Question # 1: How do the witches introduce the conflict in Macbeth? What might their predictions reveal about Macbeth’s subconscious?
The Witches manipulate Macbeth for the shear amusement which ignites Macbeth into an insane, power thirsty spiral without him being aware of it. The witches pay a visit and speak to Macbeth and Banquo before they mysteriously vanish. Macbeth gets latched onto these words of the evil witches, “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (1.3.48). With these powerful words stuck in Macbeth's mind, it changes the rest of the play completely. Whether Macbeth realizes it or is aware of the obsession the prophecy has on him is unimportant because one way or another Macbeth is going to act on these impulses. …show more content…
How does this event signal a turning point in the play?
Macbeth changes in the play from a victim being manipulated to a man constantly digging to try to find a way out of his lies. Macbeth gets so caught up he is the one telling Lady Macbeth to not worry about his actions for her own safety. For her safety, Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth to “be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,/ till thou applaud the deed” (3.2.45-46). At the start, macbeth was the victim and the one being manipulated but as the play carries on Macbeth changes for the worse. He himself becomes the one doing risky business while keeping it away from his wife. This moment is when the reader finds out Macbeth is not so innocent after all. While Macbeth has made some bad choices he makes a good point about how can he stop now. Macbeth is speaking to Lady Macbeth about his approach on protecting his crown and what still has to be done to keep his position. Macbeth points out he is already so far in it would be pointless to back out now (3.4.136-138). He is smart enough to know that if he stopped then he would be caught and tried for his crimes. Once Macbeth realizes that he is in too deep he becomes dangerous. The only logical way he thinks he can get out of this mess is by digging himself into a bigger hole until he is trapped and can never get
The Witches manipulate Macbeth for the shear amusement which ignites Macbeth into an insane, power thirsty spiral without him being aware of it. The witches pay a visit and speak to Macbeth and Banquo before they mysteriously vanish. Macbeth gets latched onto these words of the evil witches, “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (1.3.48). With these powerful words stuck in Macbeth's mind, it changes the rest of the play completely. Whether Macbeth realizes it or is aware of the obsession the prophecy has on him is unimportant because one way or another Macbeth is going to act on these impulses. …show more content…
How does this event signal a turning point in the play?
Macbeth changes in the play from a victim being manipulated to a man constantly digging to try to find a way out of his lies. Macbeth gets so caught up he is the one telling Lady Macbeth to not worry about his actions for her own safety. For her safety, Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth to “be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,/ till thou applaud the deed” (3.2.45-46). At the start, macbeth was the victim and the one being manipulated but as the play carries on Macbeth changes for the worse. He himself becomes the one doing risky business while keeping it away from his wife. This moment is when the reader finds out Macbeth is not so innocent after all. While Macbeth has made some bad choices he makes a good point about how can he stop now. Macbeth is speaking to Lady Macbeth about his approach on protecting his crown and what still has to be done to keep his position. Macbeth points out he is already so far in it would be pointless to back out now (3.4.136-138). He is smart enough to know that if he stopped then he would be caught and tried for his crimes. Once Macbeth realizes that he is in too deep he becomes dangerous. The only logical way he thinks he can get out of this mess is by digging himself into a bigger hole until he is trapped and can never get