The Birnam Wood

also unable to see the reality from a second prophecy that the witches give about the Birnam forest. He reassures himself that, “‘Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane, [he] cannot taint with fear” (5.3.2-3). This is another equivocation that Macbeth misinterprets. He believes Birnam wood refers to the actual forest, but he misses the second meaning. He does not catch that Birnam wood can also refer to the actual wood, which is what Malcolm’s army cuts down and uses as cover to invade Dunsinane.…

The supernatural is defined as an attribution to some force beyond scientific understanding, or the laws of nature. Knowing this, would you let the supernatural force control your decision making? Throughout the play, Macbeth's life, decision making, and morals become heavily altered by the supernatural. The three weird sisters, or the witches, appear multiple times throughout the play, always giving Macbeth insight on what might happen next in his life. Macbeth appears to be very easily…

Macbeth, or who actors call it That Scottish Play due to a superstition of a curse on the play, is the story of a Thane, a military nobleman, who hears a prophecy from three witches that he will become not only the Thane of Cawdor, the highest-ranking Thane, but also the King of the land. His best friend and comrade in arms, Banquo, also learns that his linage of sons will be the king thereafter. Soon after this Macbeth commits regicide because his wife pressures him into it after he has second…

The general Macbeth and his friend Banquo run into three witches claiming that Macbeth will become the thane of Cawdor and king of Scotland but Banquo’s son will become king of Scotland. After a while some men approach and thank them for defending the Scotland and explain that the thane of Cawdor was a traitor and Macbeth is now the new thane due to his great succes in the war. Macbeth explains to his wife about what he heard and his wife encourages him to kill the king. To celebrate the new…

Rebellious dead, rise never till the wood of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath to time and mortal custom” (4.1.98-105). When he receives the prophecy, he honestly believes that such a phenomenon “will never be” while asking what he thinks is…

The prophecies that the apparitions predicted, became true. The prophecy Third Apparition said was, “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him (IV.i.92-94).” This means that Birnam Wood would come to fight him. This prophecy became true when Macduff and his forces traveled through Birnam Wood to Macbeth’s castle to fight Macbeth. Although some may think that Macbeth was controlled by free will, this is inaccurate because he was…

The Tragedy of Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare in the early 1600’s. Set in Scotland, Macbeth, a Scottish general and the Thane of Glamis, attempts to make his way to become the king of Scotland. Macbeth is a brave soldier and a powerful man. Although he is easily tempted into murder to fulfill his ambitions to obtain the throne, he is a noble man. Lady Macbeth is wife to Macbeth. Early in the play, Lady Macbeth seems controlling towards Macbeth, but the play goes on and she seems…

The power of man for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (IV. i. 79-81). Another prediction is when they say “Be lion-metted, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspires are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him” (IV. i. 90-94). The witches help to put ideas in Macbeth’s mind. The second reason why the witches hold the most power to influence the actions of others is because they tricked Macbeth and they…

Aristotle’s criteria for a tragedy involves three main subjects: values, characters, and a conclusion; William Shakespeare’s Macbeth incorporates these critical topics. The values are supernatural powers which determines what is right and what is wrong. The character in a tragedy must be noble by birth and by action. In the conclusion, the character must understand why he or she fell, accept punishment, and order must be restored. By including these, Macbeth fits Aristotle’s criteria for a…

The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a direct representation of how the love and desire for power can reveal one’s true character. Macbeth's decision to pursue the witches’ prophecies both times portrays his willingness to do anything for power and demonstrates that acting on selfish ambition can ultimately lead to one’s downfall. When the trio of witches approached Macbeth with the first prophecies, they had every intention of ruining his life. Macbeth, of course, was unaware of…