Analysing Soliloquy 1.7 Macbeth Essay

Ambition is what motivates people to achieve a certain thing in their life. However, many fail if their ambition is too big and unreasonable. This is definitely the case for Macbeth in the William Shakespeare's play Macbeth. Macbeth's ambitious causes him to disregard his loyalty to Duncan. Moreover, Macbeths desires lead him to be immoral, going to extremes in order to achieve success. Ultimately, Macbeths deep aspirations for power demonstrates being over ambitious will end in disaster. Therefore, in the play Macbeth, Macbeths ambition leads him to corrupt his morality, resulting in his downfall

I consider Macbeth’s dagger soliloquy from Act Two, Scene One to be one of the most revealing speeches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. This is because it demonstrates the effect that a character’s actions have on the way they think about moral issues. The speech takes place while Macbeth is on his way to kill King Duncan. At the beginning of the speech, Macbeth is feeling guilty about what he is about to do. This is shown by the fact that he is seeing a dagger that is not there. His use of rhetoric in the statement “Is this a dagger I see before me, / the handle towards my hand?” shows the reader that Macbeth is uncertain about the substantiality of the dagger. Macbeth has clearly been thinking about the effects of the murder so much his conscience has presented him with an image of that which he is dreading. His statement “heat-oppressed brain” also tells the reader he has been so wrought up about the murder, he is hallucinating

Assuming the role of stronger partner, she manipulates Macbeth with effectiveness by ignoring his objections about the murder. Refusing to understand his doubts and hesitations about the situation, she scorns his manhood by calling him a, “coward,” (1.7.43) and questions his virility, “What beast was’t, then, that made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man,” (1.7.48-49) until Macbeth feels that he must commit the murder to prove himself.

He is Duncan’s ‘kinsman and his subject’, he reminds himself that what he is doing is wrong and that he has the duty to protect the king, not murder him. In an interaction with Lady Macbeth prior to the murder of Duncan, he says they ‘shall proceed no longer in this business’, this shows that he has a moral compass, and he knows that what he is about to do is wrong. Also, previous to the murder he hallucinates a ‘dagger’, it is a figment of his imagination because he is very anxious, and is already feeling culpability. This part in the play is key in showing that Macbeth is consumed by guilt and anxiety, so is not in the best mindset to commit a murder. Despite this, he still kills Duncan. His guilt returns after the murder when an ‘Amen [is] stuck’ in his throat, he knows that he has sinned against God, and he is too anxious to say Amen. Immediately after killing Duncan he is ‘afraid to think of what [he has] done’, he has immense regret and feels a lot of guilt.

Many believe lines 17-28 to be Macbeth’s most famous speech. What metaphors does he use to describe what he feels to be the

In killing Duncan, Macbeth goes against the great chain of being. He attacks God through killing Duncan; he undermines God’s authority on earth, which will lead to God being very angry, and eternal damnation for Macbeth. By losing the rightful King, Scotland can only become a worse place, and this is what happens – “Poor country; It cannot be call’d our mother, but out grave” (Act four, scene three, line 164). Duncan was a great King, and for a king of his power and greatness to be sacrificed to the ambition of someone like Macbeth shows the magnitude of the murder.

This passage is a key aspect of this play because it demonstrates Macbeths feelings on the killing of King Duncan, this scene takes place whilst King Duncan is over for dinner. Previously Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have come up with a plan to kill King Duncan. During this passage, Macbeth contemplates the death of Duncan and the deed is about to do. He is aware of why he should go forward with the killing and understands the power he will receive but fears the reputation he will get not just on earth but also in heaven. Macbeth knows that Duncan is not just a king but also a kinsmen and guest, a good one. The king trusts him, Macbeth should always protect King Duncan and he is hosting him for supper so therefore should be closing the door in his murderer’s face, not trying to murder him. This is the first time we see a different of Macbeth, a more venerable side of him a less confident side to him.

