Change In Macbeth

Improved Essays
Change: to transform or convert. Change. A word so simple yet everyone can so easily connect to because it happens to all people. Change is something that happens to all and it requires certain events or people to take place that force them to take decisions that are life changing and later transforms them as human beings. Take Chris Brown. He was one of the top best singer-songwriters until news hit that he physically abused Rihanna and from there, everything came crashing down.He was viewed as one of the best singers but instead, people’s perspective changed of him and he was looked down on for deciding to physically abuse also one of the best singer-songwriters of all history: Rihanna. In the book Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the author …show more content…
There, the witches came forth and told Macbeth the prophecy that he will be Thane of Cawdor and king of Scotland. Not knowing these witches, Macbeth and Banquo did not pay much attention to what they had told them until Lennox and Ross later gave Macbeth the news that the king had named Macbeth Thane of Cawdor and that was when Macbeth thought back to what the 3 witches had told him and so he started debating if what they had said was true or not and if there could be a possibility of him being King one day and so, it arises a conflict in him that really affected his loyalty towards king Duncan. Macbeth’s change really took a toll on him for the worst. He first started showing negative-change in his personality when the King crowned his son Malcolm as future king. “That is a step On which I must fall down or else p’erleap, For in my way it lies.” (1.4.55-56). This is the first time Shakespeare reveals a glimpse of Macbeth’s darker side. Macbeth so desperately wanted to be king and so when he saw that Malcolm was crowned as the future King, Macbeth strongly disapproved. We see this change in Macbeth because the fact that Macbeth and King Duncan had a great relationship, Macbeth’s greediness came in between that and it cost King Duncan’s life. Once Macbeth became king, he realized just how meaningless his efforts were because “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown And put a barren scepter in my grip.” (3.1.66). In this scene, Macbeth talks about how they gave him a crown and a scepter that he can not pass on to future generations because his wife was unable to conceive any children and once again, his jealousy and greediness kick in. Since he had no kids to pass on the role of the king, but Banquo does, he finds himself afraid of losing the throne to Banquo’s children. Macbeth really changes and he finds himself at a

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Macbeth's Tragic Hero

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Their prophecy foretells Macbeth what the future has for him. He is impacted most when the witches tell him that he will be named Thane of Cawdor and become king. Macbeth realized the threats between him and the throne, Duncan. Rather than being a polite host, Macbeth planned for the killing of Duncan while he was sleeping in their castle. By doing so, Macbeth not only killed an innocent individual, but he killed peace. Macbeth immediately feels a burden of guilt immediately after murdering Duncan. Trying to avoid the thought of that night, Macbeth told his wife he would not “Look on’t again I dare not” (Shakespeare II.III.67). He is knowingly forced to live with guilt now because of his decision of killing Duncan. Afterwards, Macbeth comes to realization that goodness and peace would be lost from him forever. He begins to have a serious case paranoia over having the crown stolen from him. Macbeth turns himself into a slash and burn murderer, quickly losing sight of humanity. He becomes insecure with the reasoning behind his actions, causing him to commit more murders. After arranging Banquo’s murder “It [was] concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, / If it find heaven, must it find it out tonight” (Shakespeare III.II.161-162). Macbeth tormented himself even more by organizing the death of another innocent man. Not…

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The play Macbeth is similar to any cliche action movie when the main character wants total power and will do anything to get it with just a little convincing. “At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a perfectionistic person whose solution has been highly successful. He precipitates his own psychological crisis by violating his dominant set of shoulds in order to act out the arrogant-vindictive trends which are reinforced by his wife” which is why he slips into evil ways (Gale, Cengage Learning). With his wife and three witches forcing him to commit these acts he became more corrupt over time. When the three weird sisters popped in to give Macbeth prophecies about his future he became intrigued when they mentioned that he would become Thane…

    • 975 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the main character Macbeth went “to great attempts to alter fate, even [though he knew] such an aim to be futile,” as it says countless characters do in Edith Hamilton’s Mythology. Macbeth’s fate was predetermined by three witches, but their words were left open to interpretation. Macbeth believed their predictions would become true, but his ambition and desire of power, due to knowing his fate, led to Macbeth taking matters into his own hands and making many choices to get himself to that place. Instead of letting destiny play itself out, Macbeth decided to alter fate and help himself acquire the aspiration and control he couldn’t resist.…

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Macbeth's destiny changed because the witches planted the thought of him becoming king into his head. He wouldn't have thought of murdering Duncan and of becoming king on his own. Then, he wouldn't have gone crazy and wouldn't of have killed Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff's family. Lady Macbeth's death could also be related to the witches prophecies because the guilt and shame of the murders made her go crazy and die. Macbeth would still be well liked and loyal to the king.…

