Manipulation in Macbeth Essay example

The Tragedy of Macbeth is not only one of William Shakespeare’s most famous works, it’s also one of his most known and revered, and remains in school curriculum all over the United States. Many different themes can be taken from the tragedy of Macbeth, and the phrase,” Look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” reflects the theme of deception, manipulation, and ambition completely. Through careful analysis of just the first act, you can see that Lady Macbeth justifies a distinctive correlation between the tragedy of Macbeth, and the three main themes listed above.

Throughout history there have been countless of sins and crimes committed through manipulation. The biggest example seen is the biblical story of the serpent’s manipulation of Eve. This is the exact situation that William Shakespeare places over Macbeth. Macbeth was a loyal general at the beginning of the play yet turned to evil by the end. The protagonist of noble heart is manipulated by many external influences into becoming the tyrant king of Scotland, but the outcome of this Shakespearean play could have been Macbeth’s own choices that led himself to his own down fall.

Macduff and Macbeth are fighting at the end and Macbeth is convinced that he cannot be killed because only a man not born of a woman can harm him. The witches had given him false hope that he would not be able to be killed by a man born of a woman. When Macbeth finds out that Macduff was born caesarian section then he fears for his

Although William Shakespeare created the play, Macbeth, to be a tragedy, the tragic hero can hardly be considered to be one. For the entirety of one of Shakespeare’s most magnificent works, Macbeth is controlled and manipulated into committing atrocious acts that the witches and his wife desire. He is powerless to their tricks and through their sorcery/cunning words and his own morals (or lack thereof) “sustain[s] the central paradox–the heroic murderer” (Cusick). Despite the fact that he laments the loss of his king, Duncan, he still continues down his path of evil that only has one ending: his death. Although Macbeth gains a few insights on his inner self, his lack of ability to resist manipulation, willingness to kill, combined with his

The moment that Macbeth finally decided to kill Banquo, was the moment that showed the audience that Macbeth is willing to do anything to stay in power. It was when Macbeth believe that Banquo was on to him that he said to the murders “I’ll call upon you straight. Abide within./ It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight,/ If it find heaven, must find it out tonight.” (3.2.160-163). With this action, it symbolizes Macbeth’s deeper descent into fully only caring about the throne. Macbeth killed his closest friend because he saw him as a threat to his rulership in Scotland. Without Macbeth’s ambition taking control in this situation, Banquo will still be alive and Macbeth would of most likely been healed or out of power. Another example of Macbeth’s ambition taking control and his loss of empathy in relationships, was when his wife committed suicide. At this point in the story Macbeth is noticing the forest moving towards his castle, and is more concern with the possible death of himself than the worries of his wife. Lady Macbeth is riddled with guilt with what she's done, she decides to kill herself to feel no more pain. And when she does Macbeth doesn’t care

Leading to Macbeth to believe and make an absurd assumption that any man that is born of a woman cannot kill him. Macbeth goes on to state, “Fear not, Macbeth. No man that’s born of woman shall e’er have power upon thee.” Then fly, false thanes, And mingle with the English epicures.The mind I sway by and the heart I bear Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear” (5.3. 7-12). Macbeth is so ignorant that he did not take into consideration the fact that Macduff was born of a caesarean section. He is so gullible when it comes to what the witches have to say, he becomes too self-assured by the fact that no man can defeat him. Which follows by Macbeth challenging Macduff because he is supposedly “born of a woman”, which ends up having Macbeth killed. Not to mention, Macbeth reveals his morally deteriorated side of himself when he portrays his true fear once killing King Duncan. According to author Ken, “Shakespeare’s religious affiliation will probably never be known for certain, but his religious beliefs are not quite so opaque” (Colston)... “But those who commit sin are the enemies of their own lives” (Tobit). Shakespeare makes it apparent to the audience that Macbeth brought his fear upon himself because he decided that sinning is the way to his goal by committing kill after

In the end of The Tragedy of Macbeth, Macbeth is murdered by Macduff -- hence the word “tragedy” in the title. Macduff says that if he is not the one to kill Macbeth, “[His] wife and children’s ghosts / will haunt [him] still” (5.7.15-16). According to the 2nd Apparition, Macbeth could not be harmed by any man who was born of a woman, and Macbeth knows this in the back of his mind while Macduff is threatening him (4.1.80). Macbeth’s arrogance is prevailing throughout this dialogue. Soon, though, situational irony arises when Macduff informs Macbeth that he “was from his mother’s womb / untimely ripped” (5.7.45). Macduff gives Macbeth the chance to surrender, but Macbeth refuses and remains arrogant, still believing that he cannot be killed. Just as Banquo had warned Macbeth, the witches were trying to fool him with their paradoxes. Because of his evil ways, Macbeth got himself killed, and “the ruin of a complete villain does not awake tragic emotions” for an audience (Lynch 106). While Shakespeare might have wanted the audience to root for Macbeth in the beginning of the drama, things change toward the middle, and by the end, the “audience is not sympathetic for Macbeth at all”; in fact, most audiences probably think that he deserved his death (Kirch 272). As Macbeth said before, “It will have blood; they say, blood will have blood” (3.4.124). He could not run from this inevitable fate.

