In my opinion, Macbeth is a tragic hero Essay Example For Students

In my opinion, Macbeth is a tragic hero Essay I see a tragic hero as a character who is admired and loved and followed throughout the play, and is bought down by a flaw in their character followed by fate. Macbeth is a brave hero, highly ranked by his own family and society, as well as the country. I see the reason for this, however, as the following: He is a brute. He is a violent, blood-loving butcher, and these are the activities, which got him to the status at which he is, a general in the kings army, and Thane of Glamis. The witches would be seen as a supernatural presence in the play to the Shakespearian audience, whereas the modern audience would see logical explanations to all that happens. Macbeth has a violent character, and these witches could just be mad women who provoke his dark side. However, the witches are presented in the play as women with supernatural powers who make the day turn to night which can be explained simply by a solar eclipse and who make him hallucinate; is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle towards my handI have thee not, yet I see thee stillà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The dagger leads Macbeth to the bedside of the king, where Macbeth kills king Duncan. This could have been controlled and planned by the witches, or could be Macbeths mentality combined with his violent nature. However, if it is all controlled by the witches, this would show that Macbeth is not exactly responsible therefore the audience symapthise with him. King James I was very fascinated by witches and witchcraft, as was most the population at the time of shakespear. When Shakespeare wrote this for king James he made sure it would appeal to him. King James believed in witchcraft and supernatural powers. He believed that a group of witches attempted regicide against him. Including his ancestor, Banquo, in the story also assisted in allowing the king to see his own reflection in the play, especially in the scene of the 8 kings, where king James is the 8th king. Thou shalt get kings, thought thou be none this was said to Banquo in act 1 scene 3, coincidentally; Banquo is king Jamess ancestor. Even after the Shakespearian period, the public were fascinated by witchcraft. So fascinated, that they added another scene in the play, featuring Hecate, goddess of witchcraft. Act 3 scenes 5 The Shakespearian audience and the Elizabethan audience would have thought the witches to be the most powerful element in the play. The first scene and act of the play is of the witches. Theatrical effects, like thunder and lightning, are staged to add effects and intrigue the audience. Dark, gloomy and evil effects are used to represent the witches and their control over Macbeth. The first scene contains a mention of meeting Macbeth; this provides a  clear link to him. The witches also discuss in which weather conditions they wish to meet; this could be waiting for the next particular conditions to meet in or choosing what weather situation to CREATE for their meeting with Macbeth. The witches plan to play with Macbeths minds and lead him to the dark path on which they tread. This would interest the Elizabethan audience greatly, as they did not have our modern science and reasoning. The believed that witches did indeed exist, and had supernatural powers to control and amuse themselves with average human minds. An Elizabethan audience at Hampton Court in 1606 would have found this powerful and intriguing, and Shakespeares portrayal of the witches on stage may have even left them feeling weary or shaken.] The atmosphere the witches seemed to create was magical; it was dark and dull yet powerful, and in some cases, amusing. They always seemed to appear when the weather conditions are poor or within a storm, and in darkness. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Her choppy fingersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦skinny lipsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦your beardsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This is Banquos description of the witches in Act 1 Scene 3, Macbeth and Banquos first encounter with the witches. Her choppy fingers, meaning chapped, red and rough, would be common as they worked with their hands, in sowing, cooking etc. along with skinny lips. These were popular features for lower and working class women. The Witches In MacBeth Essay SummaryHe actually wishes to become king and hopes for his prediction to come true as the previous one did. This quote was said to king Duncan himself, and so he did not wish to reveal his desires to take king Duncans place. When the King spends a night at Macbeths  castle, Macbeth and his wife see the opportunity to murder him. Upon hearing of the witches, Lady Macbeth was eager to fulfil her own and her husbands destiny that she believed lay in these prediction; she encouraged the murder of king Duncan. They planned the murder, and she encouraged him though this is only my view. The witches seemed to have played a stronger part in the murder of Duncan. Macbeth visualized a dagger before him leading him to Duncans bedside, he was unable to touch the dagger until then; Is this a dagger which I see before meà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I have thee not yet I see thee stillà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Macbeth murders the king and continues his life casually; this shocks the audience, as they no longer know whether to consider him a villain or a hero. In act 4 scene 1 Macbeth returns to the witches greedily, in my opinion, to find answers and more predictions. He wishes to know his future. When Macbeth first hears that he cannot be defeated by anyone Woman born he accepts his fate thinking no person can kill him, but he feels that he must know if Banquo blood will reign? Shall Banquos issue ever reign this kingdom? This is where the 8 kings are shown and in the eighth kings hands, a glass, which were to show king James reflection. King James was very fond of this particular play because he could see himself, his ancestor and his beliefs playing upon the stage before him. At the end of act2 scene 1, Macbeth realizes that whatever predictions the witches had made had and would continue to come true, and it was his own impatience that bought him the problems that he s now suffering. Before Macbeth is killed, he says these juggling themes no more believed that patter with us in a double sense that keep the word of promise to ear, and break it to our hope, this is where he had realized the witches had given him a double meaning. Macduff had been born through a caesarean section, which meant he was untimely ripped from his mothers womb, not born naturally. I think Shakespeare intended us, as his audience, to feel a mixture of sympathy offence, against Macbeth. He is shown throughout the play as a cold-blooded killer under the influence of witchcraft. At the end of the play the Elizabethan audience would have felt sympathy for Macbeth because he realizes he has been misled by the witches these juggling themes no more believed that patter with us in a double senseact 5 scene 8 The witches show indications throughout the play of there affect on Macbeth. For example his trace-like state, look how our partners rapt act1 scene 3. Also Macbeths changed appearance why do u make such faces act1 scene 4, this maybe through the witches influence or his own guilty conscience. Macbeth also has an  inability to pray, Amen/ stuck in my throatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This could e the witches and their evil ways distancing Macbeth from god, or Macbeths own conscience punishing him for his own evil thoughts and doings. Hallucinations and visions what is this I see, a dagger before me? there are numerous reasons for hallucinations, but because the Elizabethan audience would not have thought of any of these, only that the witches were responsible. There are other examples also, that the Elizabethan audience would consider the witches responsible for, like Macbeths lack of fear, disturbed behaviour, indifference to life and also invitation to evil spirits. When focusing mainly on the supernatural details of the play, the witches seemed to me as the most powerful element of the play, otherwise, Macbeth seemed like a power-hungry mad murderer, but again, this is only my opinion. The Elizabethan audience would almost definitely consider the witches to be the most powerful element into the play.