    • 82 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Macbeth had no intentions of being the king, “The Thane of Cawdor lives a prosperous gentleman, and to be king stands not within the prospect of belief” (Shakespeare 1.2.75-77). He didn’t even believe that he was good enough to be king. The witches are the ones that introduced him to the idea of being king through their prophecies. Lady Macbeth was not mentioned in the play until the witches’ prophecies were introduced. This shows that Lady Macbeth is power hungry as well as Macbeth. She convinces him to kill Duncan so he can be king. This will ultimately make her Queen of the land. Macbeth changes into a mean and dark spirited character throughout the play. At the end of the play Macbeth is willing to fight for his every last second of rule, ““I’ll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked. Give me my armor... Send out more horses. Skirr the country round. Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine armor” (Shakespeare 5.3.38-43). In the beginning of the play Macbeth was an innocent character that was scared of the witches, but at the end of the play he is a power driven maniac. He is willing to march straight into battle against a whole English army. He gets very hostile and demanding, which affects his relationship with Lady Macbeth. Macbeth gets very hostile and aggressive with Lady Macbeth till the point where she looses…

    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The pressure put on Macbeth and the witches’ prediction eventually override his good motives, allowing greed to take control. “Macbeth and another of the king’s general’s, Banquo, encounters three witches, who greet Macbeth as thane of Glamis, thane of Cawdor, and future king”( Dominic, Catherine C., Ed “Shakespeare’s Characters for Students New York: Gale, 1997…

    • 809 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Macbeth Analysis

    • 1045 Words
    • 4 Pages

    “Accursed be that tongue that tells me so, for it hath cow 'd my better part of man! And be these juggling fiends no more believed, that palter with us in a double sense” (1.7.17-20). As Macbeth curses the witches thusly for dealing him false prophecies and blames them for his recent downward spiral, we are left with the feeling that he is simply trying to put the fault on anyone but himself, and chooses instead to lay guilt on the witches, presumably the obvious culprit. The easiest thing in life to do is to put liability on anyone else, especially when the people you’re accusing normally have evil intents. It is also a simple task to believe that the crime is the fault of the creepy culprits instead of the good, upstanding citizen. Macbeth…

    • 1045 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Before Macbeth encounters the three witches, his rank increased as a result of his bravery on the battlefield as the Thane of Cawdor and is King Duncan’s favorite solider. Macbeth’s ambition rises when he meets the three witches and it is confirmed to him that he is a Thane of Cawdor: “All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis, all hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor. All hail Macbeth. That shalt be king hereafter.” (I.III. II 47-49) in this quote, we see that the three witches are telling Macbeth his destiny and he believes them and starts to gain a goal to become all of that, especially king, this is what starts Macbeth’s drive to murder King Duncan so he can take the crown himself and fulfill the witches prophecies. Next, this aside quote of Macbeth’s shows his tragic flaw: “stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires.” (I.V. II 50-51) the soliloquy conveys Macbeth’s wish to keep his desires a secret because he realizes that they are evil. He says this aside after he learns that Malcom is the prince of Cumberland, which makes him the heir to the Throne after Duncan and Macbeth’s desire to become king becomes more crucial. As a result of Macbeths awakened ambition he is destined to lose the increased social status rewarded to him as a result of his loyal and brave performance on the battlefield. This destines him to be considered an iconic tragic…

    • 1060 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    After hearing the witches’ prophecy, Macbeth’s interest is sparked yet he does not know if it will come true. Once the first part of the prophecy is fulfilled and he becomes Thane of Cawdor, the possibility of him becoming king seems more real and he is stirred with desire. Once Malcolm is named Duncan’s heir, his ambition increases and he wants the stars to “hide [their] fires” and not let the “light see [his] black and deep desires” to become king (Macbeth 1.4). Lady Macbeth is much more up front about her ambitions and assures Macbeth that he “shalt be what [he was] promised”, however, she does not think Macbeth has what it takes (Macbeth 1.5). She tells him that he is “too full o’ the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way” which is meant to spur him on and encourage his desires (Macbeth 1.5). Eventually, the combination of his own greed and his wife’s causes Macbeth to murder Duncan in his sleep as he allows “the very firstlings of [his] heart” to become the [firstlings of [his] hand” (Macbeth 4.1). Unfortunately for the couple, even after Macbeth becomes king their work is not done. Throughout the rest of the novel, Macbeth destroys families additionally killing Banquo and Macduff’s wife and children although “he has nothing to gain from killing after he takes Duncan’s throne” (Clark 43). The once noble general that…

