The Tragedy of Macbeth | Analysis

Keywords: macbeth character analysis, summary of macbeth

The tragedy of Macbeth is a play normally called Macbeth by William Shakespeare concerning the regicide and aftermath. It is the Shakespeare’s briefest tragedy believed to have been put down between 1603 and 1607. Shakespeare’s sources of tragedy are encounters of Macduff, King Macbeth of Scotland and Duncan in Holinshed’s Chronicles of 1587, history for Scotland, England and Ireland similar to Shakespeare and his accountability (Coursen and Herbert 1997).

The initial act of play opens in the amidst lighting and thunder when the present three witches came into decision of meeting with Macbeth in their next meeting. In the following scene, an injured captain gave description to King Duncan of Scotland regarding his generals Macbeth (Thane of Glamis) and Banquo. The report reviewed how Banquo and Thane of Glamis had defeated their enemies’ forces of Norway and Ireland who were led by conspirator Macdonwald. Macbeth, the king’s kinsman was appraised for his fighting prowess and bravery.

As the scene took another dimension, Banquo and Macbeth entered as they discussed about the weather and their victory. As they wandered onto the heath, the three witches entered as they waited to welcome them with prophecies. Although the Banquo challenges them at first, they addressed Macbeth after all… (Coursen and Herbert 1997). The first witch summoned Macbeth as “Thane of Glamis”, second as “Thane of Cawdor” while the third one proclaimed he could be “the King in future”.

Macbeth seemed to be amazed into silence as Banquo challenged them furthermore. The witches notify Banquo that he would father the line of Kings, arrive and inform Macbeth concerning his newly bestowed title. Thus the first prophecy is fulfilled. Suddenly, Macbeth starts to harbor aspiration to become a king. Macbeth wrote to his wife concerning the witches’ prophecies as Duncan decides to remain in the Macbeth’s fortress at Inverness, while Lady Macbeth comes with a plan to kill him and protect the throne of her husband. Though Macbeth is concerned about the reignite, eventually Lady Macbeth persuaded him by challenging his manhood to convince him to follow his plans (Coursen and Herbert 1997).

On the night when the King visited, Macbeth killed Duncan though the deed is not recognized by the audience. However, it leaves Macbeth so perplexed that Lady Macbeth had to take charge. Depending on his plans, she puts the Duncan’s resting servants for killing by inserting bloody daggers on them. Then the porter opened the gate as Macbeth led them into the king’s chamber, whereby Macduff discovered Duncan’s corpse.

In the contrived well of bitterness, Macbeth kills the guards before they would take care for their innocence. Macduff is then suspicious of Macbeth though he does not show his suspicion to people. To run for their lives, the Duncan’s sons leave, Donalbain to Ireland, and Malcolm to England. The correct heirs’ voyage calls them suppose and Macbeth takes the kingships the coming King of Scotland as Kinsman for dead King.

Regardless of his victory, Macbeth remained disturbed regarding the prophecy of Banquo. This made Macbeth to invite him to majestic banquet in which he noticed Banquo and his young son could be coming on that night. He then hired two men to murder them as the third murderer emerges mysteriously at the park before the murder. As the assassins murders Banquo, Fleance takes the chance to flee. At the banquet, the Banquo’s ghost goes in and sits in Macbeth’s place and Macbeth alone sees the specter (Coursen and Herbert 1997). The rest wonder at Macbeth raging to empty chair till the distressed Lady Macbeth demands them to flee.

Macbeth gets disturbed and visits the Three Witches again. They invokes the three spirits with three warnings and prophecies which commands him to “beware Macduff” though none of the woman born could harm Macbeth and he would never annihilate till the Great Birman Wood to greater Dunsinane Hill comes against him. Macduff is in exile in England and Macbeth assumes he is safe, and kills everybody in the Macduff’s stronghold including the Macduff’s wife together with their children.

Lady Macbeth feels guilty of the crimes she committed together with her husband. She then sleepwalks and attempts to wipe the bloodstains imaginary from her hands while speaking of dreadful things she knew. In England, Macduff and Malcolm are informed of Ross that her castle was surprised and her babes and wives savagely slaughtered. Macbeth not considered as tyrant, views majority of his thanes conquering. Malcolm leads an army with Englishmen Siward (the elder) and Macduff, the Earl of Northumberland in opposition to Dunsinane Castle.

While in Birnam Wood, the military were commanded to reduce and take the tree limbs to disguise their statistics and pleased the witches’ third prediction. Meanwhile, Macbeth gives the soliloquy “tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow” along learning of Lady Macbeth’s death (Coursen and Herbert 1997). The reason remained unrevealed and some assume she committed suicide. The battle ended in homicide of the young Macduff’s and Siward altercation with Macbeth. Macbeth brags he had no reason to panic Macduff as he could not be killed by any man born by a woman. In play, the three Witches symbolize chaos, darkness and conflict while their duty is as witnesses and agents. Their presence communicates impending doom and treason.