Prophecies and Changes for Macbeth
“Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart” (4.1.110-111). Throughout The Tragedy of Macbeth, the author, William Shakespeare, uses prophecies as a motif to change and develop the deep, tragic character that becomes Macbeth. Each prophecy adds another layer to the development of Macbeth. Every new prophecy allows Macbeth to fall further and further into the rabbit hole of ambition and greed for power.
The first of these prophecies, used as a motif, ignites the changes within Macbeth as the witches greet him with “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee Thane of Glamis . . . Thane of Cawdor . . . that shalt be King hereafter” (1.3.48-50). At this point, Shakespeare makes it known that Macbeth …show more content…
Beware the thane of Fife” (4.1.71-72), “ Laugh to scorn The pow’r of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.79-81), and, “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him” (4.1.92-94). Shakespeare wrote these prophecies to make Macbeth believe that he has essentially become invincible. Before this set of prophecies, Shakespeare has Macbeth perform tasks that show his fear of losing the power inherent with being King, such as killing Banquo and Fleance since Banquo’s heirs are in line to gain the throne. Shakespeare uses Banquo’s death as an example to show that “Macbeth is troubled . . . by the prophecy that Banquo will beget kings” (Andreasen). After this set of prophecies, Shakespeare wrote words and actions to show Macbeth’s felt nothing could happen to him. As an illustration, he says, “The mind I sway by and the heart I bear Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear” (5.3.10-11). The only person he fears is one not of woman born, shown when he states “What’s he That was not born of woman? Such a one Am I to fear, or none” (5.7.2-4). At this point, Shakespeare transitions to the final change of Macbeth’s character. As shown above, Shakespeare uses this set of prophecies to bring to light how cruel and uncaring Macbeth has become and demonstrates just how little of his sanity he still holds on to. By this point in the play, Shakespeare has had Macbeth enter “an insane, irrational phase of extreme endodynamism, in which he has severed all positive social ties and has completely alienated himself from all humanity, trapped in the ever-intensifying compulsion to commit more and more violence”
“Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart” (4.1.110-111). Throughout The Tragedy of Macbeth, the author, William Shakespeare, uses prophecies as a motif to change and develop the deep, tragic character that becomes Macbeth. Each prophecy adds another layer to the development of Macbeth. Every new prophecy allows Macbeth to fall further and further into the rabbit hole of ambition and greed for power.
The first of these prophecies, used as a motif, ignites the changes within Macbeth as the witches greet him with “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee Thane of Glamis . . . Thane of Cawdor . . . that shalt be King hereafter” (1.3.48-50). At this point, Shakespeare makes it known that Macbeth …show more content…
Beware the thane of Fife” (4.1.71-72), “ Laugh to scorn The pow’r of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.79-81), and, “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him” (4.1.92-94). Shakespeare wrote these prophecies to make Macbeth believe that he has essentially become invincible. Before this set of prophecies, Shakespeare has Macbeth perform tasks that show his fear of losing the power inherent with being King, such as killing Banquo and Fleance since Banquo’s heirs are in line to gain the throne. Shakespeare uses Banquo’s death as an example to show that “Macbeth is troubled . . . by the prophecy that Banquo will beget kings” (Andreasen). After this set of prophecies, Shakespeare wrote words and actions to show Macbeth’s felt nothing could happen to him. As an illustration, he says, “The mind I sway by and the heart I bear Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear” (5.3.10-11). The only person he fears is one not of woman born, shown when he states “What’s he That was not born of woman? Such a one Am I to fear, or none” (5.7.2-4). At this point, Shakespeare transitions to the final change of Macbeth’s character. As shown above, Shakespeare uses this set of prophecies to bring to light how cruel and uncaring Macbeth has become and demonstrates just how little of his sanity he still holds on to. By this point in the play, Shakespeare has had Macbeth enter “an insane, irrational phase of extreme endodynamism, in which he has severed all positive social ties and has completely alienated himself from all humanity, trapped in the ever-intensifying compulsion to commit more and more violence”