Example research essay topic: Act 4 Scene 1 Lady Macbeth - 1,023 words

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In William Shakespeare s Macbeth, Macbeth starts as a loyal subject of Duncan. Macbeth is ambitious, and this ambition is a weakness that allows him to be manipulated by his wife and evil powers throughout the play. Macbeth s manipulation is formed in speeches, thoughts, and abnormal behaviour from many characters. When Shakespeare first tells us about Macbeth in the sergeant s report, Shakespeare leads us to believe that he a virtuous person who does only what is right.

Given this, the perception is that Macbeth does what is right, and makes all his own decisions. However, this belief proves to be wrong. From the beginning of act 1 scene 5 until the murder of Duncan in act 2 scene 2, it is evident that Lady Macbeth manipulates and convinces Macbeth into murdering Duncan. This is the only part of the play where Lady Macbeth has control over Macbeth. After Duncan s murder, Macbeth is driven by evil powers. Furthermore, Lady Macbeth s knowledge of Macbeth s ambition allows her to manipulate him.

Proof of this is visible in her thoughts [t]hou wouldst be great, / Art not without ambition, but without / The illness should attend it (I. v. 17 - 19). This speech and small implications from the letter, shows that Macbeth is ambitious enough to want to be King, but will not think of murdering Duncan. Because Lady Macbeth knows this, she also knows that she would have to push Macbeth into performing the deed; she starts by telling him [t]hy letters have transported me beyond / This ignorant present and I feel now / The future in the instant (I. v. 61 - 63) the moment they meet. From Macbeth s reply [w]e will speak further (I.

v. 79) he is obviously noncommittal, but is already thinking about committing the crime of murder against Duncan; the first step of manipulation has started. Later, in the play, Macbeth decides not to murder Duncan but rather, carry on serving as his Thane. However, Lady Macbeth starts her persuasion again, but this time she questions his manhood, saying [w]hen you durst do it, then you were a man; / And to be more then what you were, you would / Be so much more the man. (I. vii. 55 - 57). Had she not challenged his manhood and his love for her, he would not have usurped the throne, and she would not have become a Queen. Not only did she get him to think about the murder, she even knows what to say after he starts thinking about the murder.

This allows Macbeth to easily be manipulated by Lady Macbeth. Although indirectly, Macbeth was also controlled by evil powers through his wife. In contradiction to the stereotype that, women portrayed the elegant side of the human race and men were ruffians. Keeping this in mind, Shakespeare stills portrays Lady Macbeth as a woman with a murderous heart using the speech [h]ad he not resembled / My father as he slept, I had done t (II. ii. 16 - 17). Later in the play, Lady Macbeth becomes afraid of the darkness, which describes a completely different Lady Macbeth from the beginning of the play.

Since she had previously asked the spirits that / Tend on mortal thoughts (I. iv. 44 - 45) to unsex her, it is highly probable that she is under the influence of a higher power, and because it was an evil deed, it had to be an evil power. On the other hand, the power of evil is also another force that controls Macbeth. Shakespeare mainly personifies it as the three witches. Despite Macbeth being ambitious, he never thought that he would become a King as Duncan already has two sons whom he can leave his legacy to.

After Banquo and Macbeth s first encounter with the three witches, Macbeth s action for power makes him hungry for the throne, and he cannot wait to be King. This is shown in his thoughts [t]he Prince of Cumberland! That is a step / On which I must fall down, or else o elea, / For in my way it lies (I. iv. 55 - 58). Had the witches not revealed his future to him, and played on his ambition, he could never have think such evil thoughts against the future King. In addition, when Macbeth hires murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance, it is all because Macbeth now believes in the witch s power to foretell the future.

Now he is afraid that Fleance will become the King after him. Not only does that mean Fleance will kill him, it also means that Macbeth has killed Duncan for Fleance s gain. Macbeth is behaving beyond reasoning for him to wish such a bad fate to a good friend of his; hence, he is being controlled by an evil power, in this case, the witches. Again, thw witches are playing on Macbeth s action. Later on, the witches provoke Macbeth to do evil himself. When the witches show Macbeth the first apparition in act 4 scene 1, it tells him beware Macduff, / Beware the Thane of Fife (IV.

i. 80 - 82). In the very same scene, the first witch say that the masters know thy thoughts (IV. i. 79). Certainly, the witches know he fears Macduff and warned him about Macduff to manipulate him to attack Macduff s castle. Once again, in act 4, scene 1, he meets the witches and this time, he finds out that he will not be hurt unless Birnam wood [move] to high Dunsinane Hill (IV.

i. 105), and for none of woman born (IV. i. 90) meets him in battle. Upon hearing such reassuring news, Macbeth now believes he leads a charmed life; and is adamant even when the English army and the enraged Macduff attacks his castle. In Essence, evidence of Macbeth being manipulated by Lady Macbeth and the power of evil throughout the play, is found in speeches, thoughts, and abnormal behaviour from many characters. Macbeth s ambition to be powerful is a weakness that allows him to be manipulated.

Research essay sample on Act 4 Scene 1 Lady Macbeth