When he no longer wants to pursue this fantasy of becoming King through murder, Lady Macbeth decides to attack his manhood, and in some interpretations attempts to subdue Macbeth by becoming upset. She accuses him of, “Living like a coward…letting ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would’ like the poor cat in the adage” (1.7.46-9). It is here that Macbeth’s innocent barrier was breached, for his response is, “If we fail” (1.7.68)? But it is not until he was tempted by himself that he discards any consideration as to the consequences that will come if he went through with the murder.

Macbeth becomes more power hungry as he begins to want to keep his power for himself. Macbeth starts to question himself whether he will kill Duncan. He was always a loyal and trusting friend to Duncan and ends up deciding to kill him in, “Might be the be-all and the end-all here,/But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,/We’d jump the life to come” (I.vii.5-7). Macbeth does not want to kill the king but decides to for his power. Macbeth has many thoughts whether he will betray Duncan for his position as king.

Duncan is the most unlikely character to be killed because of his personality, but because he is the King of Scotland, Macbeth loathes him. In the play there is very interaction between Macbeth and Duncan, showing the little time in which Macbeth gets more power. Prior to the witches’ prophecies Macbeth is loyal to Duncan, and would never imagine killing him. After the one of the witches’ prophecies comes to be true, the thought of killing Duncan, Macbeth "yield[s] to that suggestion / whose horrid

Published Sample Analysis: In this scene of Macbeth, Macduff is describing the horrors Scotland is enduring under Macbeth’s wrath. By repeatedly emphasizing on the ‘new’ aspect of these prolonged disasters, the reader, along with Malcolm, gains sympathy for the people suffering. The repetition of this word highlights how tragic the situation seemed to be and how there was no sign of it stopping. The anaphora is also used to imply the person responsible for Scotland’s perish. The constant reference to increased death and chaos provides the implication that Macbeth is directly responsible. This, in turn, redirects to how excessive ambition affects a person. In this case, Macbeth allowed his ambition to overpower his life, which resulted in the death of his wife and the destruction of an entire kingdom. The author is able to emphasize this effect through an anaphora that describes the continuous suffering Scotland faced.

The fourth act in the first act of William shakespeare’s “Macbeth” shows the beginning of Macbeth’s fall into his dark ambitions and desires. During their conversation, Duncan refers to Macbeth in an honorable way by saying “O worthiest cousin” (1.4.16). The quote makes Duncan out as someone who wants to be friendly to Macbeth and putting his guard down. This action allows Macbeth the ability to get close and assassinate the king. I incorporated a picture of barren wasteland to show how no one will be able to aid the king if he were attacked. The image epitomizes the vulnerability the king put himself in by becoming close to Macbeth, who begins to plot against him. Consequently, Macbeth becomes aware of his descent as he says to himself “Let

For all the sound and fury, Lady Macbeth's evil signifies nothing. She has no goal that requires such sinister behaviour. When she learns of the witches' promise, Duncan is nothing to her but a suitable victim. Her true goal is not to gain the throne. Her motive is only to increase her personal perception of her power.

Duncan is the most unlikely character to be killed because of his personality, but his title as King of Scotland, causes for Macbeth to loathe Duncan. In the play there is very little interaction between Macbeth and Duncan, showing the little time in which Macbeth gets more power. Prior to the witches’ prophecies Macbeth is loyal to Duncan, and would never imagine killing him. After the one of the witches’ prophecies comes to be true, the thought of killing Duncan, Macbeth "yield[s] to that suggestion / whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / and make my seated heart knock at my ribs" (1.3.146-148). Partly because of Lady Macbeth’s suggestion his "vaulting ambition" is starting to take over, and he begins to take into consideration killing

The play ‘Macbeth’ uses soliloquies with great effect to express the thoughts of individual characters, particularly in the case of the protagonist, Macbeth. In Act V Scene V, strong words from Macbeth convey to the reader two themes of the play.  This soliloquy demonstrates the play's use of irony and the use of the disparity between the great opposition of light and darkness as symbols for both life and death.  This soliloquy is quite significant to the play as a whole since it demonstrates two very important themes as well as leading to a better understanding of Macbeth.