    • 1814 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    His secret desires are spiked when he encounters the three witches: “All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter” (1.3 51). After hearing this piece of information he becomes curious, and infatuated, he commands the witches to tell him more. He seems perplexed at being named thane of Cawdor and being told he will be King, but appears to be very content with their predictions. The witches’ prophecies represent temptation; whereby Macbeth is enticed by power, success and kingship. Macbeth’s turning point in the play, occurs when he no longer has malicious thoughts, but is tempted to act upon them, “Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter the Prince of Cumberland,” (1.4.39-40). It is when King Duncan’s son is appointed as the King, that Macbeth’s greed skyrockets - seeing that Malcolm will be next in line solidifies his aspirations. The witches’ prophecies have already been fulfilled in the sense that Macbeth has been named thane of Cawdor, but in Macbeth’s eyes it means he must fulfill the other role of being King. This sets Macbeth up for the rest of the play, as the ambition to become king is not only what initiates Macbeth’s tragic downfall, but adds to his growing taste for…

    • 955 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    At the beginning of the play, Macbeth has his first contact with the witches. This “chance” meeting creates the catalyst for all of the following conflicts. Upon this initial exposure, the witches greet him, “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (I, iii, 52). They provide him with the prophecies that lead him to kill not only King Duncan, but everyone after that. It may have been subtle intervention, but this slight distortion of his goals plant the seed of negative ambition. Because of this twist, Macbeth’s focus shifts to the throne or, as he sees it, the ultimate power.…

    • 548 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    How Is Macbeth Responsible

    • 1043 Words
    • 5 Pages

    That plays into another bad trait that he possess, the ability to be easily manipulated played a huge part in the tarnishing of his character. Before Macbeth was about to commit the act of murdering Duncan he is plagued with self-doubt and worry, which cause him to consider how the king has been so kind to him, his loyalty to him and how he is contempt with the way his life is especially after Duncan names him thane of Cawdor, he also enjoys being known as a hero and being favored by the king. He questioned whether a man’s life should be taken away in order to further himself in life. Lady Macbeth soon enters and speaks to him saying “What beast was’t, then, that made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; and to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man. Nor time nor place did then adhere, and yet you would make both. They have made themselves, and that their fitness now” (1.7.53-61). She manipulates Macbeth into changing his mind by implying how cowardly he is behaving when she said that he would be much more of a man if he was to demonstrate this act of manhood. Lady Macbeth also uses his words as a weapon against him, she questioned why he was going back on his words and told him that if he said he was going to do something then he should do it. That caused him change his opinion on the matter and do as Lady Macbeth had…

    • 1043 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the play, Macbeth starts the story out as a noble war hero. He was identified as an individual that people trusted and depended on. He was then awarded ‘Thane of Cawdor ’ for his heroic and outstanding deeds on the battlefield. The major turning point in Macbeth's story was when the three witches arrived and predicted his future. They announced that Macbeth would bequeath the throne. Startled by this sudden prediction, Macbeth decided to ignore the witches and leave his future to fate. That stance was short lived due to Lady Macbeth's persuasive methods and a lack of will on Macbeth’s part. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth came to a unified decision to kill the king to obtain the throne. This one event was the catalyst that completely changed the…

    • 703 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Shift In Macbeth

    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages

    At the start of Act 3, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both exhibit a sudden shift in their personalities, which is indicated by the more dominant role of Macbeth and the more submissive role of Lady Macbeth. As shown previously in the play, Lady Macbeth is presented as manipulative and controlling over a confused and susceptible Macbeth. The roles of the two presented Lady Macbeth as the clear, dominant player over the weak-minded Macbeth. However, when Macbeth converses with the murders, he insults, teases, and threatens them into submission, introducing a side of macbeth that has not before been present. Referring to the murders “as hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, curs, shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves”, Macbeth makes the murderers out as…

    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    At the beginning of the play he is a strong character with a great life – he had a family, friends, and was rather wealthy. He never wanted more than what he already had. After the witches had told him he would become Thane of Cawdor, then King of Scotland, Macbeth said that that was unbelievable and that it would not happen. He replied saying: “The Thane of Cawdor lives /A prosperous gentleman, and to be king /Stands not within the prospect of belief, /No more than to be Cawdor.” (1.3. 70-73). Macbeth is saying that he cannot even dream of being King, or Thane of Cawdor. When he says, “The Thane of Cawdor lives /A prosperous gentleman,” Shakespeare seems to be forgetting that Macbeth just fought the former Thane of Cawdor, but we can still understand that he is trying to show that Macbeth respects those above him. We see that he is not greedy – he is benevolent in being content with what he has. In general, Macbeth is happy with life. However, after killing innocent people, Macbeth becomes cold and bitter. He says: “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player/That struts and frets his hour upon the stage/And then is heard no more: it is a tale/Told by an idiot, full of sand and fury/ Signifying nothing.” (5.5. 24-28). At this point of the play, all of Macbeth’s efforts and sacrifices to become and remain King have all been for nothing since no one is on his side. So, Macbeth has lost all hope in life; he says his existence does not mean anything and that everyone dies in the end. Shakespeare compares life to an actor, who walks on stage, then is heard no more afterwards. Macbeth loses all hope and looks at life in a resentful manner, unlike his mentality at the beginning of the…

    • 1268 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays