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Example research essay topic: Thane Of Cawdor Macbeth And Banquo - 1,677 words

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The play Macbeth is a very tragic one. It is about the downfall of a hero who is led by temptation to mass murder and cruelty. Shakespeare uses various styles and techniques to display very evidently how Macbeth's character develops as the story progresses, and thus we see how Macbeth turns from good to evil, from a valiant cousin and worthy gentleman to a bloody butcher. The first we hear of Macbeth is with praises to his name. He is called brave Macbeth, valiant cousin and worthy gentleman, fighting a war for God, king and county. We hear of further acts of bravery in the same episode as Macbeth and Banquo repelled another assault as sparrows eagles and the hare the lion.

These two phrases are significant because they represent bravery and to remind us of the patterned order of the universe, nature and society in which every creature has its appointed place. For all his gallantry, Macbeth is rewarded with the title thane of Cawdor and well he deserves this decoration. The scene is very important as we get to see opinions of Macbeth from the other characters, and all the good words leave a deep impression of respect and admiration from the reader. It can be noted that already Shakespeare has an effect on the reader, and this is an important aspect in the tragedy. In the next scene we see the three witches upon a heath. They speak of their experiences, in particular how one wreaked havoc and devastation upon a boat in vengeance.

This leaves the audience feeling quite horrified and gives one a sense of wariness as doom seems imminent. Now Macbeth and Banquo enter, and quite appropriately the former quotes so foul and fair a day I have not seen, although he has just won the battle he can sense a surrounding evil. They see the witches and are greeted by them: All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!

Naturally Macbeth is startled by these prophecies, as he has no knowledge that he is going to be made Thane of Cawdor, much less that he will be king. Banquo sees this and questions it why do you start and seem to fear things that do sound so fair he gets no answer but perhaps the prophecy scares Macbeth because deep down he does desire to become king. The next prediction is for Banquo: lesser than Macbeth, and greater Not so happy, yet much happier. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.

At this the witches disappear, and Macbeth is greeted by Angus and Ross who bestow him with his title. So one prophecy has come true, and Banquo tells Macbeth about the dangers of this supernatural soliciting often to win us to our harm the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betrays in deepest consequence. Some say that this is the beginning of Macbeth's downfall, as in his first soliloquy he has already thought of the idea of murdering his king. This small seed planted in his mind will soon sprout and he will indeed commit treason. Already the audience are losing their adoration for Macbeth as we see his mental frailty and evil intention. In the next scene we learn of the execution of the former Thane of Cawdor, who from being a person devoured by greed and corruption has died a true gentleman.

Perhaps this is a parallel to Macbeth. We also learn of Malcolm being named Prince of Cumberland, heir to the throne. Here one can see an obvious conflict between Macbeth's ambitions and Malcolm. The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step which I must fall down, or else overlap, For my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires, Let not light see my deep and dark desires; The wink at the hand; yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.

The question at hand is what Macbeth should do, is he determined on evil intent or is divine intervention the answer? He contemplates this, and decides that it is not worthwhile to throw everything away for one guilty conscience, instead the solution is murder. The next paragraph is a direct contrast of Banquo and Macbeth; Shakespeare now reinforces the difference in character. Duncan says: True, worthy Banquo; he is full so valiant, and in his commendations I am fed: It is a banquet to me. Lets after him, Whose care is gone to bid us welcome.

It is a peerless kinsman. To Lady Macbeth, her husband is brave, loving, ambitious yet weak. After reading the letter, she already has a plan brewing. However, she fears Macbeth's nature. yet I do fear thy nature, it is too full oth milk of human kindness, Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it, What thou wouldst highly, that wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst wrongly win. Macbeth enters the scene tells her that Duncan is coming.

She then tells him that his face is a book where men may read strange matters, and advises him to look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under. The planning of the murder of Duncan is one of the most important sections of this tragedy. Here we see a conflict in Macbeth's character, one side wants him to commit the murder, while the other wants to let fate take its course. In a way it is due to his wife that Macbeth is finally persuaded into committing treason. This shows one of the flaws in his character, which Shakespeare exposes. Although the reader is now at the point of hating Macbeth, one feels a certain sympathy for him.

A while after Macbeth has certain misgivings about the affair. In his mind he argues out the advantages and disadvantages. The good side of him says that hes here in double trust I am his kinsman and subject, as his host who should against his murderers shut the door, not bear the knife myself. The more cunning party says that his virtues will plead like angels trumpet-tongued against the deep-damnation of his taking off, but only vaulting ambition, which orleans itself and falls on the other, there well it were done quickly, could trammel up the consequence and catch, but this blow might be and the end all here, bloody instructions, which being taught, return to plague th inventor. All these things are very typical of his character, not very sure of himself, and cowardly. However, we see at least some rationality in him as he tells his wife we will proceed no further in this business, he hath honoured me of late, and I have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people, which would be worn now in their newest gloss, not cast aside so soon.

Yet he cannot maintain this spark of morality as, under the influence of his wife he commits treachery. After the murder Macbeth experienced remorse, guilt and regret, I am afraid to think what I have done... He is troubled by his conscience, he realizes that he is cut off from heaven. He is in fact so hampered in his actions by the conflict between his knowledge that he has committed the crime and his abhorrence of it, that he becomes immobile. After the murder, when the two realize that Macbeth has brought the daggers from the murder chamber, Macbeth cannot return, even though returning means the difference between discovery and success. When Lady Macbeth has returned from placing the daggers near Duncan's attendants and hears the knocking at the gate, she almost has to push Macbeth into their bedroom so that they will look as though they have just been awakened.

He also hears voices telling him that he has murdered sleep Games has murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more. This is ironic because it may mean that he has killed his own ability to be in peace. Macbeth's evil is so great that he cannot even say amen to his prayer, I could not say amen. By now he realizes he is too deep into his acts of violence to turn back. Although the efforts of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to attain the crown are successful Macbeth's awareness that he has given up his eternal soul makes his especially sensitive to his desire to make his kingship secure. Also contributing to his sensitivity is the fear that his crime may be discovered.

Nothing must stop him from living securely: "But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer, / Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep / In the affliction of these terrible dreams, / That shake us nightly. " The two motives make him first turn on Banquo and Fleance, Banquo's son, as the cause of his anxiety. Another important factor was the witches prophecies at which Banquo was present. That fact may make him especially able to discover Macbeth's crime. Also the Witches had predicted that Banquo's children rather than Macbeth's children would be kings. Perhaps Macbeth projects onto Banquo his own turn of thought and presumes that Banquo will attempt to attain the crown just as Macbeth himself had done so. Macbeth says, ."..

to that dauntless temper of his mind, / He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor / To act in safety. " At any rate, even if Banquo himself does not make an attempt, Macbeth's children will not succeed Macbeth and Banquo's will. In that case Macbeth will have lost not only his soul but the fruit of his labor in this world as well. For a man does not work only for his immediate profit in this world but also for the benefit of his children, who will make his name live on in honor. Macbeth therefore decides to have Banquo and Fleance killed. The scene before we see the murder of Ba...


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