Macbeth really wanted the throne so if one really wanted something, they would overcome any obstacles to fulfill their needs which was to kill Banquo. Even though they were really good partners in the beginning, the witches hinted that someone else will become king which made him ponder about who it will be. That soon led to the assumption of Banquo’s son, Fleance. In act 1, Macbeth states, “If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir. (I, iii, 143-144)” This foreshadows the killing of Banquo because his death would make it easier for Macbeth to obtain the throne since he didn’t have to deal with Fleance. However, that was false since Macduff took care of him. If Macbeth had his ambitions for the crown and was humane, he probably could’ve earned it. In Act 1, Macbeth sent Lady Macbeth a letter that

Banquo, a noble and honest man, was also killed at the orders of Macbeth. Although, the depth of Macduff’s loyalty to Banquo is not very clear, Banquo’s murder is part of the reason he fought vehemently against Macbeth. Macbeth saw Banquo as the man “which would be feared” (Shakespeare 88) for he seems to be faultless. Banquo is inquisitive, brave, honorable, willing to take risks or “dares” but also knows when to play things safe. A seemingly perfect person like Banquo is undoubtedly troublesome to a flawed being like Macbeth, for they bring righteousness with them which signals the flawed one’s downfall. Macbeth says to the murders that Banquo’s existence “thrusts/Against my near’st of life”(Shakespeare 92). Banquo’s existence proves to be

In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, there are a series of incidents that lead to the demise of the main character, Macbeth, starting with the murder of King Duncan due to Macbeth’s determination to obtain the throne. During Acts three and four of the play, Macbeth has already committed multiple murders and unspeakable acts in order to remain Thane of Cawdor. Having Banquo, his friend and war partner murdered is a critical moment in the story as it conveys Macbeth’s choices, made by his own free will, as well as marking his point of no return.

When Macbeth first heard the witches prophecies, he was left with feelings of fear and uncertainty. In Act IV, Scene I, the third prophecy is told when he calls upon the three witches and meets with them again, demanding to be shown his fate. His demand is answered when the sisters call up an apparition which procedes to tell Macbeth to, “Beware Macduff”. This foreshadows Macduff eventually killing Macbeth. Next, a blood-covered child appears and gives comfort to Macbeth in saying, “None of woman born shall harm Macbeth”. This reassures Macbeth because he now believes that he no longer has any reason to fear Macduff. Although, what he does not know is that this is false reassurance because he is unaware that Macduff had a Caesarean birth, thus making him not of woman born.

The character of Macbeth, as presented in Shakespeare's play, is a progressive one. As the plot proceeds his few good qualities disappear, while the evil becomes more and more developed. He goes from good to bad, and from bad to worse. Although Macbeth starts out as a brave and loyal man in the beginning of the play, he ends up being corrupted throughout the play by his wife’s need for power.

Manipulation is used very often in the play Macbeth so that others may get what they desire. Macbeth is manipulated by two different Characters, Lady Macbeth and the witches many times by being told things he wants to hear, Because of the things he was told Macbeth not only ended many others lives, but his own life as

3. Macbeth offering Banquo the chance to save himself, reveals that Macbeth cares about Banquo. Macbeth and Banquo fight together and know each other better than anyone else. Banquo regards Macbeth as, “My noble partner” (Mac. 1.3.57). Macbeth also cares more about Banquo because he is a kind and moral man. Macbeth blames Banquo for defiling his mind, proving that Macbeth is a religious man. An additional proof are his nerves when planning the murders. Macbeth is more nervous during the murder of King Duncan because he committing a holy regicide against God. After acquiring the kingship, Macbeth faces his next challenge. When feeling threatened by Banquo he declares, “To be thus is nothing,/ But to be safely thus” (Mac. 3.1.52-53). The murder

Macbeth became very impatient waiting for Duncan to die so he took it to his wife, Lady Macbeth, who encouraged him to kill Duncan just so she could inherit all the riches a queen would receive. Banquo knew about Macbeth’s run in with the witches but he didn’t know that he wanted to kill him and when he found out he lost all respect of him. He became a target for Macbeth.