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Discussion of William Shakespeare's Macbeth Essay

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Discussion of William Shakespeare's Macbeth Written around 1606, 'Macbeth' is regarded as a generous tribute to the current monarch at the time, King James I. In 1603, the first year of his reign , King James privileged Shakespeare's theatre company, above all others, to be the King's Men. Shakespeare's theatre company was extremely honoured by the title and 'Macbeth' was written in an attempt at expressing Shakespeare's gratitude. Before he was King James I of England, he was King James VI of Scotland. Therefore, as a tribute play it would make sense to set the play in Scotland. It also seems appropriate that this play features witches and witchcraft. King James loathed witches and women, so …show more content…

This causes the audience's first impressions of Macbeth to be fairly optimistic, because we admire and have a high regard for people who fight so heroically in the name of the King. But, when Macbeth informs his wife of the witches prophecies, and she concludes that they should murder King Duncan, he refuses to do so. The audience would certainly appreciate such loyalty and we will like him further. Nevertheless, Lady Macbeth convinces him to go through with it and after he has murdered Duncan the audience's liking for Macbeth would reduce enormously. When Macbeth fears the consequences and regrets what he has done, we feel slightly sympathetic towards him and our view of him becomes slightly more positive than straight after the murder. Macbeth succeeds the Throne, but the audience does not respect and value him like the good King Duncan, instead we hate him and hope that his deeds are discovered and he dies, so equilibrium is restored in the world and everything runs properly. Thereafter, when Macbeth instructs two murderers to assassinate Banquo and his son Fleance, we feel as though Macbeth is employing others to do his dirty work, which is cunning and clever, yet cowardly. During the feast

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