows Macbeth "The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth" (4.1.81). This shows that no man can harm Macbeth because everyman is born of a women except Macduff. He says that Macduff was born untimely and was ripped out of his womb . This was abnormal because being ripped out of your mothers womb is being born.
The witches influence Macbeth in his achievements and awake his ambitions. They give him a wrong sense of security with their apportions of truths. The witches are the ones who made the idea of killing Duncan into Macbeth’s mind. They also told him that he would become thane of Cawdor and later would become king of Scotland and Macbeth wants to know more. “Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more. By Sinel’s death I know I am the thane of Glamis; but how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives, a prosperous gentleman; and to be king stands not within the prospect of belief, no more than to be Cawdor” (Shakespeare 312). Banquo is known as the real victim of the witches. After Banquo hears the prophecy of the witches that his sons will become kings he still does not believe them. He believes that he has eaten a root that is making him hallucinate and does not believe anything they tell him. (Shakespeare 313) Banquo says, “Are you sure we are talking about what we have seen here? Or have we eaten some plant root that makes us hallucinate.” Banquo also says to Macbeth: “but ‘tis strange; and oftentimes of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles. To betrays in deepest consequence” (Shakespeare 314). Shortly after they meet with the three witches they meet a messenger who tells Macbeth he is the Thane of Cawdor. When Banquo hears this he realizes the witches are right and
1. Macduff gives Macbeth news that terrifies him. Macduff was ultimately ripped from his mothers womb. This can mean that he can defeat Macbeth once and for all.
Using their prophecies to entice Macbeth, the 3 witches drive everything that Macbeth does throughout the story. From the very first Act, the 3 sisters’ very first prophecy is what drove Macbeth and his wife to kill Duncan and he is in their control from then on, “In such a world killing a king seems almost in the nature of things; violence is in the air and the witches are its dealers. The first scene has the powerful authority inherent to first scenes: whatever happens after the opening develops out of it and is shaped by it. The witches are an integral part of whatever follows” (Cohen). The witches always come into the scene and control all of Macbeth’s decisions, whether he is aware of it or not. Stated in a paper written by Derek Cohen, “The witches can never be removed from the equation: their imprimatur is on every segment of the play. While Macbeth seems to act autonomously, he has seen the witches and they have infected him with a slow poison. They have a transformative effect on what he does and how he thinks” (Cohen). The Witches have control over Macbeth and all of his decisions from the very first scene. The witches are the reason that Macbeth became King, and then, eventually, for his downfall. In the story, the 3 sisters give Macbeth prophecies that immediately affect the decisions he makes that follow, that always have major impacts on his entire future. In Act 4, scene 1 of the play, the witches have 3 different apparitions come to Macbeth with three different prophecies. In this scene when given the prophecies, Macbeth immediately believes them but does not take them as seriously as he should. One of the prophecies the witches give Macbeth states, “.. Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him.” (Document D). Later, in Act 5, scenes 5 and 8, all 3 of the prophecies that the witches provided to Macbeth come true. A messenger